Pulau Flores Island Indonesia Larantuka-Ende-Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara
16
Cruises availables
At departure or passage at this port
Emerald Waterways (9 Cruises)
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the itinerary. Ships call at one of the island's three sea gates: most often Larantuka, at the eastern tip beneath a volcanic cone, sometimes Ende on the south coast, or the roadstead of Maumere, the largest town. Check which one is on your programme.
A long sentence of volcanoes lined up west to east over more than 350 km. Green ridges, villages clinging to the slopes and an island life that has conceded nothing to tourist standardisation. Three different piers, but one shared backdrop.
A fervent Catholicism planted by Portuguese missionaries from the sixteenth century, still alive in the chapels, the confraternities and the Holy Week processions, among the most followed in Asia. The town is walkable, from churches to Marian statues, with the strait and Adonara island behind.
Three crater lakes of shifting colour at 1,640 metres: one turquoise, another dark green, the third almost black, depending on the chemistry of the moment. The waters sometimes change shade from year to year, and local people see them as the resting place of souls.
It depends on the port. The shortest access is from Ende, with a thirty-minute walk to the viewpoints from the road. From Maumere, allow about four hours of driving each way: keep that adventure for long calls and organised excursions.
The port town and its surroundings — village, market, weavers, a cove — make a good few unhurried hours. Kelimutu swallows the whole day. The roads wind and distances deceive: aim accurately rather than broadly.
Cloth dyed with natural pigments then knotted thread by thread, among the most highly regarded in the archipelago. Watching a weaver assemble her motifs explains the asking price, which is trifling against the weeks of work a single piece represents.
Yes. The coastal waters offer coves of dark volcanic sand, coral gardens a short boat ride away and stilt fishing villages. Depending on the ship's programme, a snorkelling outing rounds out the day nicely.
Simple and cheerful. Markets overflow with bananas, nutmeg and dried fish, and children turn every visit into an impromptu party, demanding a photo then bursting out laughing at themselves on the screen. Always ask before photographing an adult.
A hat, water, cash in small Indonesian rupiah notes — cards are not accepted outside the few hotels — and a reserve of good-humoured patience. Winding roads and approximate schedules are part of the journey.
