Things to Do in East Nusa Tenggara

Located just off the western tip of Flores in Indonesia, Rinca Island offers some of the best and most unique wildlife viewing opportunities in the world. It’s one of the few spots on Earth where you can see Komodo dragons in the wild (and it’s often overlooked in lieu of neighboring Komodo Island), and the convergence of nutrient-rich currents in the waters just off the coast create conditions for some of the best diving in the world.

The Komodo dragon, the island’s most popular resident, can weigh in at over 300 pounds (136 kilograms), and they’re easier to spot in the wild on Rinca, as tourism has had less of an impact than on Komodo Island.

The 76-square-mile (198-square-kilometer) island sits within Komodo National Park, and as such, visitors to the island must be accompanied by a guide, as the large lizards can be dangerous—and even deadly—when they (rarely) attack.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Komodo National Park covers 669 square miles (1,733 square kilometers) of islands and pristine ocean. Its attractions are twofold: Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizard, and lush reefs. Besides the dragons, wildlife includes boar, bats, deer, wild horses, and monkeys.

 

Komodo tours typically focus on either the dragons or the diving, and generally start from the town of Labuan Bajo on Flores island. The dragons, which can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) long, live almost exclusively within Komodo National Park, and tours typically focus on Rinca island, Padar island, or Komodo island. Expect to enjoy a couple of hours’ trekking with a guide, with sightings pretty much guaranteed. Most boat trips will include stops for snorkeling and on photogenic beaches, such as Pink Beach.

 

Komodo dive tours are typically on liveaboard boats, usually based out of Labuan Bajo. The diving in Komodo, generally considered some of Indonesia’s best, focuses on high-current sites and, typically, larger sea creatures. Signature sites include Batu Bolong and Cannibal Rock.

 

Most Komodo National Park tours start from the vibrant port town of Labuan Bajo on the island of Flores: Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo has direct connections to Bali and Jakarta. Some Komodo backpacker boat tours set out directly from Bali, but most liveaboards base themselves out of Labuan Bajo for the season.

 

Komodo island has a dry climate and can be visited year-round, although seas can be choppy in January and February. Generally speaking, diving conditions are best in the north between April and December, and in the south between October and April.

 

Besides marine wonders, such as manta rays, sharks, whales, dugong, dolphin, and turtles, the desolate volcanic landscapes of Komodo, Rinca, Padar, and smaller islands are home to almost 6,000 Komodo dragons. Scientists studying evolution are fascinated by the islands, which are also home to Timor deer and wild boar.

Besides the giant lizards who give the park its name, Komodo National Park is also well known for its beautiful and undeveloped beaches. One of the most unique is Pink Beach (Pantai Merah), named for the rosy sand that gets its color from eroded bits of red coral from the nearby reef. 

Clear, calm waters make the beach an excellent site for snorkeling, especially since the coral reefs just beneath the surface are home to hundreds of species of marine plants and animals. Located about 15 minutes by boat from the Loh Liang boat jetty, Pink Beach makes for a convenient place to relax in the sun or cool off in the water after a day of trekking in the national park.