From its biodiversity beauty to its exquisite coffee, there are plenty of reasons why you should choose Flores Island as your next holiday destination.
Flores Island is finally having its moment. The Indonesian government has grown more enthusiastic than ever to develop the island, situated as part of East Nusa Tenggara province, as one of the most beloved holiday destinations in the country. With the island’s natural and cultural charms immensely rich in equal measures, it is no brainer that Flores Island should now be spoken in the same breath as Bali and Banda Neira. Having said that, perhaps not many expats out there are aware that there is so much that the island has to offer besides Komodo dragons and manta rays. Here Indonesia Expat breaks down several reasons why you should put Flores Island on your vacation bucket list.
1. The island’s exotic nature
The nature of Flores Island is, indeed, exotic. Its beautiful natural charm will make it difficult for tourists to look away when they visit Flores Island which is also known among the locals as Nusa Bunga. The charm of the beach followed by the exotic underwater wealth is guaranteed to captivate. The Komodo Island, located west of Flores Island, is world-famous for being a conservation home to the mighty ancient Komodo dragons. However, the islands also consist of rows of smaller, beautiful islands, one of which is Padar Island with a quirky shape that immediately commands the admiration of the first-time tourists. Meanwhile, there is also the charm of the Riung district’s 17 Islands Marine Park which is no less beautiful than Labuan Bajo. The marine park consists of clusters of beautiful small islands — not to mention, the stories about the underwater world that are so enchanting to experience. 
2. The island’s mighty ancient Komodo dragons
Usually, you can only see Komodo dragons through pictures on magazine pages or on your phone screen. However, if you want the real deal, you can witness the dragons’ natural wonder in person on Flores Island. The island’s Komodo National Park is ‘home’ to around 2,500 Komodo dragons; ancient animals with a length of approximately three metres and a weight of around 70 kilograms or even more. Even so, you can only see this animal from a distance of 300 metres due to safety concerns, such as the fact that a Komodo dragon’s saliva also contains poison.
3. The island’s scenic ‘Spider Web Rice Fields’
If you explore deeper into Flores Island and visit the West Manggarai regency, you may also bump into a funny-looking sight that would make your trip to the island extra memorable. As the name suggests, the ‘Spider Web Rice Fields’ are rice fields whose shape is very much similar to spider webs or, as regarded by the locals, lodok. This unique rice field form, for the West Manggarai community, is related to the function of rice fields related to traditional land management patterns. Lingko, as the rice field division system is called by the locals, is traditional land owned communally to meet the shared needs of the indigenous community, the division of which is carried out by the community’s traditional leader. The number of tourist visits, both domestic and foreign, to the ‘Spider Web Rice Fields’ can reach 50 to 100 people each day, with a significant increase in the number of visits during public holidays.
4. The island’s fascinating village tourism
Flores Island is home to numerous traditional villages, all of which have drawn both interest and fascination among visiting tourists. The Wae Rebo village, for instance, is famous for its natural views in the form of mountains — not to mention, the cone-shaped traditional houses that adorn the village. Arriving in the Bena village, time seems to go back in time to where life from the stone age can still be enjoyed mixed with the friendliness of the residents. Meanwhile, in the Wolotopo village, you can take a closer look at the village’s traditional houses that are built on tall, sturdy stone structures. A fun trivia: the island’s West Detosoko village as well as the Wae Rebo village were among the winners of the prestigious Indonesian Tourism Village Award 2021.
5. The island’s iconic Pink Beach
Located in the northern part of Flores Island, Pink Beach is exactly what the name suggests. The beach’s pink colour comes from microscopic animals called Foraminifera which then give the red pigment to the coral. The corals are carried by waves to the coast and then destroyed into fragments and grains that are now beach sand. Furthermore, when tourists choose snorkelling as the main activity on vacation at this beach, they will be spoiled with a variety of corals and fish species. The corals under the sea consist of smooth and hard corals, and they come in various colours, to boot. There is a rule for visiting this beach, though — namely that ships are not allowed to approach the shoreline. This aims to ensure that the coral remains in good condition.
