A National Park in Indonesia is famous for its stunning pink beaches, but to best enjoy the area there are a few policies travellers need to be aware of, including where to stay and when to visit
Pink beaches are a bucket list destination for avid travellers given their scarcity and, in some cases, protected status. These special beaches – defined by the distinct pale pink hue of their sands – can be found in various parts of the world, from Greece to Barbados to Sardinia.
The Komodo Islands of Indonesia are one such infamous destination. The UNESCO Heritage Komodo National Park comprises 29 islands, with Komodo Island being just one among many including other well-known destinations like Rinca and Padar.
Komodo itself has become famous for two things, one being the Komodo dragon and the other its iconic pink sands. But its notoriety has led to a few warnings being issued to would-be tourists over the years.
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In 2019, for instance, Komodo Island was considering completely closing off to tourists after reports that Komodo dragons were being smuggled from the island. The closure was initially intended to start in 2020 but was later cancelled, though general tourism of the park is still closed.
Now tourists are warned of another precaution when planning to visit the island, a further consequence of the island’s increasing popularity. Due to growing crowds, travellers are urged to avoid arriving during certain periods to limit crowding.
According to the travel marketplace, Seek Sophie, travellers should avoid the rainy season from January to March as boat trips don’t run during this time. That said, the only way to see Komodo National Park is on an island-hopping boat tour. Travellers can choose between a sightseeing boat tour or a diving boat trip. Even one-day speedboat trips can be cancelled though, if weather conditions are poor.
Komodo National Park requires all boat trip passengers pre-register their journey. After you have booked your boat trip, you’ll be required to submit a copy of your passport with your photo, full name, nationality, and passport number to your boat host at least one day before your trip, otherwise you’ll be denied entry to the park.
If you’re aiming to see the Komodo dragons as well as the famous pink beaches, avoid July and August which is mating season. Seek Sophie also advises travellers to avoid arriving during local holidays like Raya as these are generally exceptionally busy times, unless you’re prepared to queue for popular attractions like the Padar lookout.
But don’t let the tourist warnings and policies scare you off, Komodo National Park is a one-of-a-kind destination that is certainly worth experiencing first-hand. In fact, Time Out recently listed the Padar Island viewpoint as one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Once you are in the Park though, there are several pink beaches to explore, though the one near Komodo Island is where most boats stop off. That said, because of its convenience and popularity, the sand has grown increasingly paler as travellers make souvenirs of the sand.
Tourists taking sand became a huge problem on pink sand beaches, particularly the famous Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach) of northern Sardinia. Budelli Island – home to one of only two pink sand beaches in Italy – subsequently barred access to all tourists for life.
As on Komodo Island and most pink beaches, the sand gets its distinct colour from the high concentration of red-coloured, shelled microorganisms that are ground by the waves and transported to the beach. After decades of tourists collecting the sand and with no time to recover, beaches like Spiaggia Rosa eventually lose their colour completely.
Those planning a trip to the Komodo National Park are encouraged to be respectful of the ecological sensitivity of the area. It is to protect the region that there are no hotels in the Park. Travellers wishing to prolong their trip can stay in Labuan Bajo town or opt for an overnight boat.