Manta Point – Watch Manta Rays from a cliff
| Type: Nature Cost: Free Time: 30m – 1hAffiliate links: Nearby: |
There are two great spots for watching manta rays in Nusa Penida. Manta Point and The Manta Point. Do note, that if you go to these locations, you will find yourself at a cliff 100 meters above sea level. You can watch the Mantas but not diving nor snorkel with them from here. You will have to book a tour for that. Read more about that here (sponsored link).
That being said, watching the magnificent creatures from above is amazing and free.
If you decide to go to Manta Point, you will find a temple next to the cliffs edge. You cannot go inside, but you may see some wild monkeys there, as it is pretty remote. The road is narrow, steep and bumpy at the last bit, so you cannot go all the way there by car. The vegetation at the edge is also blocking to view to some extend. At the time of our visit, we couldn’t see any manta rays at Manta Point, although they were out there, as a bunch of boats with divers were there.
If you go to The Manta Point however, you can drive your car or scooter all the way there. There is an observation deck (kinda) with railings, from where you can look over the edge. They are easy to spot, with their black backs against the white sandy ocean floor. You may want to bring binoculars or a camera with zoom function, as you are quite high up. There is no guarantee to see any manta rays, but when I was there, we were lucky enough to see around 40 of them. There was also a vendor selling cold drinks, and a nice big tree providing shade while we took a break.
Manta Rays
Manta rays are also called “devilfish” because of their “horns”, which give them an evil appearance. Their enormous fins moves like wings, and makes them look like gigantic underwater birds, and if you are lucky, you can see them jump into the air and almost fly for a short time. Their “wingspan” can reach up to 6-8 metres and a mass of 1.500 kg. Despite of its size and huge mouth, it eats only microscopic animals. The “horns” on the front are normalle folded in to reduce drag, but can open up to lead the flow of water and thus food into its mouth. Manta Rays live to be around 50 years old.
How to get here?
If you chose to visit The Manta Point from above, you want to either drive there or get a driver to take you, as it is pretty far down south. This way, you can visit both manta spots, and perhaps other places nearby. Be careful if you chose to go on a scooter. Nusa Penida roads are quieter than many mainland roads, but it can be dangerous if you are not used to getting around like this. A personal driver can be helpful, if you need a place to store you flip-flops while you hike down to Guyangan Waterfall.
You can book a personal driver on GetYourGuide (sponsored link) in advance. This is a great way to explore Nusa Penida and Bali in general. You can decide where and when you want to go, and they are very helpful with tips and photos.
Go by boat and snorkle: Book on GetYourGuide (sponsored link).
Book a 10 hour day trip on GetYourGuide (sponsored link) and have everything taken care of. Just get ready to be picked up at your hotel in Bali.
Book a day trip to both Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan on GetYourGuide (sponsored link).
Where to stay?
We chose to stay in the middle of the Island, at a hotel called The Dara Hill. It was cheap, and made it convenient to rent a scooter on our second day to continue. There wasn’t anything else in the area, so if you don’t like it remote, you may want to stay near some of the harbor cities.
Have a look for Nusa Penida hotels at Trip.com (sponsored link).
Read also
Our experience in Bali Part 1 – Nusa Penida and Canggu
