Once a sleepy Flores fishing village, Labuan Bajo is now a bustling enclave touted by the Indonesian government as one of 10 “new Balis.” It’s brash, busy, and a gateway to Komodo National Park. Scuba diving, island-hopping, and dragon quests top the list of things to do in Labuan Bajo—park highlights include Komodo Island, pink beaches, pristine sandbars, and the chance to hang with manta rays and sharks. Beyond Komodo, luminous Rangko Cave and Cunca Wulang Waterfall beckon, as do a wealth of bars, restaurants, and souvenir stores.
In general, the dry season (roughly May through October) is a good time to visit Labuan Bajo, but Komodo National Park gets busy in July and August. You can scuba dive somewhere in the park at any time of year, but September offers more choice and smaller crowds. Whenever you visit, avoid weekends: Bajo and Komodo are popular weekend trips for local travelers, so small spots such as Padar Island and Taka Makassar Island can fill up fast.
Hilly, downtown Labuan Bajo is compact, and you can get around just by walking. There’s not much by way of public transit, but there are Grab rideshares, as well as private drivers, ojek motorbike taxis, hotel cars, and boat charter options ranging from liveaboards to speedboats. It’s not a good idea to rent a scooter on Flores unless you’re licensed, insured, and familiar with local traffic conditions.
When planning your trip to Komodo National Park, it’s easy to assume you can do it in a day. But longer tours have a lot of advantages—you can reach Padar Island at sunrise, ahead of the day-trippers; watch the flying foxes at Kalong Island at sunset; and experience the tranquility of a night on the boat. Be aware that there are several different pink beaches and photos are often heavily edited.
