Making the most of Larantuka Flores
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
The berth is 110m long and can accommodate small cruise ships alongside.
Because large cruise ships cannot dock at Larantuka, passengers travel ashore by tender.
Larantuka is a subdistrict of East Flores Regency at the eastern end of Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. As elsewhere in the region, the town retains a strong colonial Portuguese influence.
Flores's best-known attraction is Kelimutu, where three coloured lakes lie in the district of Ende near the town of Moni. These crater lakes occupy a volcanic caldera and are fed by a volcanic gas source, creating highly acidic water. Their colours alter irregularly according to each lake's oxidation state.
Getting around
Taxis are available in many towns, but agree the fare before setting off.
Nearby places
Visit Luba and Bena villages to see Flores's traditional houses. At the island's eastern end, Larantuka is also known for its Holy Week festivals.
Food and shopping
Eating with your hand rather than cutlery is common in Indonesia. Use four fingers to form a small ball of rice, dip it into sauces, then push it into your mouth with your thumb. Etiquette requires using only the right hand because the left is used for cleaning yourself in the bathroom. Do not place either hand in communal serving dishes: serve yourself with utensils in the left hand before eating. Wash your hands thoroughly both before and after the meal. Some settings frown upon eating by hand...
Money
ATMs are commonly available in Indonesia's major cities.
Take care when paying by credit card because cloning and fraud are significant problems in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard have broad acceptance, while American Express can prove difficult to use. Smaller businesses commonly add a surcharge of 2-5% compared with cash.
Staying connected
People in this area speak the Austronesian language Lamaholot rather than Bahasa Indonesia.
Internet prices and quality vary considerably, although access commonly costs around Rp 5,000 per hour. In large cities, certain shopping malls, McDonald's restaurants and Starbucks cafés offer free hotspots. Some hotels also provide a free hotspot in the lobby.
For an emergency from a mobile phone, call 112.