Uluwatu to Nusa Penida: Getting to Sanur Harbour

When to leave for your boat

Fast boats to Nusa Penida leave from Sanur Harbour, on the other side of south Bali. These are the times we recommend leaving your hotel. They include being at the harbour 45 to 60 minutes before departure.

Don’t cut it close. Maruti’s check-in opens 90 minutes before departure and closes 30 minutes before, and some companies ask you to swap your voucher at their office first. Check your own ticket for the counter and deadline.

Take the Bali Mandara toll road

Ask your driver to take the toll road. From Uluwatu, follow Jalan Raya Uluwatu down to Jimbaran, join the toll near the airport and cross Benoa Bay. Leave at the Benoa end and head north on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai to Sanur.

The toll keeps you off the busy Bypass around the airport. A car pays Rp14,000 and a motorbike Rp5,500, the fares Jasamarga Bali Tol has charged since 27 April 2024.

The gates only take e-money cards, not cash. Drivers usually carry one. If you’re driving or riding yourself, top up an e-money card before you set off. Motorbikes have their own lane.

Jalan Raya Uluwatu is the slow part

There’s one main road off the Bukit Peninsula, and it fills up with scooters, trucks and tour buses. Badung is building a West Ring Road to ease it (ANTARA, July 2026), so expect roadworks along the way.

From Bingin or Pecatu, ask your driver how long the morning run to Jimbaran takes before agreeing a pickup time. Early boats are easier: the road is quieter before 06:00.

Getting a ride to Sanur

• Book a driver the day before. A driver who waits at your gate is the easiest choice for a pre-dawn start. Agree the pickup time, the toll and the harbour drop-off.
• Ask about a boat company pickup. Some fast boat companies add a hotel pickup, often for an extra charge outside their free area. El Rey’s free pickup covers one address in Jimbaran but not Uluwatu.
• Book the boat and pickup together. If you book your fast boat ticket with Visit Penida, we can add a pickup from your hotel in Bali. Ask Made about your area and any extra cost before you pay. See the fast boat tickets.

At Sanur Harbour

Cars reach the harbour through one entrance on Jalan Pantai Matahari Terbit, and it gets busy before the morning boats. Give your driver the boat company’s name so they can drop you near the right counter. Then check in and wait for boarding.

See the Sanur boat times for each company’s departures and which harbour on Nusa Penida your boat uses.

Day trip or overnight

From Uluwatu, a day trip means leaving around 05:30 and getting back after dark. You’ll spend three hours or more in a car and over an hour on boats.

We recommend staying at least two nights on Nusa Penida. If you want a day trip anyway, sleep in Sanur the night before and take an early boat.

Coming back from Nusa Penida

The last boats to Sanur leave Nusa Penida at 17:00. You’ll reach Sanur in the evening rush, so allow 1.5 hours or more for the drive back to Uluwatu.

Book your ride back before you cross. App drivers are reported not to be able to collect passengers inside Sanur Harbour, so a pre-booked driver saves you walking out to the main road with your bags.