FLORES LAND TOURS
Diving is not for you? Explore Flores’ vibrant culture and see what the surrounding islands have to offer with one of our many land based tours.
CUNCA RAMI
One of Flores’ most famous and scenic waterfalls, Cunca Rami lays an hour and a half outside of Labuan, on the road to Mt. Beliling and is fairly easy to get to for a daytrip. The road to get to Cunca Rami is very scenic and through the trees of forest you can see the waterfall cascading over 100 meters from a granite rock cliff cut right into the mountain.The hike to Cunca Rami takes about an hour to an hour and a half and cuts through jungle teeming with different flora and fauna such as birds, monkeys, and many types of farmed trees. This is indeed a natural paradise and the locals appreciate it as such and do their best to keep the natural beauty alive.Once at the bottom of a steep slope, you then walk through verdant rice fields rivaling anything you might see in Bali, and over to the sight of the waterfall, where there is a large pool for swimming and many rocks for sunning yourself. This is a great place to spend an afternoon and have lunch and unwind in the natural beauty of Flores.
Sunset offers terrific colors that play along the mountain and the rice fields as birds of many species and other fauna sing in the soft light of the evening.
CUNCA WULANG
Whereas Cunca Rami is brilliant in its romantic natural elegance, Cunca Wulang is amazing for its display of natural power. Through the centuries, the water of this waterfall has carved a giant slot canyon right out of the mountain rock. It is this place, on the outside of Warsawe Village, where you can go for both adventure and relaxation, always to admire nature’s forceful beauty. Just outside a long and narrow road that leads down the spur of a mountain, this waterfall is an amazing sight and good for an afternoon or morning trip. The attraction here, besides the waterfall that pours over arches and through sluices over 30 meters into the canyon, is the canyon wall where you can jump from various stages into the water! Swimming, lounging on rocks and taking in all of the beauty here is essential as well. There is also some adventure trekking, and with the right guide you can climb the vine laden path up to the top of the waterfall where you can look at the two sluices that churn and bubble and eventually fall into a series of arches and finally into a bubbling whirlpool. Just an hour outside of Labuan Bajo, on the way to Ruteng, Cunca Wulang is situated in Warsawe Village after the turn at Cekonobo. The roads here can be pretty tricky, especially by car, however the trip to the emerald rocks and fascinating waterfall is definitely worth it.
BATU CERMIN
Just outside of Labuan Bajo is a large limestone cave complex on the edge of Wae Kesambi village. This is the site of Batu Cermin, meaning “mirror cave”, where the afternoon sunlight penetrates some of the holes in the cave and produces a wonderful light show.Inside the cave complex there are many types of stalactites, stalagmites, and fossils from various marine animals including turtles, coral, and fish. In addition, there is a main cathedral-like hall that acts as an echo chamber and produces eerie sounds. Above you will see a variety of bats, and if you look into holes with your flashlight you might see flying foxes, the occasional snake, and some interesting varieties of spider. The calcium rich stone also offers small crystal formations that reflect and refract light, offering a small glitter and light show if you were to point your flashlight in the right direction.In addition, the rocks surrounding the cave make interesting trekking, as many of them are covered with old growth vines and fichus trees, like giant bonsai in an intricate garden. It is a place that makes you feel like you are in prehistoric times. The large rock formations, couples with the foliage, make and excellent location for sunrise and sunset viewing.
SECRET CAVE
It’s a secret! Not to fear because we found the secret on an old map. More or less an hour by boat and hidden in the jungle, this water cave boasts incredible natural phenomena in a serene and picturesque setting.For this adventure, you will need to pack a towel, snorkel, and underwater torch. Carved out of limestone and hidden in the jungle along the beach lies this water cave, where giant stalactites and stalagmites of calcium stand like alters to forgotten gods. All afternoon the golden light from the setting sun illuminates of the cave’s cathedral, with dusty rays pointing to the back wall and through a single stalagmite that stands erect at the center, as if it were placed there by nature to point the way to some forgotten treasure. The crystal blue water is perfect for swimming, and with the torch you can explore the many passages that are not illuminated by the sun rays and look for the cave’s solitary batfish. As the light grows dim and the sun arches towards the horizon, golden light illuminates the cathedral’s ceiling, causing refractive patterns from the water. This is truly a majestic and calming place, both romantic and full of adventure.
