The island of Nusa Penida is a limestone plateau with white sand beaches on its north coast, and views over the water to the volcanoes on Bali. The beaches are not good for swimming as most of the shallows are filled with bamboo frames used for seaweed farming. The villager lives from farming the seaweed, because most of the beach is wide and shallow.

The south coast has limestone cliffs dropping straight down to the sea and a row of offshore islets; it??в�ўs rugged and spectacular scenery. The interior is hilly, with sparse looking crops, and old fashioned village. The rainfall is low, and there are large tanks known as cabang, in which water is stored for the dry season. The culture is distinct from that of Bali, the language is an old form of Balinese no longer heard on the mainland.

It is possible to travel to Nusa Penida from Padangbai (one hour) with faster private boats, or from Kusamba, a slower trip on a traditional boat.