Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan – A Complete Guide to the Most Epic Cliffside View in Bali
Blue Lagoon is indisputably one off the hottest attractions on Nusa Ceningan, and for a good reason! The multiple shades of baby-blue that surrounds the bay and the cliff shores at Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan are so breathtaking, you probably have never seen anything like it. I certainly hadn’t seen anything so blue!
As the smallest island of the Nusa island trio, Nusa Ceningan was an unknown destination just a few years ago for most visitors of Bali. In recent years, however, Nusa Ceningan has developed exponentially with improved infrastructures, restaurants and cliffside villas, appealing to adventurous travelers who wish to escape the crowded Bali.
From the stunning landscape of cliff drop-offs to crystal clear waters, the idyllic islands of Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are quickly becoming known as “the next Gilis.”
Just a quick 30-minute ferry ride from the mainland of Bali, Nusa Ceningan island is accessible as a day trip or a holiday destination. I highly recommend spending at least a few days on Ceningan or Lembongan though, but you can check out the rest of this guide and decide for yourself!
Read on for a comprehensive travel guide on what you can see and expect at Blue Lagoon, how to get there, and other activities to do around the island.
How to get to Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan
There are two ways you can plan a visit to the beautiful Blue Lagoon.
1. Take a day trip to Nusa Ceningan from Bali or Nusa Lembongan
If you are based in south Bali, the best and easiest way to get to Nusa Ceningan is to take a speedboat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan.
Fast boasts will either drop you off on Jugut Batu beach or Mushroom Bay Nusa Lembongan and even though Mushroom Bay is closer to the Yellow Bridge, you can easily reach Ceningan from either of the Lembongan beaches on a scooter.
Travel tip: If you are just visiting Nusa Ceningan for the day, make sure you get on the first ferry departing Sanur (around 08:00) and hop on the last departing ferry (around 16:30) to get the most out of your day!
Once you are on Nusa Lembongan, you can easily cross the infamous Yellow Bridge on foot or scooter and voila! Welcome to Nusa Ceningan.
Since Ceningan is a tiny island, you can drive your scooter around the perimeter in less than an hour. From the Yellow Bridge, the Blue Lagoon is about a 10-minute scooter ride or 30-minute walk.
While it is possible to get to the Blue Lagoon on foot, there is a bit of uphill climb to get there, and it is very hot in Bali! Be prepared to sweat.
2. Stay on Nusa Ceningan
If you want a hassle-free trip to Ceningan, Ceningan Resort is the only accommodation on the island (that I know of as of 2019) that offers a door-to-door service directly to the resort jetty.
So if you worry about loading your suitcase/backpack on the scooter or getting lost around the island, book your trip with Ceningan Resort, and they will take care of all your logistics from Bali or Lombok.
Ceningan Resort also has an onsite 5-star PADI dive center so you can book an all-inclusive package if you are a scuba diver looking to dive with the famous manta rays or mola-molas!
How to Get Around Nusa Ceningan and Beyond
If you want to fully explore the Nusa Ceningan and the sister island Nusa Lembongan, it’s best to rent a scooter. There are no car rentals on the island, so the only means of transport on the islands are bicycles, motorcycles and your feet.
Since both Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan are hilly, it would be strenuous (not to mention the heat) to explore the islands on foot.
Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan in Detail
Where is Blue Lagoon?
Blue Lagoon is easily locatable using Google Maps. Once you cross the Yellow Bridge, make the first right onto the main Jalan Nusa Ceningan and follow the sign to the Blue Lagoon.
What To Expect at Blue Lagoon
When you pull into the parking lot, you can simply park your scooter. At the time of this writing in Feb 2019, there were no parking fees.
When you take a few steps from the parking lot, you will be immediately rewarded with the jaw-dropping view of the Blue Lagoon, where the gorgeous blue waters flow into the bay.
The shade of the blue interestingly changes day to day – on the day of my visit, light teal colored waves swept in and out of the bay – and it was absolutely breathtaking.
Most visitors take their photos here, without realizing there is much more to see!
Once you take your photos at the entrance, keep walking along the dirt path along the coast. About 50 meters down the path, the bushes will eventually open up to a panoramic view of the teal colored-waves crashing into the cliffside (viewpoint #2)
Watch your footing as you make your way down and get closer to the edge. You will notice that the ground has been eroded by the crashing waters and has many jagged edges and holes. The waves also come crashing unexpectedly –be very careful, as there have been reported accidents of tourists falling down the cliff edges.
Once you are done taking your panoramic photos here, continue back on the dirt path, and there are still two more viewing spots.
Viewpoint #3 is about 20-30 meters south from the panoramic viewpoint #2. Due to the small viewing area, this section can get quite busy with tourists. But watching the dramatic scene of waves crashing up against the cliffs is so incredible!
