Flores Island in Indonesia, whose name means “Flower” in Portuguese, may sound synonymous with the Komodo archipelago, with its exotic beaches, beautiful underwater world, and home of the famous Komodo dragon. However, Flores Island has its charms, such as its unique nature and cultural diversity. Various interesting things to do, spread across various areas on Flores Island which are known as districts or cities, including Labuan Bajo, Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, and Maumere. Unlike the case with tours to Komodo Islands, which are carried out by boat, a trip to Flores Island offers the sensation of driving across hills, mountains, agriculture, settlements, and so on. On this article, I will review various interesting things that you must visit when visiting Flores Island, Indonesia.
1. Swimming In Rangko Cave
A cave in the eastern part of Labuan Bajo which there is a pool resulting from seepage of seawater through the cracks at the bottom of the cave. Fresh and clear water as well as mossy stalactite adds to the beauty of the cave. Especially if you are there, when sunlight enters through the cave entrance which is 2.5 meters in diameter, so that the conditions inside the cave are brighter and more colorful, and you can see the stalagmites growing at the bottom of the pond. To get there, you need to drive from the city of Labuan Bajo for about 15 minutes to Rangko village. Upon arrival at Rangko village, cross using a local wooden boat to Rangko cave for about 20 minutes.
2. Visit The Beautiful Cunca Rami Waterfall
30 meters high and located about a 1-hour drive from the city of Labuan Bajo, Cunca Rami waterfall is one of the destinations that you must visit on the island of Flores, because of the beautiful scenery and clear water. To get there, you need to walk for approximately 1 hour through rice fields and productive forests with crops, such as candlenuts, coffee, vanilla, cocoa, and so on.
3. See the Spiderweb Ricefields
In general, you might see terraced rice fields, but it’s different from the rice fields on the west side of Flores Island, besides terracing there are also rice fields in the shape of spiderwebs. It is a relic from an ancestral tradition that means unity for a community group called a village for the Manggarai tribe on Flores Island. This spiderweb rice field is located about 30 minutes away from the center of Ruteng City and you can get there by public transport or rent a scooter. It will be even more interesting if visited during the planting season or when the rice plants are 2-3 weeks old.
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4. Stay Overnight at Waerebo Ancient Village
The Old Village of the Manggarai tribe in Flores is isolated in a mountain valley and surrounded by dense tropical forest with 7 distinctive cone-shaped houses. The only way to get to Waerebo village is by walking through the tropical forest for approximately 2.5 hours. You will enjoy various large and shady trees as well as wildlife along the way. The atmosphere in Waerebo village itself also feels peaceful and calm. There, you will see various activities of the majority of the population who survive by farming and still perform various rituals left by their ancestors. In addition, at night you can also see a clear sky that will display millions of sparkling stars. To visit Waerebo Village, you need to drive towards Dintor Village and then start walking from there.
5. Witness The Geothermal Overflow In Ulumbu
Ulumbu is one of the interesting things to visit on Flores Island. There is a geothermal overflow that is used as a source of electricity for the Flores region and its surroundings. Rumbling sounds and boiling water appear in the cracks of the ground, so it feels like you are in the middle of a volcanic crater that is still erupting. Covering a large area, the landscape is dominated by steam along the geothermal field. The location is 30 minutes away from Ruteng City to the south by vehicle.
6. Experience Locals Authentic Live in Golo Renda Walking Trail
Another interesting thing you can do on Flores Island is experiencing the life of the local people. Golo Renda Walking Trail is an area called a village and is located about 20km from Ruteng City. There you can stay with a local family and have adventures according to their daily routines, such as Entertainment, rituals, food, gardening, and various other exciting activities. Besides that, you can also get to know various productive plants which are the main commodities of farmers in Flores, as well as see various local pearls of wisdom, such as; Traditional houses, Handicrafts from Pandan leaves, and so on. To get there, you can use public transportation from the city of Ruteng or rent a vehicle.
7. Explore the Hidden Rana Mese Lake
You should also visit Rana Mese Lake in the eastern part of the city of Ruteng while on Flores Island. Apart from the beautiful lake views, you can also walk around the lake which is surrounded by tropical forests. The atmosphere of wildlife is felt as long as you walk, and there are beautiful waterfalls to be photographed. To get there, you only need to drive for about 30 minutes from the city of Ruteng.
8. Soaking In The Hotspring Bath.
Apart from natural scenery and cultural uniqueness, in Flores, you can also rejuvenate your skin by soaking in hot springs. There are two hot springs located in the administrative area of Ngada district, around the city of Bajawa to be precise. The first is Menggeruda hot spring, which is a hot spring that forms a pond and a beautifully arranged garden for tourists or local people who want to relax. In addition, at the end of the stream, there is also a waterfall. The second hot spring is the Malanage hot spring, which is the meeting point of two rivers with different temperatures.
9. Visit Bena the Old Village
Bena Traditional Village is one of the most interesting things to do in Flores. There are 45 houses, all of which are made of bamboo and roofs of reeds. Apart from that, the residents still perform various ancestral rituals. This can be seen from the many relics of the results of the sacrifice that are hung in every house as a sign of social status and as the stones for ancestral worship. Located in the administrative area of Ngada district, Bena village can be reached by driving for 30 minutes from the city of Bajawa.
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10. Enjoying the Spectacular View from Wolobobo View Point
Wolobobo Hill is my most recommended place to do when you are in Bajawa Flores. You will see the magnificent view of the Inerie hills, sea, and volcano all at once. There, you will also feel you are above the clouds because sometimes the clouds will cover the valley around it. Wolobobo Hill is located about 15 minutes drive from the city of Bajawa.
11. Island Hoping In Riung Marine Park
A marine tourism object on the island of Flores which is separated from the Komodo National Park and is located north of the city of Bajawa. Besides enjoying the natural beauty under the sea by snorkeling, there you can also see millions of bats that live in mangrove forests. The most interesting thing in Riung is doing outdoor activities on the beautiful white sand beach, such as barbeques, camping, and the like. To get there, you can use public transportation or rent a vehicle, be it a motorbike or a car from Bajawa or Ende to Riung City. After that, you can rent a wooden fishing boat owned by fishermen around the port.
12. Capture the Wonderful Sunrise In Kelimutu Crater Lake
Enjoying the sunrise at the top of Kelimutu is the most popular thing for tourists on the island of Flores. Kelimutu, are 3 colorful volcanic crater lakes which are located on the east of the island of Flores. To get there you need to drive from the town of Ende or Maumere to Moni Village to spend the night. Besides enjoying the charm of the sunrise, you can also observe the wildlife of the tropical forests around Mount Kelimutu.
13. Learn The Process Of Weaving “Tenun Ikat”
Flores Island is also known for its woven crafts in the form of sarongs or shawls with a variety of beautiful motifs. One of the most interesting is the craft of weaving from natural materials whose motifs are created by simply tying ropes or threads and are often known as Tenun Ikat. You can see the process of making the Tenun Ikat step by step, starting from spinning the cotton yarn, and dyeing it from plants to creating motifs around the town of Maumere, Flores. There are several locations that you can visit, including Lepo Lerun Ikat, Sikka, and also in Watublapi. Each of these places is only located about 30 to 45 minutes away from the city of Maumere.