Nusa Ceningan Island is the smallest member of the Nusa Islands, and it’s one of the more interesting places you can get to on a short boat ride from Bali.
Our Nusa Ceningan travel guide will share all the exciting things you can do on the island and help you get there, find somewhere to stay and more!
About The Nusa Islands And Nusa Ceningan
There are three Nusa Islands, Nusa Ceningan Island, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan have become increasingly popular attractions in recent years, and many people visit the Nusa Islands on a day trip from Bali.
However, it’s best to spend more than a day if you want to see more than just a little bit of Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida.
Ceningan Island rarely gets included on day trips because it’s the smallest of the three islands and, thus, has fewer attractions.
This is unfortunate because Nusa Ceningan is a great place to spend some time, and it’s home to the Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon, the Secret Beach, the Mahana Point Cliff Jump and much more.
How To Get To Nusa Ceningan From Bali
You cannot travel directly to Nusa Ceningan from Bali. You can take a speed boat from Bali (Sanur Beach) to Nusa Lembongan or to Nusa Penida and that takes about 30 minutes or so.
There is also a ferry service to Nusa Lembongan and one to Nusa Penida, but it takes much longer and is less safe. Given that it’s pretty cheap to catch the fast boat, we can’t see much reason to take a ferry unless you need to bring a scooter with you.
Once you have arrived in Nusa Lembongan, you can walk over the bridge between the islands, get a lift over or take a scooter.
If you’re coming from Nusa Penida, there is no bridge, and you can catch a local boat service that runs from the Toya Pakeh Harbour.
The trip takes no more than 15 minutes, and you will see the “Yellow Bridge” that joins Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan on the trip.
How To Get Around Nusa Ceningan Island?
The easiest way to get around this island is on a scooter.
The problem is that the roads are dreadful, and though scooter rental is easy and cheap, if you’re not a confident and experienced driver – you’re an accident waiting to happen.
So, it’s better to use a scooter rental service to rent a scooter with its own driver. This isn’t very expensive (you can probably get a deal to see the whole island for 150,000-200,000 IDR).
Can You Just Walk Around Nusa Ceningan Island?
Yes! Nusa Ceningan isn’t a tiny island like the Gili islands, but it’s not that big, either. Most of the places you’re going to want to see are fairly close to each other, too.
That means you can walk around the island if you want to, and we found that if you hire a driver, you may end up deciding it’s faster to walk at times than it is to call them to come and get you.
Walking on Nusa Ceningan is a pleasant experience, and the roads aren’t busy enough to present any real problems when crossing or following the side of a road.
The 11 Best Things To Do On Nusa Ceningan Island
Nusa Ceningan is a small island, and there isn’t much in the way of a party scene or nightlife, but there’s plenty to do in a day’s visit to Nusa Ceningan, particularly if you enjoy taking photos for your Instagram feed.
Check Out The Yellow Bridge
The iconic Yellow Bridge is one of the most common shots on someone’s Instagram after a visit to Nusa Ceningan.
The Yellow Bridge actually connects Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Ceningan. What many don’t know is that the Yellow Bridge has a dark past, and in 2016, in bad weather, it collapsed, and 8 people died.
It has been completely rebuilt now, and you can walk safely from Nusa Ceningan to Nusa Lembongan (or vice-versa) without any worries about falling in.
Chill Out On The Secret Beach
The Secret Beach is something of an open secret on this island, and it’s not too hard to find the Secret Beach.
Sadly, we think the Secret Beach doesn’t get as many visitors as it deserves, and it’s a beautiful spot to set up a hammock and just chill for a day.
Local families regularly come here after a hard day’s work to relax.
The beach isn’t the best place for swimming, but the water is very clear if you want to snorkel.
Update: On a recent visit to this beach, we found the road had substantially deteriorated and it’s now a hard slog to get to on a path that will leave you a bit bruised. It’s still a lovely place but it might not be for everyone.
Zipline From Driftwood Bar
Driftwood Bar is a cliff-top restaurant that has its own zipline.
We’re not going to attest to the safety of this zipline, and we’ll just point out that you can have a thrilling ride for 100,000 IDR.
Grab a beer at the bar before you do.
Enjoy The Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon
The Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon is one of the island’s most famous sights, and that’s because the waters are truly as blue as blue can be at the Blue Lagoon.
