If you are staying in Nusa Dua or Benoa, you are closer to Turtle Island than any other guests in Bali. The drive from most Nusa Dua resorts to the Tanjung Benoa jetty takes around 10 minutes, and the glass bottom boat crossing to the island takes about 15 more. That makes this the easiest half-day trip in South Bali — out after breakfast, back at your pool by early afternoon.
Here is exactly how it works, what it costs, and how to time it so your evening plans stay intact.
Why Nusa Dua Guests Have It Easiest
Tanjung Benoa sits directly north of the Nusa Dua resort area — they share the same peninsula. Guests staying in Seminyak or Uluwatu typically spend 45 to 60 minutes in traffic each way to reach the jetty. From the Westin, Mulia, Ayodya, Hilton, or any hotel along the ITDC strip, you are looking at a 10-minute transfer, sometimes less.
That short distance changes what the trip feels like. There is no early wake-up call, no long car ride with restless kids, and no full day sacrificed. Many of our Nusa Dua families book a 9am pickup and are back at the resort before 1pm — which is exactly why we call this the perfect half-day.
What the Half-Day Actually Looks Like
A typical morning runs like this:
- 9:00 — Pickup at your hotel lobby (or meet us at the jetty if you prefer to walk or use your own driver).
- 9:15 — Board your private glass bottom boat at Tanjung Benoa. The boat is yours alone — up to 9 guests for IDR 500,000 per boat.
- 9:20–9:35 — Cruise over the reef. The glass panel in the hull turns the ride into a moving aquarium, and this is usually where younger kids light up.
- 9:35–10:45 — Explore Turtle Island. Meet the resident sea turtles, learn how they are cared for, and take your time — with a private boat, nobody hurries you back.
- 11:00 — Return crossing, then transfer back to your hotel or on to lunch.
Tours start from IDR 150K per person, and you can see the full breakdown on our price page or compare options on tours and packages.
Private Boat, Family Pace, No Watersports Required
Two things Nusa Dua families ask us about most often. First: do we have to do watersports? No. The glass bottom boat and Turtle Island visit stand completely on their own, and it is our most-booked option for families with toddlers and for grandparents travelling with the group. If your teenagers do want action, banana boat rides are IDR 110K and jet ski sessions IDR 235K — easy to add on the spot at the beach. See watersports for the full menu.
Second: can we release a baby turtle? We answer this honestly, because it matters. Hatchling releases depend on the conservation schedule and on whether hatchlings are actually ready — it is never something we can guarantee for a specific date. If a release is happening during your stay, we will tell you and help you join. Read more on our turtle hatchling release page before you set expectations with the kids.
For a deeper look at how we run the trip for children of different ages, our family Turtle Island experience guide covers strollers, life jackets, and nap-time-friendly departure slots.
Timing It Around Your Evening Plans
Because the trip finishes by early afternoon, it pairs beautifully with everything South Bali does best in the evening. A morning Turtle Island visit leaves plenty of time to reach Uluwatu for the sunset Kecak dance, or to settle into a seafood dinner on Jimbaran beach. If you would rather combine it all into one seamless day with a driver — Turtle Island in the morning, beach and Waterblow in the afternoon, Uluwatu at golden hour — that is exactly what our full-day South Bali itinerary was built for. The complete private package, including an Alphard with driver, is USD 100 per person.
Hotel Pickup, Cars, and Same-Day Booking
Pickup is available from every Nusa Dua and Benoa hotel, with three vehicle tiers: Toyota Innova Zenix, Toyota Alphard, or the Denza D9 seven-seat electric — transfer rates are quoted on request via WhatsApp, and for Nusa Dua they are the lowest of any area in Bali, simply because you are so close. Details on how it works are on our packages with hotel pickup page.
Same-day and next-day bookings are usually no problem from Nusa Dua — the short distance means we can often confirm a morning slot the evening before, or even the same morning. Common questions about weather, what to bring, and child ages are answered in our FAQ.
Ready When You Are
Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-2859-0000 with your hotel name and preferred date, and we will confirm your pickup time and private boat within minutes. Turtle Island is ten minutes from your lobby — it would almost be a shame not to go.
Written by the Turtle Island Bali desk — part of the Juara Holding Group family of Indonesian travel brands since 2015.