Komodo National Park includes 30 islands. Located between Sumbawa and Flores you will find many unique places and islands that can be reached by boat. The three largest islands are Komodo, Padar, and Rinca. These three islands are home to more than 5,000 Komodo lizards, often referred to as Komodo “dragons.” These monsters sometimes grow up to 3 meters long and only live in this region. The Komodos aren’t the only thing you will find here. The Komodo islands have many more unique spots to offer. Imagine tropical white and pink beaches, a rich underwater world with beautiful coral and endless fish, great views, and incredible landscapes.
Pulau Komodo
The most famous and most visited island of Komodo National Park is the island of the same name, Komodo. Many wildlife can be spotted on Komodo Island. Deer, monkeys, and the famous Komodo dragons live here. Seeing these lizards is for many visitors the highlight of visiting Komodo National Park. A short hike is an absolute must-do in Komodo. While visiting Komodo Island, most visitors go for a short one-hour hike, but for the sporty ones, there is also a half-day hike. All these hikes are always accompanied by a guide.
The surrounding Flores sea is known for its pink beaches. The colour is created when white sand comes into contact with the red cells of the many red corals that can be found here. These animals produce a red pigment, which makes the beach look pink. The islands have an abundance of perfectly white and pink beaches, but Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) is one of a kind. Besides its pink colour, the beach is known for its extremely colourful coral reefs and fish. Therefore, Pantai Merah is the best beach for snorkelling.
Pulau Padar
This undiscovered island is known for its stunning views and is located between the islands of Pulau Komodo and Rinca. Pulau Padar is the best place to watch the sun sink into the sea. From the hill, the view here is breathtaking and untouched. To reach the top of the hill to experience this view, it takes a 30-minute climb, so be prepared for this. You will also find a surreal landscape on the island of green mountains contrasting with a clear turquoise sea.
Rinca
Rinca is less popular among tourists compared to Komodo. Because there are fewer visitors here, there is more wildlife and nature. Therefore on Rinca, you have a greater chance of spotting a Komodo dragon in the wild. These hikes are just like Komodo, always accompanied by a guide. During a hike, you pass different nests of Komodo dragons. If you are lucky you will find Komodo dragons in or around the nests. Keep an appropriate distance, because the bite of a Komodo dragon is life-threatening. Besides spotting the Komodo dragon, you also have a great chance here to see manta rays swimming through the clear sea. In the rainy season, around December and January, the animals gather here. And you can spot them just below the surface of the water.
Closing
The Indonesian government had announced that they would close the island of Komodo in 2020 to restore the ecosystem. The island was expected to be closed for 2 years. The government had set a budget to restore the island’s wildlife, flora, and fauna. However, the Indonesian government had withdrawn this arrangement in October 2019 and decided to keep Komodo island open. Research shows that from an ecological, social, and economic perspective there is no reason to close the island.