For the last viewpoint #4, walk another 20 meters or so along the dirt path towards the south. Walk past the palm trees, and you will see a clearing where you can view the panorama of viewpoints 2 and 3.
Best Time to Visit the Blue Lagoon
The earlier, the better.
Not only do you get to avoid the crowd, but you will also save yourself from the scorching heat and the sunrays.
The Blue Lagoon does not provide many shaded areas. All the viewpoints discussed above are out in the open, leaving you to be boiled under the tropical sun.
After spending 2 hours at the Blue Lagoon, I was about 3 shades darker (with the sunblock on!). If you want to avoid looking like a lobster, be sure to slather on plenty of sunscreen!
Other Things to Do Around Nusa Ceningan
1. Surfing
Some amazing breaks around Lembongan and Ceningan attract beginner to intermediate surfers from around the world. Head to Jungut Batu on Lembongan or Mahana Point on Ceningan if you are looking to catch some waves.
In Jugutbatu, I rented a surfboard for IDR 50,000 per hour. The thing to note about surfing in Lembongan is that the break is far from the shore, so you would need to hire a taxi boat to get out and return, which will cost extra. You can inquire with Newbro Surfing for more info.
2. [Not] Secret Beach Nusa Ceningan
Secret Beach is on most travel guides as a secret hideaway where you can enjoy a relaxing day on a white sand beach – but not anymore.
When I last visited the Secret Beach in 2019, the white sand had eroded almost completely, leaving only slabs of rocks along the beach.
While you can still enjoy the resort facilities (pool and restaurant), you will be disappointed if you head there looking for a beach.
Most of the shoreline around Ceningan consists of cliffs, rocks, and mangroves. While there are some incredible views to enjoy from Ceningan, it’s not the optimal place for pristine white sand beaches. If you want to enjoy a beach day, check out this post on the best beaches on Nusa Lembongan.
3. Explore Nusa Lembongan
Speaking of Nusa Lembongan beaches, make sure you leave enough time to head to the enchanting island of Nusa Lembongan and check out Devils’ Tear, catch epic sunsets and paddleboard around the mangrove forest.
Lembongan is much more developed than Ceningan, offering a broader spectrum of accommodations and restaurant options. Be sure to check out this post for 7 essential tips before heading to Lembongan!
If you are short on time, you can check out this post on 5 ways to enjoy Nusa Lembongan on a day trip.
4. Mahana Point Cliff Jumping
Full disclosure – I have never tried cliff jumping myself. I am terrified of heights and cannot get paid enough to jump over a cliff! But if you are an adrenaline junkie, go for it!
There are 2 platforms, one at 5m and the other at 10m. Once in the water, there are steps that you can climb back up.
The cost per jump is IDR 50,000 or USD 3.5.
Even if you are not a cliff jumper, you can enjoy magnificent views from Mahana Point. Since it’s within steps from the Blue Lagoon, it’s worth checking out if you are in the area.
There is a small warung/restaurant that sell drinks and light food, so grab a beer and enjoy!
By the way, I heard that you could also cliff jump at Blue Lagoon – but I didn’t see anyone doing it, nor see any way to climb up to land. With so much water movement around the cliff edges, I am not sure that cliff jumping at Blue Lagoon is safe.
5. Scuba Diving or Snorkeling
No trip to Nusa islands is complete without exploring the magnificent underwater world! The marine life around Nusa Ceningan, Lembongan and Penida is superb.
There are numerous diving destinations in Bali, but Nusa islands are not to be missed. If you are not yet a scuba diver, not to worry – there are stunning shallow reefs around Penida (Gamat Bay) and Lembongan (Toyapakeh) that will blow you away just the same.
You can either snorkel, or take a Discover Scuba Diving program for half the day with an instructor and explore the colorful wonderland of the sea.
For more details on scuba diving around Nusa islands, check out this post.
Summary of Blue Lagoon Nusa Ceningan
When visiting any of the Nusa islands on your next trip to Bali, be sure to make a stop at the Blue Lagoon. Although I won’t deny that the Blue Lagoon is bustling with tourists, it’s still a stunning spot to watch the crashing waves and be in awe of the bluest horizon of the ocean.
Have you ever been to the Blue Lagoon? If you have any additional travel tips, please share in the comments below!
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2 Comments
Queenie Mak
I loved exploring Nusa Ceningan! The island has such a laidback island feel. I just love everything about it! I also explored the Blue Lagoon. Although I didn’t see the parking lot (I went in Jan 2019). We pretty much just left our scooters on the side of the road and climbed through this narrow path until we saw the blue water! I’m glad there is a proper place for parking now because otherwise it is pretty hard to find! Thanks for sharing!
Mo
Really? That’s interesting because I went last year too and there was a parking lot then….anyway, I’m glad you found the path to the Blue Lagoon. Isn’t it so incredible! I could have stared at that blue forever 🙂