Labuan Bajo

Understand

Labuan Bajo is the launching point for trips to Komodo Island and Rinca Island, home to the famous Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the largest extant species of lizard, with the males growing to a length of 3 m (9.8 ft) and weighing up to 150 kg (330 lb). While Labuan Bajo draws plenty of tourists, it is nevertheless quite a small town that runs along one main road, making it easy to navigate. During 2020 and 2021, the Indonesian government put a lot of resources into Labuan Bajo to make the city attractive to tourists, including new footpaths and bicycle lanes. Nearby Seraya Island provides a great opportunity to do some diving and snorkeling, and every evening at Kalong Island thousands of flying fox bats put on an amazing display.

Getting there

By plane 1 Komodo Airport (LBJ IATA) (2 km out of town). Komodo Airport was substantially upgraded in 2015 and is a small but modern airport (updated Nov 2022) Labuan Bajo is linked by air with Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta, Kupang, Surabaya, Bajawa, Ende, Makassar, Mataram and Maumere. There are even international routes to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

The upturn in tourism has meant that ojeks (motorcycles) can only be taken if you walk outside the airport and taxi drivers charge set rates of Rp60,000 and up one way for this short journey. If all else fails, it's a 25-minute downhill walk into town.

By boat 2 Labuan Bajo Port (Pelabuhan Labuan Bajo). The port in Labuan Bajo is in the town, and everywhere is reached within a 5-10 minutes walk. (updated Nov 2018)

The ferry from Sape (Rp91,000 as of July 2023) runs daily, and usually arrives around 17:00. You will need ADSP card (around 30 000, multiuse) to be able to pay or just borrow it from locals for a small fee. A number of companies organise 4 days/3 night boat trips from Lombok or Bali to Flores for around Rp1,550,000. You sleep on the deck on thin mattresses (less than 1 inch thick, but you get used to it). No matter where you book the trip from, you will be shuttled to the eastern coast of Lombok with bus/ferry transfers before getting on the boat. The Perama tour is a well advertised trip running 4 days/3 nights from Lombok to Labuan Bajo, and 3 days/2 nights the other way. This sets itself apart from the others by having private (2 person) cabins. Prices are cabin/deck Rp2,600,000/2,000,000 Lombok-Labuanbajo and Rp1,800,000/1,300,000 the other way. Be aware of the safety record of these boats. Pelni has two ships calling at Labuanbajo every 2 weeks. Tilongkbila departs for Bima, Lembar (Lombok, 24 hr) and Benoa (Bali) every other Thursday and returns the following Sunday to go to Makassar and other destinations in Sulawesi. Willis departs for Bima - Benoa - Surabaya every other Saturday and returns Satu

Getting around

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

See

Caves, such as Batu Cermin Cave and Rangko Cave Surrounding beaches Kanawa Island, small island 10 km away from Labuan Bajo (about 1hr with a local boat or 10 min with speed boat) and located just at the borders of Komodo National Park. You will find a resort there.

Do

Komodo National Park encompasses a lot of water and islands west of Labuanbajo. If you want to go to Rinca or Komodo islands, or dive in the park you will have to buy a 1-day park pass for US$15 during the weekdays or $18 at weekends. Money from such user fees is collected by the local government and is supposed to go into conservation efforts. Rinca Island (Indonesian: Rinca Kecil or Pulau Rinca) is a more convenient place to see Komodo Dragons than Komodo island. Some dive operators might be convinced to combine a stop at the island with a days diving - otherwise charters can be arranged, or walk along the main street of Labuan Bajo and some tour agencies may be advertising places on an existing charter. There are big dragons that are often right in front of the pier when people arrive. On arrival a guide will escort you to the park office where you will be relieved of a range of fees, then you can choose a 1- or 2-hour hike. Presumably if you had a pass from Komodo, you would be exempt from at least some of those fees. Tours: A one-day tour covering Padar island viewpoint, Pink beach, Komodo island, and Manta point on a shared boat costs around Rp375,000 with an additional Rp350,000 in entrance fees. The 2-day/1-night option in addition to the above includes Rinca island and Kanawa island and on a shared boat costs around Rp700,000 with an additional approximately Rp500,000 in entrance fees (Nov 2019). The tour boats will collect the entrance fee money upfront to supposedly save you the hassle, but end up pocketing most of the money without it going to the parks as intended. Either insist that they give you the tickets, or just pay the entrance fees at each stop yourself.

Liveaboard Trip A liveaboard from Labuan Bajo is a type of trip where you stay directly on the boat for the entire trip. The most common durations are:

2 Days 1 Night (2D/1N) 3 Days 2 Nights (3D/2N) 4 Days 3 Nights (Lombok – Komodo) During the trip, the boat will move from one island to ano

Buy

There are three ATMs in town which belong to the BNI bank and can deliver up to Rp2,500,000 per transaction in Rp100,000 or Rp50,000 notes, but also a few other banks and one money changer. There is a bad rate, so better change enough money before coming here. Shops selling tourist trinkets, local fabric, and Komodo Dragon carvings are located in the center of town. Western products of varying quality are available in the toko (shops) or kiosks alongside the roads. Consider taking a trip to the market early in the morning to purchase local coffee, spices, or just to look over a wealth of local produce and goods available there.

Eat

Choose from a variety of Indonesian, Chinese, and Western restaurants on the main road. As a tourist place some cheating takes place: some restaurants add 10% "service tax" to the bill. Other restaurants refuse to give change less of than 1000 rupiah. Insist on exact change.

Food markets 1 Fish market, Jl. Soekarno Hatta (Along the northeast part of the main road). Lots of food stalls along the harborfront in the evening. Fresh fish grilled to order. (updated Jun 2015)

Budget 2 Blue Corner, Jl. Simpang Pede (5 south of main harbor.). Local food. Very good mie goreng. Rp25,000 (Nov 2015). (updated Aug 2022) 3 Rumah Makan Garuda, Goron Talo, Komodo. (updated Aug 2022) 4 Bakso Jatimrejo, Goron Talo, Komodo. (updated Aug 2022) 5 Bubur Ayam 88, Jl. Yohanes Sahadoen No.8, Wae Kelambu. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range 6 Pesona Bali, Jl. Soekarno Hatta. Standard menu of western menu and seafood. (updated Aug 2022) 7 Green Cherry. Great view of the bay, especially from th