Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo is the launching point for trips to Komodo Island and Rinca Island, home to the famous Komodo dragon. This once-small fishing village in Flores has grown into a bustling port town that runs along one main road, making it easy to navigate on foot. The town draws tourists for its incredible scuba diving reefs, spectacular sunsets, and access to the world-famous Komodo National Park. During 2020-2021, Indonesia invested heavily in infrastructure, adding new footpaths and bicycle lanes.

Labuan Bajo is served by Komodo Airport (IATA: LBJ), located 2 km out of town and substantially upgraded in 2015 into a small but modern facility. The Labuan Bajo Port (Pelabuhan Labuan Bajo) is located right in the town centre, with everywhere reachable within a 5-10 minute walk. Shared cars and buses to Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, Moni, Maumere, and other Flores destinations can be arranged through tour offices on the main street, with prices typically including hotel pick-up.

The town is quite small and can easily be traversed on foot in 10-15 minutes. Ojeks (motorcycles) cost Rp3,000-5,000 and bemos pass every 5 minutes if you get tired of walking. At least two local rental businesses on the main street offer scooter rental for Rp100,000-160,000 per day (2024), or you can ask your hotel as some also rent scooters.

The best time to visit Labuan Bajo is during the dry season from April to October when seas are calmer for boat trips. The town draws visitors year-round for diving and Komodo encounters, though weekends see higher park fees at US$18 versus US$15 on weekdays. Nearby Seraya Island offers excellent diving and snorkeling, and every evening at Kalong Island thousands of flying fox bats put on an amazing display.

Labuan Bajo has plenty of accommodation options with new places constantly opening due to growing tourism. The cheapest options are local homestays (Penginapan) near the ferry port. Budget hotels include Hotel Matahari (Rp100,000-150,000 with breakfast) and Komodo Indah Hotel & Hostel (Rp100,000-150,000 for private bathroom). Mid-range options include Surya Hotel (Rp150,000-250,000) with spotlessly clean rooms around a flowered courtyard, and Green Hill Boutique Hotel & Hostel (Rp450,000) centrally located with A/C. The main issue in Labuan Bajo is the lack of fresh water - some hotels tap spring water from the hill through long pipelines.

Choose from Indonesian, Chinese, and Western restaurants on the main road, Jl. Soekarno Hatta. Beware that some restaurants add 10% "service tax" to the bill, and some refuse to give change less than Rp1,000 - insist on exact change. Local options include Blue Corner (Rp25,000 for mie goreng), Happy Banana (Rp30,000-60,000 with WiFi and AC), and Artomoro (Rp35,000-70,000 for local food, Rp80,000-100,000 for western). For sunset dining, Green Cherry offers great bay views with free WiFi. Beer costs around Rp30,000 at supermarkets (Nov 2018), though the local moonshine arak is dangerous if contaminated with methyl alcohol.

Komodo National Park encompasses vast waters and islands west of Labuan Bajo. Day park passes cost US$15 on weekdays or US$18 on weekends, with fees supporting conservation efforts. Rinca Island is often more convenient for seeing Komodo Dragons than Komodo Island itself, with big dragons often visible right at the pier. A one-day shared boat tour covering Padar island viewpoint, Pink beach, Komodo island, and Manta point costs around Rp375,000 plus Rp350,000 in entrance fees. The 2-day/1-night option adds Rinca and Kanawa islands for around Rp700,000 plus Rp500,000 in fees (Nov 2019). Dive operators like Flores Diving Centre (from Rp900,000 for 2 dives) and Manta Rhei offer boat trips to spectacular reefs.

Three ATMs in town belong to BNI bank and can deliver up to Rp2,500,000 per transaction in Rp100,000 or Rp50,000 notes, plus a few other banks and one money changer with bad rates - change enough money before arriving. Shops selling tourist trinkets, local fabric, and Komodo Dragon carvings are in the town centre. Visit the market early morning for local coffee, spices, and local produce. Western products of varying quality are available in toko (shops) and kiosks along the roads.

Internet cafes along the main road are plentiful with connections generally at 1 Mbit/s, sufficient for video calls, WhatsApp, and YouTube. The Warnet in the south has the newest hardware, and most places have headsets for video calls. All restaurants have free WiFi and most accommodations have WiFi as well.

Labuan Bajo is generally safe for travelers, though caution is needed when hiking due to venomous snakes in the surrounding areas. The town runs along one main road making navigation straightforward, though infrastructure improvements since 2020-2021 have added new footpaths and bicycle lanes.

Kanawa Island is 10 km away from Labuan Bajo (about 1 hour with a local boat or 10 minutes with speed boat) and located at the borders of Komodo National Park, surrounded by spectacular reefs with thousands of fish species, turtles, corals, and reef sharks. Nearby Seraya Island provides excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities. The cave formations at Batu Cermin Cave and Rangko Cave offer interesting excursions, while surrounding beaches provide relaxation options.

Ruteng, 110 km away (approximately 3-4 hours by motorbike or car), is the main area for Manggarai culture and the next big city on the main Flores road. Shared cars or buses (Gunung Mas, Gemini) to Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, Moni, and Maumere can be arranged through tour offices on the main street with hotel pick-up included. For diving enthusiasts, Kanawa Island offers spectacular reefs accessible as a day trip or overnight stay, with companies like Wunderpus Diving collecting divers each morning.