6. The island’s breath-taking savanna hill
As tourists explore the northern part of Flores Island, they are immediately greeted by exotic savanna hills. The savanna hills in the Magepanda district, also known as Kajuwulu Hills, present the charm of the island’s green nature blend with the expanse of the blue northern sea as well as Maumere Bay. Another example is Cross Hill (regarded by the locals as Bukit Salib) which is famous for its sunset viewing spot as well as a large cross statue on the top of the hill. Fun trivia: 500 steps must be conquered to reach the top of Cross Hill, which means that it takes extra energy to see the natural charm of the north coast of Flores Island as well as its breathtaking savanna greenery.
7. The island’s signature coffee beans
For the coffee connoisseurs out there, Flores Island might be the best future getaway spot to expand your palate. Known as Flores Coffee (Kopi Flores), the island’s coffee beans are typically planted in the island’s volcanic soil with a tropical climate not unlike the Australian climate. There are two types of Flores Coffee, namely Arabica and Robusta. Usually, the harvest time for Arabica coffee is in the period from June to August, while Robusta is from August to September. Moreover, depending on its local origins, Flores Coffee can also be distinguished into two different types: Flores Bajawa and Flores Manggarai. Ultimately, Flores Coffee is famous for its sweet taste complemented by a sensation of nuts such as hazelnut, caramel, and chocolate. From the acidity level, Flores coffee has a medium acidity and body level with a balanced and light taste that makes this Flores coffee suitable for many people.
8. The island’s signature cuisine
Flores Island’s beautiful natural tourism should not be the only reason to visit and spend your downtime on the island. As a matter of fact, the island also has a number of culinary specialities that must be enjoyed and could not be found anywhere else. The island’s signature smoked beef or pork, for instance, is cooked by frying or stir-frying with local flowers. Rumpu rampe is a traditional vegetable dish made from processed young papaya leaves and papaya flowers as well as a mixture of chillies, anchovies, and sauteed shrimp. Jagung catemak, usually consumed by the locals as a dessert, is made from corn mixed with peanuts, green beans, and various other vegetables. Jawada, often consumed by the locals as an afternoon snack with tea, is made from flour, brown sugar, coconut milk, and palm juice which are later mixed and fried in hot oil. Moke Flores, famous for being the local speciality liquor, is the result of tapping the fruit of the sugar palm or lontar tree.
9. The island’s speciality weave
Flores Island is also known as a region that produces a variety of woven fabrics. The process of making woven fabrics in Flores still uses traditional methods, and it typically requires weeks or even months to produce one woven fabric. The woven motifs in each region are different due to the habits of the people in each region which are not necessarily the same. The island’s Manggarai regency, for example, is known for its speciality woven fabric called songke. Manggarai songke fabric is usually worn during traditional events or big ceremonies at the church. Weaving also harbours an important value, especially among local women. The local tradition has taught the island natives that a Flores woman can be considered an adult and eligible for marriage once she has mastered the art of weaving. This is due to the locals’ belief that weaving requires patience and perseverance so much so that the act of weaving is seen as a test of a woman’s maturity.
10. The island’s stunning diving spots
This island has two major dive sites: Maumere and Labuan Bajo. From gracefully swimming turtles to sparkling rainbow fish, the biodiversity in these waters is a major draw for divers and nature lovers. Headlands and channels dot the coastline of the island and divers are gradually exploring these on visiting liveaboards but there is still a lot of uncharted territory to discover in this region. The Flores Sea, in particular, is also famous for being a biodiversity hotspot as well as home to larger marine species like snappers, groupers, barracudas, and manta rays. Sea temperatures vary very little during the year from a low of around 25°C and a high of 30°C. Moreover, The best conditions for diving Flores are typically from April to November as this usually forms most of the dry season.