However, please be aware that you can take as many shots for your Instagram as you like, but the Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon is not a place to go swimming.
The waters below are extremely violent and the waves hit the cliffs with real force at the Blue Lagoon. If you spend any time trying to swim in the Blue Lagoon, you will be very sorry that you did.
However, you don’t need to go far from the Blue Lagoon to get wet… as we’ll see next.
Go Cliff Jumping Above The Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon
There is a great cliff jumping point just next to the Blue Lagoon by the entrance of the cove found there. It’s also not far from the Blue Lagoon Avia Villas.
This may be the best cliff jump point for someone who has never jumped from a Ceningan Cliff before. There are four jumps available, and they range from a pretty mild 4-meter jump to a wild 13-meter one.
Cliff jumping is not the safest of sports, but it’s fair to say that it’s better to try one of these common cliff jumping points on the rocky cliffs than to try and work out your own Ceningan cliff jumping point.
The water at this cliff-jumping site is particularly deep, too, and it’s very unlikely that you would touch the bottom or injure yourself in any way. If you must try a cliff jump, this may be the best place to do it.
There are loads of great places for cliff jumping in Bali and this is definitely one of them.
Visit Mahana Point Cliff Jump Site & Warung
The Mahana Point Cliff Jump is another Ceningan Cliff point with organized cliff jumps from it.
There is also a restaurant at the Mahana Point Cliff, and they can rent you a surfboard for the day, or you can grab a beer while you decide whether you’re ready to cliff jump or not.
If you do decide to jump from this Ceningan Cliff jump, then you have a choice of a 10-metre dive or a 5-metre one.
One nice touch is that there’s a ladder in the water, which makes getting out afterwards way easier than it is at the Nusa Ceningan Blue Lagoon jump.
There is a small fee for jumping at this Ceningan Cliff jump which is paid to the restaurant owners directly.
The water is not quite as deep below this Ceningan Cliff jump, though, and you should look to slow your fall with an epic dive rather than jumping straight in to avoid touching the bottom.
See Secret Point Beach
Secret Point Beach is another pleasant beach, and it’s a brilliant place for snorkelling.
If you want to see coral reefs and really colourful fish, then you won’t go wrong here.
See Song Tepo Beach
Song Tepo Beach is a bit of an odd place, and it’s on the piece of land between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan.
If you can time your visit here right, then it’s sometimes possible to walk between the two islands!
There are some pleasant beach swings here, too but the main benefit of beach access here is simply to take some beautiful shots for Instagram.
Abyss Zipline
If you’re feeling really brave then you might want to take a trip to the new Abyss Zipline.Â
It offers an amazing view of the local beach and cove. All you have to do is take the zipline from one end to the other.Â
It’s 150,000 IDR for a trip and lasts about 10 seconds, but oh wow! What a 10 seconds. Â
Take Snaps At The Old Tree Viewpoint
This is a very pleasant place that’s not far from the action. If you want a dramatic photo of waves crashing into cliffs, this is where you’ll get it.
Dive Ceningan Wall
If you want an amazing dive spot, then the 180-meter Ceningan Wall, which is covered in coral, is an amazing place to be and possibly the best place in the Nusa Group for diving.
However, be warned – you need to be an experienced and highly qualified diver to tackle this dive safely.
Where To Stay In Nusa Ceningan?
There are plenty of places to stay in Nusa Ceningan, and while the luxury end of things isn’t as luxurious as it is in Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan, you’ll be more than happy with the lower prices, too.
Luxury Hotels
Aqua Vista Villa – this resort provides beautiful private villas that are provided with their own private rock pools! There’s a swim-up bar and lovely en suite bathrooms with all the amenities you could need.
Svaha Private Villas – the breakfasts at this resort are superb and served on the private verandah of each villa. The private pool is very pleasant to swim in, and it’s within a short walk of most attractions in Nusa Ceningan.
Villa Genta Nusa Ceningan – this is a great bang for the buck venue with some of the biggest rooms we’ve ever seen in a villa! The swimming pool is one of the best in Nusa Ceningan, too.
Mid-Range Hotels
Indigo Blue Nusa Ceningan – if the word ever gets out about how nice this mid-range hotel in Nusa Ceningan is, they will probably be booked out for months in advance! As is, the rooms are lovely, the saltwater pool is great and it’s not expensive.
