Rinca Island (Pulau Rinca)
Rinca Island, East Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara
The second largest island in Komodo National Park, Rinca Island (Pulau Rinca) is home to more Komodo dragons than Komodo Island—not to mention deer, wild boar, and monkeys. In addition to short and extended dragon-spotting hikes—including a new elevated walkway—it offers white sand beaches, a café, souvenir stalls, and the Niang Komodo Museum.
The basics
Almost everyone visits Rinca Island from Labuan Bajo on Flores, generally as part of a Komodo National Park cruise, sometimes including park entry. Cruises usually run for two or three nights aboard craft ranging from elegant phinisi sailboats to simpler wooden constructions. There are also day cruises by speedboat. Most boats stop for a short hike to see Komodo dragons and Niang Komodo Museum; longer treks are possible if you charter a boat and design an itinerary.
Things to know before you go
Rinca Island is a great choice for animal lovers and nature fans.
The island is inhabited and has a few simple homestays for travelers to stay overnight.
You can spend anywhere from 30 minutes to several days on Rinca Island.
The boats that operate Komodo National Park cruises are not wheelchair friendly.
How to get there
Rinca Island sits south of Komodo National Park, off the west coast of Flores, and the jumping-off point is Komodo travel hub Labuan Bajo. There are public boats from Labuan Bajo, including Pelni ferries, on Mondays and Saturdays. Still, most travelers visit on a Komodo National Park island-hopping cruise, which covers more of the area’s attractions.
When to get there
Komodo National Park is generally best experienced in the dry season (April–December), as wind and waves can be an issue in the peak rainy season (December–March). February brings particularly bad weather. Consider shoulder seasons (April–May and mid-September to mid-November) to beat the peak season crowds. Rinca looks best in April and early May when the savannah is still green.
Komodo dragon trekking basics
Earth’s largest lizard, Komodo dragons are found only on a few Indonesian islands. Their fearsome reputation is based largely on the myth that their bite uses bacteria as venom, and they rarely attack tourists. Experienced rangers can control them by pinning their tails with a forked stick. While trekking, it’s important to stay on the trail, obey instructions from your ranger, and leave food, particularly meat products, on the boat.
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