In short
Labuan Bajo is a fishing port turned base for Komodo national park, the only place in the world where Komodo dragons live — three metres long and seventy kilos.
The park is also one of the best diving areas in South-East Asia, with strong currents and pelagic life: manta rays, reef sharks, dense schools.
What it really costs
The town has built heavily since the airport started taking direct flights. Prices have risen and now exceed those of inland Flores.
Everything turns on the boat: a day trip, or a two- or three-night cruise to Padar and Rinca. Prices vary enormously with comfort and passenger numbers.
What nobody tells you
The national park entry fee is paid on top of the boat trip, and the foreign rate is markedly higher than the Indonesian one. It is not always included in the price an agency quotes.
Dragons are approached only with a ranger and a forked stick. That is not decorative: they are fast and their bite is dangerous.
Boat safety varies sharply. Sinkings and onboard fires do happen: checking life jackets, radio and the age of the engine is not paranoia on this route.