The Puncak Sunset Ceningan Villas – as the name suggests, you can catch a lovely sunset at this villa complex. Their room service is excellent, too, and it seems to draw from their onsite restaurant, which is great.
Island Cove Resort – with great views over the Indian Ocean and a really pleasant pool area, this is a super value-for-money mid-range hotel in Nusa Ceningan.
Budget Hotels
Candy Bed & Breakfast – this hostel is very new, and it shows inside where everything is sparkling and clean. The breakfast is quite basic, but the price is also very basic, and that’s awesome.
Adi Homestay – this is a no-frills homestay run by a very friendly local family. Just be warned, the windows don’t close, and the mosquito nets are obligatory at night. It’s dirt cheap, though.
Bong Hostel – this is a pleasant and friendly hostel, and the owner is well-versed in Southeast Asian travel. So, if you’re still working out the details of your trip, don’t be afraid to ask for some advice.
Where To Eat In Nusa Ceningan?
There aren’t a huge number of restaurants on the island, but there are enough that you can always get a tasty bite to eat, too.
Try:
-
The Dungki Bendega Resto – this place has a crispy chicken burger to die for, and their beef rendang is delicious. It’s healthy local food done well.
-
Yuyu Resto Ceningan – if you’re in the mood for some American or International Cuisine, this should hit the spot. They also do an excellent nasi goreng if you want something local.
-
Next Level Cafe Ceningan – this is probably the best place for cheap eats and a cheap pizza on this small island.
-
Two Raksa Cafe – if you want a great cup of coffee and some really fresh fish from the local catch of the day, you can’t go wrong here. They can cook both Asian and Italian styles too!
-
Blue Lagoon Resto – as you might expect, this is quite near to the Blue Lagoon, and it serves a mix of European and Asian classics. Tasty stuff.
FAQs
Is Nusa Ceningan Worth Visiting? Is Ceningan Island Worth Visiting?
Yes! We think Nusa Ceningan is very much worth visiting, particularly if you’re also visiting Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan.
You can see everything that Nusa Ceningan has to offer in a single day, and the Secret Beach and the Blue Lagoon are both wonderful ways to spend time in Bali.
What Is The Best Time To Visit Nusa Ceningan?
While you can easily have fun in Nusa Ceningan all year round, the best time to visit Nusa Ceningan is the dry season.
That’s because the air tends to be less humid, and there is more of an onshore breeze, which makes the heat easier to bear.
Which Of The Three Nusa Islands Is The Best To Visit?
You can find good arguments for all three islands, but we would concede that most people would only choose to visit Nusa Ceningan after a visit to Nusa Penida or Nusa Lembongan.
The other two islands are bigger and have more to offer a traveller than Nusa Ceningan but they are also busier and more touristy.
Nusa Ceningan might be the perfect spot for somebody seeking a quiet place away from the crowds.
Can You Walk Around Nusa Ceningan?
Yes, you can walk around Nusa Ceningan, and, in fact, many of the places you want to see on Nusa Ceningan are within a short walk of each other.
How Long To Spend In Nusa Ceningan?
You can see everything on Nusa Ceningan easily in a single day and certainly no more than two days.
However, you might want to spend longer on Nusa Ceningan if you want a quiet escape from the rest of the world.
How To Get To Nusa Ceningan From Nusa Penida?
The easiest way to get to Nusa Ceningan from Nusa Penida is to catch the local boat service on Nusa Penida.
It’s cheap and only takes about 15 minutes to get you there.
How To Book A Trip To Nusa Ceningan?
As always, we recommend the amazing people at Bali Res Centre for all your holiday booking needs.
They are a local travel agency with impeccable knowledge of what goes on in Bali.
That means they can make your trip to Nusa Ceningan as problem-free as possible, and they can also get you a very competitive price on your stay.
Final Thoughts On Nusa Ceningan Island
Nusa Ceningan is a great place to visit on a trip to Bali.
Once you’ve spent time at the Secret Beach, watching the waves at the Blue Lagoon, walked the famous Yellow Bridge and taken a small jump off a cliff, you will be glad that you came.
With amazing ocean views and something for thrill seekers and beach bums alike, there’s nowhere quite like Nusa Ceningan.
