Updated on July 7, 2019

ESPAÑOL

• I was here: 2 days when I went to Bali in 2012.
• Number of recommended days: 2.
• My score: 3/5; not bad, but I would not go back unless for diving.

It is a small island belonging to Bali. It is 30 minutes to about two hours southeast of the main island depending on the type of boat you choose. Arguments for and against going:

• For:
  • It is one of the few places in the southern part of Bali that are not yet overcrowded. There is hardly any street vendors nor traffic, and you can walk calmly through most of the island.
  • There is accommodation and restaurants for all budgets. On this island resorts infinity pool are mixed with basic bamboo bungalows overlooking the sea.
  • Surfing and snorkeling are excellent, as is diving in the east area and in its neighboring Nusa Penida, where the main attraction are the manta rays.
  • For those who want to visit, there is a mangrove area.
• Against:
  • The beaches are not inviting because they are very rocky or are used for mooring boats. It is a single point against, but more important than it may seem.

Google map showing the situation of Nusa Lembongan from Denpasar. The bay occupies the northwest of the island

THINGS TO DO

In my opinion, if you come to surf, snorkel, dive or just to relax, you have a lot to do here. Whoever comes for something else, not so much:

• The only good beaches are Mushroom Bay and Dream Beach, but both are very small. The first is rocky and the second is a white sand beach.

• Surfing is the reason why tourism started coming to this island. You can practice across the bay between Mushroom Bay and Jungut Batu.
• If the sea is calm, this area is excellent for snorkeling, which is not something that abound in Bali. The downside is that the interesting areas are somewhat away from the coast, so you can swim a lot, or hire a boat to take you to one of the floating platforms for tourists in the middle of the bay.

• Diving: I wish I had dived here, so much, with manta rays in Nusa Penida. There are many dive centers: World Diving Lembongan, Two Fish Divers and Diving Big fish are some of the most reputable. There are also centers in Sanur that make diving excursions in the area. Prices are similar to everywhere; an Open Water course for example costs about Rp 5,000,000 (about 320 €).
• Visit the mangrove. The truth is that it did not caught my attention. It is a small mangrove and assumed it wasn’t going to be very different from others he had seen.

HOW TO GET THERE

The only way to get there is by boat from Bali, Nusa Penida, Lombok and Gili Islands. From Bali there are boats of different categories and prices from Padang Bai and Benoa ports, they are detailed in the post GETTING THERE AND AWAY IN BALI. In addition, from Sanur Beach, there are also many boats that make the trip:

• The speedboats make it in about 30 minutes, they have many services a day, most of them between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. and cost around Rp 200,000. They can be booked online or directly on the beach. Since there are at least 8 companies, there should be no problem to book on the spot, but most of them can be booked through our accommodation, and some offer door to door service.
• Slow boats are only two, the Public Boat and the Perama. They take 90 minutes. You can not return to Bali until the next day. Cost Rp 110,000.

Nusa Lembongan is also a popular day trip. Any hotel or agency will offer a complete package: transfers from the hotel, fast boat and snorkel or boat through the mangroves, as preferred.

GETTING AROUND

The first thing to keep in mind is that the boats do not stop on any pier, but on the shore, so you’ll wet your feet. This is also important at the time of carrying your luggage, a backpack is much more convenient than a suitcases with wheels since in addition, most streets in town are not paved.

Walking you can cover most of the island. Other popular transports are rented bicycle or moped.

ACCOMMODATION AND RESTORATION

As already mentioned, there are for all budgets.

• Jungut Batu area, with the beach to the west, is the cheapest, since the beach is not very nice because the boats are moored in it.

• The most expensive area is Mushroom Bay, the more the farther west, as the beach is better, but quite small. Most of these hotels allow you to use their pools if you have a drink, although you are staying in another hotel.

MORE THINGS TO DO IN BALI:

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