Fast boats from Nusa Penida to Sanur take 40–45 min. 5 boats run daily, departing between 11:00 and 16:30, from IDR 175,000 (≈US$11) per adult one way, with no booking fee. Some boats use the jetty, others board from the beach depending on the tide.
Good to know
Boats leave from Banjar Nyuh (north-west) and Buyuk (north-east)
Allow 1 to 1.5 hours by road if you stay on the other side of the island
Check in 30 minutes before departure at the operator's desk
Beach landing at Sanur: keep your shoes in your bag
Times and fares are sample data until the operator confirms them. We show the live price before you pay.
Compare the operators
Boat, luggage allowance and check-in for each operator. We ask every operator for life jackets in adult and child sizes, a marine radio and passenger insurance.
The new terminal (opened Nov 2022) has indoor counters and an air-conditioned waiting room, but many Penida and Lembongan boats still board from the beach. Expect to wade ankle- to knee-deep: wear shorts and sandals and let the porters load your bags.
Be at your operator's counter 30–45 minutes before departure with your QR ticket and passport. Morning traffic on the Bypass is heavy.
We are not aware of a harbour fee at Sanur; check locally. Bali tourist levy (IDR 150,000) is paid online at lovebali.baliprov.go.id.
Check the departure harbour on your ticket, because the island has two main fast-boat harbours about 35 minutes apart by road. Banjar Nyuh on the north-west coast serves most Sanur boats and suits you if you stayed near Toyapakeh, Ped or Crystal Bay. Buyuk, just west of Sampalan town on the north-east coast, suits stays around Sampalan or a last morning at Diamond Beach and Atuh. Some sellers label Banjar Nyuh as "Toyapakeh"; the two are a five-minute drive apart but are not the same landing. If you booked a driver for your last day, give them the harbour name rather than "the port", and plan your final sightseeing stop on the same side of the island as your boat. The timetable above lists the departure harbour for every boat.
How long before my boat should I leave the hotel?
Be at the operator's desk 30 minutes before departure. Penida's roads are narrow and steep, and they slow down behind trucks and tour cars in the afternoon, when most return boats leave. From Crystal Bay or Ped to Banjar Nyuh, allow 15 to 30 minutes. From the east coast to Banjar Nyuh, allow 1 to 1.5 hours. If you are sightseeing on your last day, finish with time to spare: drivers know the boat times, but a flat tyre or a queue at Kelingking can easily cost half an hour. Most operators treat a missed boat as a no-show, so if you are running late, message us on WhatsApp straight away and we will try to move you to a later departure the same day.
Can I visit Nusa Penida as a day trip?
Yes. Take an early boat from Sanur and an afternoon boat back from the same harbour, which leaves most of the day on the island. That is enough for either the west-coast viewpoints (Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong) or a snorkel trip with manta rays, but rarely both, because the roads are slow. Plan two or three stops, not five, and remember each listed attraction now charges its own fee of about IDR 25,000 per person on top of the island fee. Book both directions together so the return seat is confirmed, and pick a return boat that leaves from the harbour where you arrived. Our own 4-spot snorkel trip starts at Banjar Nyuh, and the booking page checks that it fits between your two boats before you pay.
What happens when I land at Sanur?
Most boats land on the beach at Sanur, so step off into shallow water with your shoes in your bag; porters carry luggage up the sand to the operator offices on Jl. Matahari Terbit. We are not aware of a harbour fee at Sanur, but check locally. Taxis and drivers wait near the terminal and along the main road. Afternoon traffic to Kuta, Seminyak and Canggu is heavy, so allow 40 to 60 minutes or more if you have a flight to catch, and do not book a same-day flight too tightly: weather can delay or cancel sailings. If your return boat is cancelled by the harbour master, you can move to the next departure for free or get a full refund. If you are travelling on to Nusa Lembongan or the Gilis another day, Sanur has boats to both, so you can come back to the same harbour.
