Half day
Shared Open Boat
The classic crossing. Leaves the harbour around 08:00, back by late afternoon.
From USD 90 per person
Shared day trip
Labuan Bajo · harbour town
Kanawa Island, answered from Labuan Bajo
Real boats, real departure times, honest fares and live island status — checked from Labuan Bajo, not copied from an OTA listing.
- Day access
- Open daily, weather permitting
- Overnight
- Limited — status checked first
- Day trips
- Shared seats from USD 90 pp
Choose Your Day
Four ways to spend a day on Kanawa
From a half-day snorkel straight off the beach to your own boat for the whole clock.
Guided
Snorkelling Tour
Four reef stations with a guide who knows which one suits your group.
Quoted per booking
Snorkelling tour
Full day
3-Island Komodo Day
Kelor for the hilltop view, Rinca for the dragons, Kanawa for the reef.
Quoted per booking
3-island day
Your clock
Private Speedboat Charter
Your own boat and skipper. Any departure slot between 07:00 and 14:00.
From USD 800 per boat, per day
Speedboat charter
- Harbour to island
- 11–15 km Harbour to island
- Fastest crossing
- 20–35 min Fastest crossing
- Calmest sea
- Apr–May · Sep–Oct Calmest sea
Below the Waterline
Read the snorkelling guide
Four snorkel stations, one small island
Kanawa sits roughly 11–15 km from Labuan Bajo harbour, just outside the boundary of Komodo National Park. The reef begins about thirty metres off the main beach — no second boat, no long swim out.
Each station suits a different swimmer. Your guide matches you to one on arrival rather than sending the whole boat to the same drop.
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Reef Crest
2–8 m · wade in from the sand · comfortable swimmers
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Sandbar Shallows
walk in from the sand · family-safe
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Seagrass Flat
1–3 m · walk in · turtles are frequent
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Coral Drop-off
5–18 m · boat entry · confident swimmers
The Island
Kanawa and the water around it
The reef, the sandbar and the Komodo stops most Kanawa days are paired with.
Indicative Fares
What a Kanawa day actually costs
Honest bands, not booking prices — season, boat and fuel move the exact figure. National-park and ranger fees are always separate, and Komodo Luxury confirms the final fare in writing before you pay anything.
| Trip | Indicative fare | What it is | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawa Half-Day | Quoted per booking | Shared open boat, snorkel gear and a crew guide. The cheapest way onto the reef. | View Details |
| 3-Island Komodo Day | Quoted per booking | Kelor, Rinca and Kanawa with lunch. Kanawa is the last stop — around 90 minutes ashore. | View Details |
| Grand Komodo Day | Quoted per booking | Padar, Pink Beach, Manta Point and Kanawa by speedboat. Eleven to twelve hours on the water. | View Details |
| Private Speedboat Charter | Quoted per booking | Priced per boat, not per person. Vessel, crew, fuel and gear for up to twelve travellers. | View Details |
Why this guide
A checked guide, not a listing page
This guide names vetted local operators and says so plainly. What you get here is a straight answer about the boat you would actually be getting on.
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Answered from Labuan Bajo
Komodo Luxury sits in the harbour town, not a call centre, so the weather you are asking about is the weather outside its window.
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Fares in writing first
Exact fare, boat and meeting point confirmed in writing before you pay anything.
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Vetted local operators
Safety equipment, licensing and crew are checked by Komodo Luxury before a boat is named on this site.
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Live island status
Overnight and facility status is verified with the operator before booking. No unchecked bed is listed here.
What a day trip covers
Included
- Boat, fuel and crew
- Mask, snorkel and fins
- English-speaking crew guide
- Hotel pickup on shared departures
- Drinking water on board
- Safety briefing before departure
Not included
- Komodo National Park & ranger fees
- Meals on half-day departures
- Dive gear and tanks
Above the Waterline
Labuan Bajo to Kanawa, by the clock
Eleven to fifteen kilometres of open water, three ways across. All windows indicative — tides, harbour traffic and weather move them.
Shared open boat · 45–75 min
Departs 08:00–08:30, leaves Kanawa around 15:30–16:00. The budget crossing.
Shared departuresSpeedboat · 20–35 min
Departs 08:30–09:00, back by around 17:00. More time on the island, less on the water.
Boat transfersPrivate charter · 20–75 min
Any slot between 07:00 and 14:00, back by sunset. Your boat, your clock.
Private charters
Quick Answers
Kanawa Island, asked and answered
The five readers ask most often. Anything else, message Komodo Luxury.
Where exactly is Kanawa Island and how far is it from Labuan Bajo and Komodo Island?
Kanawa Island is a small island, approximately 32 hectares in size, located in the Flores Sea just outside the boundary of Komodo National Park. It is roughly 11–15 km from Labuan Bajo and roughly 26 km from Komodo Island. The journey to Kanawa Island takes about 20–35 minutes by speedboat, or 45–75 minutes on a traditional wooden boat, from Labuan Bajo.
Is Kanawa Island better for snorkeling or diving compared to other spots in Komodo National Park?
Kanawa Island is well-regarded for its snorkeling opportunities due to its vibrant coral reefs and abundant marine life. While it offers excellent snorkeling, diving enthusiasts might find more diverse and challenging dive sites elsewhere in the Komodo National Park.
What is the best month to visit Kanawa Island in terms of weather and underwater visibility?
The best time to visit Kanawa Island for optimal weather and underwater visibility is during the dry season, typically from April to October. This period offers clearer skies and calmer seas, enhancing both snorkeling and diving experiences.
How do I get to Kanawa Island from Bali, and what is the total travel time?
To reach Kanawa Island from Bali, fly to Labuan Bajo, which takes about 1.5 hours. From Labuan Bajo, take a speedboat (about 20–35 minutes) or a traditional wooden boat (about 45–75 minutes) to Kanawa Island. The total travel time, including transfers, is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
How much should I budget for a Kanawa Island day trip including boat, entrance fees, and food?
For a Kanawa Island day trip, budget mainly for the boat, since a Kanawa-only visit generally carries no park entrance fee as Kanawa sits outside the Komodo National Park boundary. Park fees only apply if the itinerary extends into the park (Padar, Rinca, Komodo or Manta Point). Ask Komodo Luxury for a written quote covering the boat, any park fees for your specific route, and food.
Are there accommodations on Kanawa Island and are the bungalows still operating in 2027?
Legacy bungalow infrastructure still stands on Kanawa Island, but operation has run on and off and no source confirms it is running normally. Treat an overnight stay as unconfirmed until an operator says otherwise in writing, and plan the island as a day trip unless you have that confirmation in hand.
Credentials
Who fulfils the booking
This guide does not operate boats. Bookings are fulfilled by Komodo Luxury, and this site may earn a referral commission.
Safety & compliance-
Juara Holding Group
Parent group of this guide and of Komodo Luxury, founded 2015.
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Fares in writing
Exact fare, boat and meeting point confirmed before any payment is made.
Booking
Take your questions to a human
WhatsApp is fastest. Komodo Luxury replies from Labuan Bajo with the exact fare, the boat and current island status — in writing, before you pay anything.
Reach Komodo Luxury
- +62 811 3823 875
- sales@komodoluxury.com
- Hours
- Mon–Sat, 09:00–18:00 WITA
Planning more of your trip? Explore luxury Labuan Bajo travel and liveaboards to round out your plans.