Making the most of Komodo
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise ships cannot berth, so tenders carry guests ashore. A long pier leads to Komodo Ranger Station, the starting point for every excursion.
Komodo National Park lies at the centre of the Indonesian archipelago between Sumbawa and Flores. Founded in 1980, it initially aimed to conserve the distinctive Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat. The Park's remit later grew to protect all terrestrial and marine biodiversity. UNESCO declared it both a World Heritage Site and Man and Biosphere Reserve in 1986, recognising its biological significance.
Seeing Komodo Dragons is the principal attraction. Those in the hills are dangerous and cause a few deaths each year, whereas animals around the village and visitor trail are fat, lazy and overfed.
Getting around
Independent visitors are generally required by cruise lines to show proof of their arrangements before boarding a tender. Cruise staff may request this evidence, so if reserving online in advance, bring printed confirmations for the cruise company.
No independent transport is available on the island.
Food and shopping
A handful of small souvenir stalls stand just inside the Park entrance.
Money
ATMs are commonly found in Indonesia's major cities.
Take care with credit cards because cloning and fraud are serious problems in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard are accepted broadly, but American Express can prove difficult. Smaller businesses often add a 2-5% surcharge over cash prices.
Staying connected
Indonesia's sole official language is Indonesian, also known as Bahasa Indonesia.
The mobile-phone emergency number is 112.