A Guide To Nusa Ceningan: A Perfect Day-Trip
Disclaimer: Real-life human experiences. Written by a human. Created for humans. (Travels at Missy does not use AI for our articles. All posts and information are 1st hand experience. AI data-scrapping tools are expressly forbidden from using Travels with Missy content for AI Training).
Nusa Ceningan is one of those places that can easily slip past you. And it would be a shame to let it skip past you, as it’s a gorgeous tiny island attached by the iconic yellow bridge that connects it to Nusa Lembongan.
The island is tiny and you can drive around it in under 30 minutes. I would recommend spending at least half a day exploring, but to really enjoy it try and spend a couple of hours hopping from spot to spot, with a lunch and relaxation thrown in for good measure.
Getting Around Nusa Ceningan
The past way to explore Nusa Ceningan is to rent a scooter and zip around the island. The roads are in pretty solid conditions and there’s quite a bit to see and explore with your 2-wheels.
If you’ve never driven a scooter before, Nusa Ceningan is a good place to learn. The roads are quiet, and you’ll learn all the basic skills quite quickly. There are a number of steep hills on Nusa Ceningan so practice those braking skills. You can expect to rent a scooter for around 75K IDR per day. You can fill up with gas on the side of the road for around 20K IDR depending on the person selling.
If you don’t want to rent your own scooter you can ask around and hire a local motor taxi to take you around the island.
The yellow bridge connects Nusa Ceningan with Nusa Lembongan and is large enough for 2 scooters to pass by one another (barely). Cars are not allowed on this bridge. You can also cross the yellow bridge by foot and scooters will work their way around people stopping to take pictures of the bridge and fishing boats below.
Once you cross the yellow bridge to Nusa Ceningan turning left will take you on a road that traverses alongside the seaweed farms. The seaweed farms are one of the biggest industries on both islands and a life source for the local population here. The seaweed grown here is used in pretty much everything, from face creams to ice-creams and during the pandemic was the only source of income for locals.
As you drive to Mahana Point the road hugs the coastline and you’ll pass small restaurants, beach bars, and accommodations all offering fantastic views. Take your pick of where to stop, but I would recommend Le Pirate (read more down below).
Turning right after crossing the yellow bridge will bring you to the north of the island passing small settlements before eventually arriving at what looks like a modern but abandoned ferry port. Or at least it appeared abandoned to me. You can continue driving around the island which now faces Nusa Penida. There are a number of bars & restaurants that offer fantastic food and viewpoints.
If you’re planning on visiting Nusa Penida from Nusa Lembongan you can purchase tickets before you cross over the bridge to Nusa Ceningan. You’ll see a small open-office and a waiting room that waits to fill up before boats leave for Nusa Penida. You won’t have to wait very long. You can also park your scooter behind the office building.
Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan
As you head to Secret Point Beach you may even miss the small signs that point and lead to the Blue Lagoon on Nusa Ceningan. Follow the directions for Mahana Point and you’ll find a teeny tiny sign around 300 meters away that indicates that the Blue Lagoon is closeby. You can park your scooter on the side of the road.
The Blue Lagoon can only be view from the edge of the cove as huge volumes of water race into the cove and break against the rocks below. The water colour here is incredible and it’s a great spot to take some photos and admire nature at its finest. It’s not possible to swim here. However, you can (if you so wish) cliff jump here. I would advise against it.
Continuing down the road you’ll reach the most southerly point of Nusa Ceningan. Mahana Point is a fantastic place to watch the surfers who make use of the excellent breaks. The parking lot is large with little shade. Grab a cold drink and spend an hour or two watching talented surfers. And if you fancy some cliff diving, you can jump off the 5m or 10 board directly into the waters below. Nobody was brave enough to do it the day that I was visiting (nor do I blame them).
Le Pirate Nusa Ceningan
Le Pirate has some of the cutest accommodations on Nusa Ceningan. I stopped here for an hour or two after motoring around the island and had a lovely time soaking in the pool and admiring the absolutely gorgeous views across the seaweed farms at low-tide and Nusa Lembongan across the way.
Le Pirate offers adorable little triangle huts to stay in and I wished I had stayed here for a night or two. The aqua-blue trimmed frames and white huts have basic features inside, but with views and amenities of a swimming pool and deck that sits on the water, this is one of the best places to stay on Nusa Ceningan.
You don’t need to be a guest to access the small beach club, and on the day I visited it was really quiet. I loved my couple of hours soaking up the sunshine, enjoying an ice-cold drink and cooling off in the small pool.
Nusa Ceningan
If you’re spending a couple of days on Nusa Lembongan it makes sense to add Nusa Ceningan to your itinerary. It’s a really easy day trip to cross the yellow bridge and there are lots of sights to see. I loved my afternoon zipping around the island and would highly recommend visiting for a couple of hours.
Looking for more Nusa Island content? Check out my posts on:
- Nusa Penida – Visit all the sights and decide which side is your favorite.
- Getting around Nusa Penida – road conditions and scooter advice.
- Nusa Lembongan – ferries, where to stay and things to do.
- Bali Travel Tips – First-time visitors checklist & advice.
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Meet Missy…
Missy spent the first 2 decades of her life living in her native Dublin, Ireland. Before a life living overseas called to her, and she spent the next decade living in China, Laos & Belgium. She now splits her time in Antwerp, Belgium, and wherever the sun is currently shining. You can follow Missy’s real-time travels on her Instagram.
