What is the single best month?

July or August for conditions. June or September if you would rather not pay peak rates for a marginal difference in the water.

Can we charter in the wet season?

Yes, with a flexible itinerary. Rates are lowest and the anchorages are empty; the crossings are the part that needs watching.

Are the mantas seasonal?

They are at Nusa Penida year-round. Sightings peak with plankton blooms rather than a fixed season, which is why nobody can promise you one.

What are the winds like?

A steady easterly at 10 to 15 knots through the dry season, which is close to ideal for sailing.

Seasons · Bali

When to Come

Dry season May to September, easterly breeze at 10 to 15 knots, and mantas at Nusa Penida all year.

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Aerial view of the cliffs above Atuh Beach, Nusa Penida

The short answer, and the longer one

May to September is the dry season: calm seas, little rain, around 28°C, and a steady easterly at 10 to 15 knots. That is also peak demand, so it costs more. April and October sit either side and are the value window.

Mantas at Nusa Penida are present year-round, with seasonal peaks.
Wet season runs November to March and is workable with a flexible itinerary.
The longer crossings are the part that most rewards calm seas.

By month

Season, conditions and rates

Weekly rate bands for a private 42–45ft catamaran.

Period	Conditions	Weekly rate	Note
May–June	Dry, building to best	Ask for price	Shoulder — the value window
July–August	Best of the year	Ask for price	Peak demand and peak price
September	Dry, still excellent	Ask for price	Shoulder
April and October	Dry season edges	Shoulder rates	Quieter water, quieter anchorages
November–March	Wet season	Lowest	Workable with a flexible itinerary

May–June

Conditions: Dry, building to best
Weekly rate: Ask for price
Note: Shoulder — the value window

July–August

Conditions: Best of the year
Weekly rate: Ask for price
Note: Peak demand and peak price

September

Conditions: Dry, still excellent
Weekly rate: Ask for price
Note: Shoulder

April and October

Conditions: Dry season edges
Weekly rate: Shoulder rates
Note: Quieter water, quieter anchorages

November–March

Conditions: Wet season
Weekly rate: Lowest
Note: Workable with a flexible itinerary

Bands cross-check against the weekly rates on the cost page.

The mantas

What you are actually looking for

Reef manta

Mobula alfredi, the resident species. Wingspans of three to four metres, some over five.

Oceanic manta

Mobula birostris turns up occasionally. Larger, and much less predictable.

Where

Cleaning stations and feeding grounds off the Nusa Islands, Manta Point above all.

When

Present year-round. Sightings peak with plankton blooms rather than with the calendar.

Reef manta

Mobula alfredi, the resident species. Wingspans of three to four metres, some over five.

Oceanic manta

Mobula birostris turns up occasionally. Larger, and much less predictable.

Where

Cleaning stations and feeding grounds off the Nusa Islands, Manta Point above all.

When

Present year-round. Sightings peak with plankton blooms rather than with the calendar.

On timing

When to come, and why

Pick your window.

Tell us the months you can travel and we will tell you what they buy — in conditions and in price.

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