teradesa.com Labuan Bajo is a hidden paradise in eastern Indonesia. The village is located in Komodo Sub-district, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, directly adjacent to West Nusa Tenggara and separated by the Sape Strait. Labuan Bajo is one of the five Super Priority Destinations being developed in Indonesia.
This destination is the gateway to Komodo National Park which holds stunning natural beauty and ancient animals that are worldwide. Starting from endemic komodo dragons on Rinca Island and Komodo Island, rows of exotic islands, underwater biodiversity, to beautiful beaches, all can be found by starting a trip in Labuan Bajo.
Enjoying the view of the sunset sky can also be another way to enjoy Labuan Bajo. A strategic spot to enjoy the beauty of this sunset is located not far from Komodo International Airport. You can choose the destinations of Bukit Cinta, Puncak Amelia, and Puncak Silvia, to capture the soul-calming sunset sky. There is also Rangko Cave which has an oasis-like charm with its soothing saltwater pool.
If you want to go on an adventure in Labuan Bajo, a short trek to Cunca Wulang Waterfall can be an option. Don’t miss the exciting experience of trying live-on-board, which is trying to live on a pinisi ship for several days while sailing to visit beautiful islands, and can also dive to see the special underwater beauty of Labuan Bajo.
Gateway to Heaven on Earth
Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park are inseparable entities. Both are interconnected so when you are in Labuan Bajo, you need to visit Komodo National Park. To get there, you can use a ferry or fast boat. There are many departure options ranging from morning to evening.
Komodo National Park, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, consists of Komodo Island, Rinca Island, Padar Island, and several other surrounding islands. The presence of Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis), the world’s giant lizard, was first covered in a scientific journal in 1912. The journal was written by Pieter Antonie Ouwens, Director of the Bogor Zoological Museum. The discovery was the beginning of Labuan Bajo’s existence in the eyes of the world because many tourists and scientists came to see ora, as the Komodo dragons are called by local residents.
When you are in Komodo National Park, you will be presented with some amazing attractions. One of them is taking pictures with Komodo dragons. This will be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime, namely taking pictures with rare animals that only exist in Indonesia.
Besides komodo dragons, this national park is also famous for its mesmerizing panorama. Pesona friends who like photography, must include several spots here as a place to take pictures. Call it the iconic Padar Island with its island-shaped hills and blue sea gradations in the background. Kelor Island is no less cool, the view of the island and the clear blue sea from the top of Kelor Island is too beautiful to miss.
Another spot that should not be missed is Pink Beach or known as Red Beach by local people. Do you know? The red color on this beach apparently comes from microscopic animals and reddish coral fragments around the coast.
Typical Labuan Bajo Souvenirs
If you want to bring souvenirs back from Labuan Bajo, there are some typical souvenirs that should not be missed, one of which is the songke cloth typical of Manggarai Land. This cloth is generally black in color with various colorful motifs on it. Similar to other Nusantara fabrics, songke cloth motifs are very diverse and have their own meaning!
There are several songke cloth motifs that Pesona Pals need to know, namely:
- Ranggong (spider) symbolizes honesty and hard work.
- Wela Kawu (kapok flower) which means human connection with the surrounding nature.
- Wela Runu (runu flower) which symbolizes that Manggarai people are like small flowers but a source of beauty.
- Ntala (star) which means good wishes and prayers.
- Ju’i (boundary lines) which has a deep philosophy that everything has a limit.
You can stop by the souvenir center located in front of Komodo International Airport to get this songke cloth.
Some culinary specialties of Labuan Bajo that shake the tongue can also be made as souvenirs, such as manggarai coffee which is famous for its unique bitter taste, kompiang bread made from flour with sesame sprinkles on it, or snacks made from processed rice flour and grated coconut, called rebok.
Access to Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo can be accessed by land, sea and air. The beauty of Komodo Island with the richness of local culture and the exotic islands around it make Labuan Bajo a potential tourist spot and crowded visited.
1. Airways
If you want to use air transportation, Transnusa Airlines directly connects Labuan Bajo with several cities in Indonesia, such as Makassar, Semarang, Balikpapan, Kupang, and Mataram.
If you are traveling from Jakarta, you can go to Labuan Bajo with several airlines such as Batik Air and Citilink. The departure schedule is between morning and afternoon. Travel time from Jakarta to Labuan Bajo is only about four hours.
You can also travel to Labuan Bajo from Gewayantana Airport in Flores, Frans Sales Lega Airport in Ruteng, or H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport in Ende. For further flight schedule information, visit the relevant airline’s website!
2. By Land
Taking a road trip to Labuan Bajo via Flores is also interesting to try, Sobat Pesona. The travel route starts from Flores, Bajawa, Ruteng, Nancar, Mboera, to Labuan Bajo. Another alternative is from Flores, to Riung, Wera, Ruteng, Nancar, and Mboera before ending up in Labuan Bajo. This road trip can take up to 12 hours.
If you want another alternative, you can take a bus from Bali to Mataram, Lombok. From there, you will continue your journey to Bima in Sumbawa and then will continue through the journey to Sape. Upon arrival at Sape, you can take a ferry to Labuan Bajo.
3. Sea Route
Interested in enjoying a trip by sea transportation to Labuan Bajo? You can take the Leuser ship from PELNI which sails from Makassar, South Sulawesi or PELNI KM Binaiya which departs from Denpasar (Benoa) to Labuan Bajo. You can find the complete ship details schedule at www.pelni.co.id.
Those are the things that you need to know about Labuan Bajo. In addition to knowing what’s interesting in Labuan Bajo, you can also capture moments of the scenery and atmosphere of Labuan Bajo through a device or camera. Keep using a mask, keep your distance, and wash your hands with running water when you are at any tourist attractions in Labuan Bajo!
