One of the richest countries on earth, with natural and cultural wealth, undoubtedly is Indonesia. Due to its wealth, Indonesia is also known as the emerald of the Equator, the country that today unites more than 17 000 islands. Yes, this massive archipelago offers so many places to visit with endless amazing sites to explore and adventures to undergo. And while each and everyone is worth witnessing, here we will narrow down the list, to help you pick the best Indonesian island to visit and enjoy a memorable travel experience.
Banda Neira
Although not the most famous among tourists, Banda Neira is a small but mesmerizing land thriving with natural wealth and rich, intriguing history. Banda Neira is part of the Banda Indonesia archipelago, also famous as the Spice Islands. As the name implies, these islands are the source of several widely-used spices, mostly the nutmeg. This hard-to-reach island is one of the most amazing destinations to visit in Indonesia. It’s a small land that offers historical sites, beaches, mesmerizing nature, an amazing underwater world, and a resident volcano. Any traveler that has the chance to visit it will find something exciting and memorable on this island.
The most notable places to visit on Banda Neira are the historic sites – 16th and 17th-century European relics – a reminder of the days when the Banda Neira island was the world spice hub, desired, and fought for, by many European Nations. From this period there are several astonishing fortresses along with fort Belgica being the most famous one and a must-visit site for tourists. Another famous fort is the fort Nassau and also the Mini Palace, beautiful buildings from the colonial era.
Apart from the significant historical sites, this island is boasting beautiful nature and beaches with pristine blue water. Here in the nearness of the Banda Neira, there are several famous diving sites with amazing coral reefs and thousands of fish species representing the most colorful and exciting shallow and deep diving sites. In the pristine blue waters of Banda Neira, divers have discovered plunges to a maximum depth of 7,440 meters, as being one of the deepest places to dive on Earth.
The Komodo National Park
Different from the Banda Neira island, the islands forming the Komodo National Park are the most famous among tourists. The main reason for this is one of their inhabitants – the Komodo Dragon. Being the largest lizard found on earth, the Komodo dragon, although very dangerous, is an interesting tourist attraction that can be spotted in its natural habitat. The islands mentioned below are all home to the dragon and they form the Komodo National park together with 26 smaller islands. Komodo National Park is a must-visit destination for all travelers, especially those seeking adventure.
The Komodo Island
Komodo Island is the largest of them all and it’s the most popular among tourists. Not only that Komodo boasts amazing nature but it also offers one-of-a-kind experiences. Most people head there to see the dragon and it’s the safest place where you can observe them with guide tours.
Another amazing natural attraction that makes Komodo very attractive is the famous pink beach. Yes, the beach is in fact pink. Called Pantai Mera by the locals, this beach is one of the 7 such beaches in the whole world. What makes the sand on the beach appear pink under the sunlight are microscopic organisms called Foraminifera. The red pigment they produce on the coral reefs leaves small red particles that blend with the white sand. This blend appears as a pink tint that makes the beach mesmerizingly beautiful. The amazing pink sand is visible from the shore, water, and viewpoints on the hills.
The Komodo Islands, together with many other Indonesian islands, is also famous for the amazing dive sites. Near the pink beach and several other spots around the island host amazing underwater coral reefs to be explored and enjoyed.
Rinca Island
Rinca is a very small island representing an interesting terrain with grassy fields, a few scattered watering holes, and several very small beaches. There also is a tiny fishing village but the number of people living there is very small. Padar offers an amazing and unique hike to the top. Most tourists that decide to visit Padar, arrive on the island to take the hike.
What makes Rinca island different from Pardar and Komodo is the chance to easily spot the Komodo in a not-so-much disturbed atmosphere because of the lesser number of tourists and other human inhabitants. This is why most tourists recommend Rinca as the best island to observe the dragon, although it’s only for the bravest. The island hike also rewards with panoramic views from all over the terrain and the top. There are several small beaches but there is no practice of people swimming or relaxing around here due to the high danger of being attacked by the mighty predator.
Padar Island
Padar is a small and uninhabited island, therefore, it can be visited with a boat on a day-trip from Labuan Bajo or Komodo Island. The untouched nature of this small land holds amazing and unique things to witness. Namely, Padar is home to three small and amazingly beautiful beaches. What makes them so worth mentioning is their uniquely-colored sand. The first one is – pearl-white, the second one coal-black, and the third one is covered with rose-colored sand.
The explanation behind the pink send is the same as the one of Komodo’s pink beach. The black-sanded beach is a blend of sand with dark minerals, a residue of volcanic origin. On the other side of the island, there is the snowy-white-sand beach that appears so clean and glowing next to the colorful neighbors. Rinca island is the best place to go for a hike since once you are on the top you will enjoy unusual views over colorful beaches and not to forget the endless pristine-blue water ahead!
