In short. Nusa Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan are three islands of Klungkung regency about 20 kilometres from Bali, and fast boats go from Sanur port. From Padangbai there is also the ro-ro ferry KMP Nusa Jaya Abadi, two trips a day by Detik of 5 October 2026; check the timetable on the day of travel. From 1 September 2026 a regency levy applies under regional law No. 4 of 2026: 25,000 rupiah per adult to enter and the same at each attraction. The roads on Penida are poor, and the regency itself named the approaches to Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong as the worst; the descent to Kelingking is a steep narrow staircase, in September 2026 a tourist fell there, and at Crystal Bay a swimmer drowned: watch the currents and listen to beach staff. The Yellow Bridge between Lembongan and Ceningan is for pedestrians and scooters only. By the BMKG forecast the rainy season on Penida runs from 21 to 31 December.
What Nusa Penida includes. Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are three islands of Klungkung regency about 20 kilometres from the southeast coast of Bali. By the carrier BlueWater Express, Penida is about 20 kilometres away, and by fast boat from Bali it takes about 40 minutes. The carrier's page on Penida.
How to get there. The main port for tourists is Pelabuhan Sanur (Sanur port). By ANTARA, citing the port authority KSOP Benoa, in the Christmas holiday week, 18 to 24 December 2025, 37,089 tourists went to Penida: 30,053 through Sanur, 5,673 through Serangan, 707 through Tanjung Benoa. 81 fast boats operated, 69 of them at Sanur. The ports of Kusamba and Padangbai are not in these statistics. From Padangbai the ro-ro ferry KMP Nusa Jaya Abadi also goes to Penida. By Detik of 5 October 2026, after a hull repair it returned to the line, with the first trip at 08:00 WITA and two trips a day. Check the timetable and tickets on the carrier's website on the day of travel.
What is checked on the boats. According to ANTARA, before holiday seasons, in November 2023, the port authority KSOP Benoa checked carriers' vessel documents, rescue equipment, crew certificates and pollution measures, and those found in breach faced suspension. On 28 July 2026 it also urged operators to hold regular drills for an accident. Before boarding, look at the forecast at maritim.bmkg.go.id and do not agree to a trip if the sea is clearly rough.
The Klungkung levy. From 1 September 2026 Klungkung regional law (Perda) No. 4 of 2026 applies. The levy at attractions was first meant to start on 12 August, but the date was moved: by the regent's words, the regency was not ready on the ground. For foreigners the rates are 25,000 rupiah per adult and 15,000 per child aged 4–13 to enter the islands of Penida, Lembongan and Ceningan, and the same at each attraction (DTW, daya tarik wisata). Indonesians pay only at attractions. The island entry rate, as Kompas retells it, is charged once per trip. The head of the Klungkung tourism office explained that the rates stayed the same, and what changes is the way of collecting: two channels, at entry zones and at the attractions themselves. According to Bali Tribune of 10 September 2026, there are ticket booths at Kelingking and other points, QR stickers are put on cars and scooters, and collection works on the principle “One Gate One Destination”. We have not confirmed which exact attractions are in the scheme. Pay at official booths.
Roads. In April 2024 Klungkung admitted that road conditions are worst on Penida, including the approaches to Kelingking, Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong. About 57 billion rupiah was allocated to repair two sections, Bunga Mekar to Pura Kalibun (6 kilometres) and Lembongan to Klatak (4.4 kilometres), with work planned from July 2024. We have not checked what these roads look like now. If you plan to ride around the island on a scooter, first read about renting a scooter.
Kelingking. The beach is at the bottom of the cliff, and the descent is a steep narrow staircase. On 12 September 2026 an Australian tourist fell when she went her own way to the edge of the cliff, suffered multiple fractures, and rescuers from Basarnas, the navy, the police and Balawista carried her up for about an hour and a half (RRI). On 9 January 2026 a tourist from the Czech Republic was knocked down by a sudden wave at the water's edge and dislocated his hip. The Nusa Penida police chief said in this case that the sea conditions at Kelingking change quickly (NusaBali).
Crystal Bay and water by the cliffs. On 13 September 2026 a British tourist drowned at Crystal Bay while swimming during a family trip (RCTI+). The police urged people to watch the weather and currents and obey the beach staff. We found no fresh official data on Angel's Billabong and Broken Beach. A case from March 2017 is known: at Angel's Billabong three people were photographing themselves by the natural pool, a wave hit them, and one was swept away (ANTARA). We found no official list of places where swimming is banned, so the rule is this: do not go into natural pools by the cliffs, and read about beach rules in the guide to the ocean.
The Yellow Bridge. Yellow Bridge, Jembatan Kuning, connects Lembongan and Ceningan. By Detik of 8 September 2025, pedestrians and motorcycles cross it, and cars cannot. Klungkung planned to build a new bridge for cars next to it from 2026 for 112 billion rupiah. We have not checked the condition of the bridge today.
Weather. By the BMKG forecast of 2 October 2026, the rainy season on Nusa Penida begins in the third ten days of December, from 21 to 31, with the peak in February, and the season lasts about ten ten-day periods. Occasional downpours are possible earlier.
What this means for you. Plan the trip with spare time for the return and check the wave forecast on the day you go. Budget the levy separately: 25,000 rupiah per adult to enter and the same at each attraction, 15,000 per child aged 4–13. Pay it at official booths. Do not go to the edge of a cliff or into natural pools by the water, and on the descent to Kelingking keep to the staircase. Save the number for rescuers and an ambulance, 112, in advance: emergency numbers.