Ruteng
© OpenStreetMap, CARTO
Why visit
Visit Ruteng for highland Flores rather than beach Indonesia. The spider web rice fields, cooler air, road journey, and town base make it useful between Labuan Bajo and central Flores. It works when the trip wants the island interior, not only Komodo boats.
When to avoid
Do not use Ruteng as if it were the base for Komodo National Park itself. That belongs closer to Labuan Bajo. Road time is the main constraint. If the Flores overland route is not the plan, Ruteng may be too much movement for one field view.