The latest travel data from Bali shows a decline in the number of tourists visiting Nusa Penida.
Bali’s most famous outlying island is best known for breathtaking beaches, including Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach, but in the last two months, fewer people have explored the island paradise.
The Head of Klungkung Tourism Office, Ni Made Sulistiawati, spoke to reporters this week to explain that currently, the average total number of tourist visits to Nusa Penida is around 2,200 people per day.
Compared to the height of the high season where visits can be upwards of 4,000 people per day, Nusa Penida is feeling quiet.
Sulistiawati, told reporters “Hopefully, during the Eid holiday, tourist visits will start to increase again.”
Indonesia will be observing a national public holiday until 4th April, and while visits will increase slightly during these coming few days, now is as good of a time as ever to visit Nusa Penida.
The island is best experienced in the low season, when not only the beaches are more likely to be crowd free, but the waters too.
One of the most popular activities in Nusa Penida is snorkeling. The waters around Nusa Penida are some of the most protected, important, and biodiverse in the world.
In November 2024 Indonesia welcomed the listing of the waters surrounding Nusa Penida as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) by the International Maritime Organisation. The International Maritime Organisation is part of the United Nations.
This new protected status means that the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area is now deemed as ecologically important as 18 other marine ecosystems around the world, including the Great Barrier Reef.
The Coral Triangle Center in Nusa Penida, explained their delight the new protective measures in place in the waters off Nusa Pendia and wrote that the news was “a monumental achievement after years of dedicated conservation work within the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area (MPA) – made possible with the unwavering support of CTC and passionate environmental advocates.”
For tourists who want to explore Nusa Penida on land and under the water, the low seasons are the time to visit. It is especially good timing for tourists who want to snorkel and go diving.
During the high season, it is no secret that many of Nusa Penida’s top snorkeling sites can feel crowded with tourist boats, but during the low season, there is space for everyone and that makes encounters with marine life even more special.
What marine life can you encounter in Nusa Penida? Perhaps the most famous and magical of all are the manta rays.
Snorkelling and diving with manta rays is an otherworldly experience. The majestic creatures can be found throughout the year, and it has become something of a bucket list experience in Bali.
The Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area is also home to turtles, migratory Mola Mola fish and breathtaking coral reef too.
In fact, in recent weeks the marine life in the waters off Nusa Penida became even more abundant as five hawksbill turtles were released back into the wild by Bali’s Provincial Conservation Agency, the BKSDA after they were rescued from poachers, and rehabilitated ready for release.
While Nusa Penida is quieter than usual right now and will remain so until June, when the high season begins. For a taste of real seclusion and crowd-free island paradise, tourists must look to Nusa Penida’s sister, Nusa Lembongan.
This island is as dreamy in real life as it appears online and once tourists have ticked off the bucket list of adventures in Nusa Penida, a complete retreat can be found on Nusa Lembongan.
Our top tip for Nusa Lembongan is to book your stay for as long as you can! If you think you want two nights, book three; if you think you need one week, book two!
You will not want to leave! Top places to stay include the Laguna Reef Huts and Ombak Bay Lembongan. The Point Resort is a great 4-star option and for a real 5-star treat check in at The Tamarind Resort.
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