Sea conditions by month
What the crossing is usually like. Not a forecast.
JanModerate
FebModerate
MarCalm
AprCalm
MayCalm
JunModerate
JulRough
AugRough
SepModerate
Oct (this month)Calm
NovCalm
DecModerate
The Badung Strait between Bali and the Nusa islands is usually calmest from March to May and in October and November. In July and August the south-east trade winds bring bigger swell, so crossings can be bumpy and the harbour master sometimes pauses sailings. Morning boats are usually smoother than afternoon ones. General guidance, not a forecast.
Closures and local fees
Days with no boats
No closures announced for this route right now.
Every year on Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence (usually in March), all Bali harbours close for 24 hours. Weather closures are announced by the harbour master on the day; we message you on WhatsApp if your boat is affected.
Costs not in your ticket
Paid locally to the government or harbour, not to us. Amounts per person.
Bali tourist levy (Love Bali)IDR 150,000 (≈US$9)
Paid once per entry to Bali by every foreign visitor, online at lovebali.baliprov.go.id (beware of lookalike sites). Not part of your boat ticket.
*Per adult: Angel Billabong Fast Cruise 07:30 out, Angel Billabong Fast Cruise 16:00 back, including the 5% return discount. Marine park fee (about IDR 100,000 pp) is paid on the day.
Nusa Penida to Sanur: questions travellers ask
How long is the fast boat from Sanur to Nusa Penida?
About 40 minutes (30–45 depending on the operator and the sea). Sanur to Nusa Lembongan is about 35 minutes. Padang Bai to Gili Trawangan takes about 1.5 hours, and Sanur or Serangan to the Gilis 2¼–3½ hours with stops.
Will my feet get wet when boarding at Sanur?
Probably. Sanur's new harbour (opened 2022) has a jetty, but many Penida and Lembongan boats still load from the beach depending on the operator and the tide. Expect to wade ankle- to knee-deep: wear shorts and sandals and keep your phone in a dry bag. Jungut Batu (Lembongan) and Gili Air are beach landings too. Serangan uses a jetty.
What time should I check in?
Be at your operator's counter 30–45 minutes before departure with your QR e-ticket and passport. If you added hotel pickup, we send the exact pickup time on WhatsApp the evening before.
How much luggage can I bring?
Usually one bag up to 20–25 kg plus a small hand bag per passenger. Surfboards, bikes, dive gear or extra bags may cost extra — add them as an extra when booking. Porters load bags into the hold or onto the roof, so keep your passport, phone and valuables with you.
What happens if my boat is cancelled because of weather?
If the harbour master or the operator cancels a sailing, we move you to the next available departure free of charge or give you a full refund — your choice. We contact you on WhatsApp as soon as we know.
Are island taxes and harbour fees included in the ticket price?
No — they are paid locally, not to us. Budget for the Bali tourist levy IDR 150,000 (pay at lovebali.baliprov.go.id), the Nusa Penida / Lembongan island fee IDR 25,000 per adult and IDR 15,000 per child (cashless), about IDR 25,000 per major Penida attraction, and harbour fees of about IDR 10,000–20,000 in cash at Padang Bai, the Gilis and Bangsal.
Which harbour on Nusa Penida will I arrive at?
Most Sanur boats arrive at Banjar Nyuh on the north-west coast — closest to Kelingking, Broken Beach, Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay. Some arrive at Buyuk on the north-east coast, better for Diamond Beach and Atuh. Every result shows the arrival harbour. Penida roads are slow: allow 1–1.5 hours to the far side.
Can I combine my fast boat with a snorkel trip?
Yes. On Nusa Penida trips you can add our own 4-spot snorkel trip (Manta Point, Crystal Bay, Gamat Bay, Wall Point) as an extra. The booking page checks that it fits between your boats. The marine park fee is shown before you pay.
Photo: Galih Jelih
Photo: Hongbin