Nusa Penida is an interesting case of Instagram bringing a place to life, but at the same time destroying it. Tourists are flocking to this island for its insta worthy locations, and the poor wee island can't cope. The required infrastructure isn't there - the roads are narrow, unstable/rocky, windy and hilly, the vehicles aren't the right vehicles to navigate those roads, half of this trip is purely driving 15km per hour along narrow bumpy roads in shuttles with bad tires and no suspension, and there is little to no waste management. The locals appreciate the tourism as it brings in money, but their beautiful island is a large garbage heap as a result. The tours you pay for aren't the tours I expected - rather than a guide providing you with cultural, local and historical information, your driver rushes you from place to place, takes your photo for you (for the gram), and off to the next place. Nobody is stopping to soak up the view and enjoy, rather, everybody is jostling for the perfect photo. It's a bit chaotic.
The morning was spent snorkeling at 4 different spots. This was also slightly rushed, but much more fun than the afternoon of driving. The snorkeling was mostly good, though a lot of the coral is dying or already dead, so there weren't as many fish as expected. We did get to snorkel with huge manta rays however, which was the highlight of the day trip and entirely worth it!
Be sure to bring a towel and changes of clothes and shoes (bring thongs/jandals/sandals).
