Day trip · from Sanur
Nusa Lembongan in a day from Sanur: Devil’s Tear, Dream Beach, Mushroom Bay
Lembongan is Nusa Penida’s small neighbour: less road, short distances, a calm bay for swimming. It is the simplest boat trip from Sanur, and the only island day you can do with children without spending it in a car. The times given here are indicative.
- Updated on
- 4 min read
- By Kylian Dev
In short
Facts as of · sourced figures
Morning boat from Sanur, arrival at Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay, then the south-west of the island: Dream Beach while the sea is calmest, Devil’s Tear right next to it, and the afternoon at Mushroom Bay for an easy swim. Back in Sanur in the late afternoon, without rushing.
Contents
Key points
- Indicative times: they depend on the boat operator, the sea and the day’s tide.
- The boat lands at Jungutbatu or at Mushroom Bay depending on the operator: check your ticket.
- Devil’s Tear is for watching from a distance: no railing, slippery rocks, unpredictable waves.
- With children, swim at Mushroom Bay, not at Dream Beach.
Nusa Lembongan lies opposite Sanur, next to Nusa Penida. The island is small: you get around by scooter or on foot, and the three places of the day are in the south-west, a few minutes from one another.
On the programme: Devil’s Tear, Dream Beach and Mushroom Bay. For the crossing, see Sanur to Nusa Lembongan.
The day, indicative times
- 7:30 amArrive at Sanur port, check in with the operator.
- 8:30 amCrossing, roughly 30 to 45 min, landing at Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay.
- 9:30 amDream Beach: the cove while the sea is calmest.
- 11 amDevil’s Tear, a few minutes’ walk away, seen from above.
- 12:30 pmLunch, then a short ride to Mushroom Bay.
- 1:30 pmMushroom Bay: swimming, kayaking or snorkelling in the bay.
- 4 pmReturn boat; arrival in Sanur in the late afternoon.
How the day runs
Morning boat from Sanur, arrival at Jungutbatu or Mushroom Bay, then the south-west of the island: Dream Beach while the sea is calmest, Devil’s Tear right next to it, and the afternoon at Mushroom Bay for an easy swim. Back in Sanur in the late afternoon, without rushing.
The day leaves free time: Lembongan is quick to get around. That is what makes it suitable for families, as long as children are kept well back from the edge at Devil’s Tear.
Who it suits
- Families with children who can swim or stay at the edge.
- Travellers who want an island without a day in the car.
Who it does not suit
- Those who come for the dramatic cliffs of Nusa Penida.
- People very prone to seasickness.
- Anyone who wants Devil’s Tear at sunset: you need to sleep on the island.
Getting there: the boat, then the island by scooter or on foot
The Sanur to Nusa Lembongan crossing takes roughly 30 to 45 min, plus check-in. Landing often means wet feet. On the island, distances are short: a scooter for experienced riders, otherwise a vehicle with a driver, or walking between Mushroom Bay and Dream Beach.
- Arrival port: Jungutbatu, in the north-west, or Mushroom Bay directly, depending on the operator.
- From Jungutbatu, it is a short ride south-west by road.
- With children, avoid riding several to a scooter: some of the island’s slopes are steep.
What you see
Three nearby places: Devil’s Tear, where the swell bursts up between the rocks; Dream Beach, a cove open to the ocean, beautiful but rough; Mushroom Bay, a sheltered bay where you can swim without a second thought. The north of the island, the mangroves and Nusa Ceningan are not on the programme.
Devil’s Tear
A sea geyser to watch from above, stronger at high tide and in a swell.
Dream Beach
A postcard cove; strong waves and current, swim close to the shore only.
Mushroom Bay
Usually calm water, kayaks and masks for rent on the beach.
To swim with a mask, Mushroom Bay is enough: gear is rented on the beach, and the water is usually clearest in the morning. For children, it is the simplest way to discover snorkelling, with no boat and no current.
What you pay for, and what you do not
The return boat is the main item. On the island, add the scooter or the vehicle with a driver, and gear rental if you want to kayak or snorkel. Prices are given on site and change with the operator. The three beaches and Devil’s Tear are free to access.
| Item | Paid? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Boat Sanur ↔ Nusa Lembongan | Yes | Fare set by the operator |
| Scooter or vehicle with a driver | Yes | By the half-day or the day |
| Kayak, mask, fins | Yes | Rented on the beach at Mushroom Bay |
| Devil’s Tear, Dream Beach, Mushroom Bay | No | Free access |
| Pool or loungers above Dream Beach | Depends | Often open to customers who order |
Mistakes to avoid
The real danger is at Devil’s Tear: visitors step up to the edge for a photo, and the wave climbs higher than they expect. Next come swimming at Dream Beach in a swell, missing the return boat for not checking the time, and swimming near incoming boats at Mushroom Bay.
- At Devil’s Tear, hold children by the hand and stay well back from the edge.
- At Dream Beach, swim close to the shore only, never leave a child alone in the water.
- At Mushroom Bay, swim away from the landing areas.
- Check the tide table: it changes the show at Devil’s Tear.
Frequently asked questions
Lembongan or Nusa Penida for a day?
Lembongan for a relaxed day, with children or with no appetite for driving. Penida for the big cliffs, at the price of long hours in a car.
How long is the boat?
Roughly 30 to 45 min of crossing, plus check-in at Sanur port. Times vary with the operator.
Where to swim with children?
At Mushroom Bay, a sheltered bay with usually calm water. Dream Beach is exposed to the ocean.
Do you need a driver on the island?
It is not essential: the places are close. If you have no scooter experience, a vehicle with a driver remains safer.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 27, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
