Nusa Lembongan was not an easy choice when deciding which island to stay at. All of them are so beautiful and have many different things to offer. I chose Nusa Lembongan because of its liveliness without being a party island such as the well known Gili Trawangan.
Take Me Down to the Paradise City…
Getting there takes a bit of planning and effort, but having a local guide in Bali made it effortless. Our beautiful Bali mami Ana booked our fast boat through a company she uses frequently and trusts, the Sugriwa Express. The cost is 600K IDR ($40 USD) for a round trip and takes about 40 minutes. The schedules are based upon weather and ocean conditions.
Our ride to the island was very calm, the seas were very high on our return to back however. If you get seasick let the crew know as they will pass out vomit bags in advance. I don’t get seasick thankfully, but I’d still recommend not eating anything heavy beforehand. You will have to step into the water to board so dress accordingly. As you arrive in paradise, the crew will unload your luggage and guide to you the car park where they will arrange a transfer to your accommodation. You will also be transported back to the loading area when you leave. Your accommodation will make those arrangements with the company as well.
Swimming with the fishes, in a good way…
Nusa Lembongan is breathtaking before you even touch foot down. Surrounding the islands beach is shimmering, aqua water that is crystal clear right down to the sand at the bottom. While checking into our villa we saw a business card for Captain Pinky’s snorkeling excursion. The staff explained that he provides a private charter for guests and called him on the spot. Thirty minutes later, we were hopping on board our own private snorkeling tour.
He took us to 3 different locations all offering a range of snorkeling experiences. The first location was a shallow 12 foot deep reef exploding with colorful fish swimming all around us. Pinky provided us with some tasty treats to entice the fish to stick around. The second location was a shelf reef much, much deeper but the current was extremely challenging to swim against. Luckily, I am a strong swimmer, so I just ended up getting a great workout. The third location was to see very large fish that are fed by a chum boat circling the area for fisherman. The cost was 400K IDR per person ($28 USD).
Where to get some Vitamin Sea…
Coconut Beach: This beach is great if you’re looking for a secluded, quiet place. Jungut Batu beach is so busy with boats and travelers coming to and from the island, it doesn’t make for a relaxing beach. Coconut beach is a ten minute walk from the hustle and bustle in its own serene little cove. There is a small Warung here if you get hungry. You will have the company of cute four legged friends as the Bali dogs love to nap here as well. They may come up to you for some pets or just lay down next to your towel. Don’t worry about them attacking, the beach bum doggos are very friendly.
Mushroom Bay: If you want a beach club kind of place, Mushroom bay is the best for swimming and relaxing with amenities. Pro tip, Hai Bar has bean bags and tables with umbrellas on the beach for customers to use. They also have very clean bathrooms to use as well. Grab a few drinks and bask in the sun between swimming in the gorgeous water. There are people offering boat pull rides for 100K IDR. We got our ride for free since our line severed and we flipped, throwing us all off into the ocean. We were assured there weren’t sharks in these waters so it ended up being a hilariously fun time.
Have No Fear, Bali Belly Isn’t Here…
Nusa Lembongan has a lot of great places to eat. I did a lot of research before I visited on Bali belly and what foods to avoid. I ended up breaking some rules, but ultimately I was fine. Eat only cooked fruits and vegetables. They may be washed in local water and without being cooked could make you ill. Rice and noodles are always a safe option. Ice cubes may be tainted, always ask for a bottle or no ice. Only eat cooked seafood (luckily I don’t eat any of it).
Visit Passport Health before your trip and get some traveler’s diarrhea tablets as well as antibiotics in the event you do have a bad meal. Also, a Typhoid vaccine is strongly recommended to avoid becoming violently ill. While it is unrelated to food but worth mentioning, you don’t need a Malaria vaccine as it is not prevalent in Bali.
Breffies
Muntigs: Perched just above The Deck, where you can have a tasty dinner later on is this gem. They have eggs, which is a hot commodity pretty much anywhere you travel overseas. You can have them scrambled on a roll or even poached over toast with avocados. The energizer fruit juices are so refreshing in the morning. Yes, it had ice in it but I took the risk and did not get sick.
J Resto: *Hidden Gem* This restaurant actually sits at the top of the hill and has an amazing view over the whole village. Later in the morning you can even see Mount Agung as the fog rolls out. The have pancakes which are different variations of the ones we’re accustomed to, but they’re amazing. If you’re having trouble finding them, ask a local!
Lunch and/or Dinner
The Deck: Great wine selection, a nice variety of traditional Balinese and non-traditional meals. I have to give it a 10/10 for entertainment. We were serenaded through dinner by Athron, an amazing solo artist who uses instruments and his voice to create loops of cover songs. Truly amazing talent he has for interpreting songs and transforming them so creatively. Two entrees, wine, and bottle water ran us 348K IDR ($24 USD).
Thai Pantry: Would a vintage bus turned into a bar looking out into crystal waters get your attention? It got mine and the food was great as well. I ate Nasi Goreng, which is a traditional Balinese dish of noodles.
Drinks…
Ware Ware: One of the first places when you walk upstairs from the beach is the surf bungalow Ware Ware. Grab a seat looking out into the beach and have some drinks before setting off the explore the island.
Smashing Sunset…
Nusa Lembongan is beautiful every where you look. You can watch the sunset in a ton of great places, but I cannot stress enough the experience and the view from Devil’s Tear. While the name itself is intimidating enough, you’ll quickly realize just how powerful mother nature is. You’ll need transportation which can easily be found by any of the locals on motor bikes. I was able to haggle both of us onto the back of one for 50K IDR ($3.50 USD).
There is a small car park and stalls selling produce and beverages. This natural rock formation attracts large waves that explode forcefully into the rocky cove and spray ocean water incredibly high that slide back out to sea afterwards. Each crashing wave creates its own pattern with the fury of the sea. Use extra caution standing farther out onto the peninsula as the waves can easily pull you back out to sea and inevitably be deadly.
Where to Stay…
There are many options when choosing where to stay in Nusa Lembongan.Clearly this is biased, but I cannot say enough great things about Bersantai Villas. From the moment we arrived, they were so kind and helpful with everything. Whether it was providing us with laundry services, booking us activities, or giving us motorbike rides to outer parts of the island, they were always smiling and happy to help.
The villa came with its own 5 gallon water dispenser for us to use during our stay which I thought was incredibly thoughtful. Since the water is not potable in Bali, you find yourself buying numerous bottles of water that pile up and contribute to a environmental pollution issue they struggle with. The villa was also perfectly located being close to the boardwalk with restaurants and far enough away that you only heard natures sounds at night.
