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    Bajawa
    Town

    Bajawa

    Bajawa lies at around 1,100 m in the highlands of Flores, overlooked by the volcanic cone Inerie. The small town serves as a gateway to the traditional Ngada villages with their megaliths and ancestor shrines.

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    9. Bajawa
    Bajawa lies at around 1,100 m in the highlands of Flores, overlooked by the volcanic cone Inerie. The small town serves as a gateway to the traditional Ngada villages with their megaliths and ancestor shrines.
    Bajawa is the main town of the Ngada district and a common stop on the way between Labuan Bajo and Ende. The town itself is small and cool. Around 20 km south, at the foot of Mount Inerie, lie the villages of Bena and Gurusina, featuring stone terraces, megaliths, and thatched-roof houses. The surrounding area offers hot springs and coffee plantations. On the north coast is Riung, with the offshore islands of the 17 Pulau Marine Park. For the villages, it's best to rent a scooter or a car with a driver.

    Sights in Bajawa

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Bena
    Josep M. Gracia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Historic Landmark

    Bena

    Traditional Ngada village at the foot of Inerie with thatched-roof houses on stone terraces, megaliths, and ancestral shrines.
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    Gurusina
    Attraction

    Gurusina

    Ngada village south of Bena, quieter, less visited, with traditional houses around the village square.
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    Marine Park 17 Pulau Riung
    National Park

    Marine Park 17 Pulau Riung

    Protected area with small islands, mangroves, and reefs off Riung on the North Coast. Boat tours depart from the town.
    Open in Google Maps

    Sights in Bajawa

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Bena
    Josep M. Gracia / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
    Historic Landmark

    1Bena

    Traditional Ngada village at the foot of Inerie with thatched-roof houses on stone terraces, megaliths, and ancestral shrines.
    Open in Google Maps
    Gurusina
    Attraction

    2Gurusina

    Ngada village south of Bena, quieter, less visited, with traditional houses around the village square.
    Open in Google Maps
    Marine Park 17 Pulau Riung
    National Park

    3Marine Park 17 Pulau Riung

    Protected area with small islands, mangroves, and reefs off Riung on the North Coast. Boat tours depart from the town.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Bajawa

    1

    Bajawa Family Resto

    Restaurant with Indonesian cuisine on Jl. WJ Lalamentik.
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    2

    Bakmie Ayam Bareta

    A casual restaurant specializing in chicken noodles on Jl. El Tari.
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    Food and Drinks

    Coffee from Bajawa

    Arabica from the Ngada Highland, which is roasted and sold in the city.

    Market Warungs

    Simple eateries with rice, vegetables, and fish or pork, common on Catholic Flores.

    Spirit

    The Ngada blend Catholic faith with ancestor veneration. In village squares, the Ngadhu, an umbrella-like pole for male ancestors, and the Bhaga, a small house for female ancestors, stand in pairs. Villages request an entrance fee or donation; please ask before photographing.

    Getting There and Around

    Getting ThereBy Road: Bajawa is located on the Trans-Flores Highway. From Labuan Bajo, it takes 8 to 10 hours by car; to Moni via Ende, about 6 hours.By Air: The small Soa Airport (BJW) north of the town is served by Wings Air, with connections to Labuan Bajo and Kupang.Getting AroundShared taxis operate between towns; locally, you can rent scooters or ojek.

    Day Trips

    Riung

    Coastal village with boat tours to the islands of Marine Park 17 Pulau.

    Kelimutu

    Three crater lakes near Moni, about five hours east via Ende.

    Accommodations in Bajawa

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    Nearby

    Kelimutu-Seen

    Kelimutu-Seen

    On the summit of Kelimutu volcano in eastern Flores, three crater lakes lie close together, their colors changing over the years. The National Park is an essential stop on every Flores trip.
    Flores and Komodo National Park

    Flores and Komodo National Park

    Flores lies between Sumbawa and Timor and is around 350 km long. In the west, Komodo National Park, with its monitor lizards, starts at Labuan Bajo harbor; inland, volcanoes, rice terraces, and traditional villages extend to Kelimutu's crater lakes.
    Labuan Bajo

    Labuan Bajo

    Labuan Bajo, located at the western tip of Flores, is the gateway for tours into Komodo National Park. This former fishing village has evolved into a vibrant hub for boat trips, diving, and sailing with traditional Pinisi ships.
    Sumba

    Sumba

    Sumba, south of Flores, is one of Indonesia's most pristine islands. Traditional villages with high-peaked roofs, megalithic tombs, savannas, waterfalls, and empty beaches characterize the island.
    Komodo-Nationalpark

    Komodo-Nationalpark

    Komodo National Park, located between Sumbawa and Flores, encompasses the islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands and reefs. Here lives the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard today.