Padar Island Island Hopping & Beach Activities

The exotic Padar Island is the smallest among the three Komodo National parks. Located 3 hours by boat from Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province. Padar Island is situated between its two bigger siblings, Komodo Island, and Rinca Island. Like two other islands, Padar offers panoramic views with diverse wildlife.

Sadly, one main difference is, unlike Komodo and Rinca, Padar Island no longer has Komodo dragons on it. Back in the day, the gigantic lizards used to live and roam here. They have since become extinct. Some say they migrated to the neighboring islands.

This is due to the lack of food sources on this island as people started hunting the animals Komodo eat. Now what’s left for humans to preserve are the remaining wildlife, the beautiful nature, as well as the marine life surrounding it.

Padar’s landscape mainly consists of curious-looking rugged hills. Covered exclusively by bushes and grass, with no trees in sight. The vegetation goes from lush green to dry yellow depending on the season, and the scorching sun shines all year round.

Drastically shaped bays form the island’s shorelines, with the most striking combination of their shape into a giant three-fingered claw formation. This is what then became the island’s signature view.

Getting To The Hilltop

Hiking Padar Island is a battle again the blazing hot sun more than anything. The hike is relatively short. To get to the hilltop for the best view, hikers will only need 30 to 45 minutes. But the dry savannah terrain provides challenges that could make those 30 minutes feel a lot longer.

No trees on the island, so forget about taking a break under the shade. The path uphill is not only steep but it is also covered with sun-kissed hot sand. There are no branches to provide some help, only shrubs and grass. Expect dirty hands and knees while crawling on those slopes.

But this is an adventure worth such a struggle. Just be sure to be equipped with enough bottled water. The view along the way will help to remind tired hikers that the best is yet to come.

Hikers will have a hard time resisting a pause every few minutes to take a photography break. The island is a heaven for photographers, every spot is a vantage point.

The Signature View of Padar Island

Then there it is, the three oddly horseshoe-shaped bays forming a claw-like shape. Crystal turquoise water surrounds the bays, with the little neighboring islands as far as eyes can see serving as a background. Fascinating little hills cover each of its capes, rolling and stretching out toward the sea.

And not to mention the beaches, with their uniquely colored sand that makes the panorama extraordinary. There’s no settlement on Padar Island. It’s 100% natural, with terrestrial animals such as wild boars, deer, and snakes inhabiting it. Some species of endemic birds can be seen circling above the sea and the grassland.

Visitors wouldn’t be surprised if only a dinosaur appears out of nowhere, the landscape does feel Jurassic. The panoramic view here is one of those memories visitors would want to remember forever. It’s time to fly those drones for anyone who brings one.

Capture the experience by getting a birds-eye view of the whole three bays. The island also provides perfect viewpoints for both sunrise and sunset, perfect for anyone who plans to hunt for them.

Padar Island 3 beaches, 3 different colors

The three deep bays of Padar Island have beaches on them. They have practically situated back the back with each other. But strangely, each has a different color of sand. One beach has pink sand, thanks to a red coral colony that inhabits its seashores. The other is charcoal black, due to the volcanic content of the sand.

The last one has pearly white sand. It’s beautiful, but next to the pink and the black ones, now typical white sand seems pale in comparison.

Padar Island Get The Scuba Diving Gear

Below the surface, the crystal blue water host incredible aquatic life. Diverse and also protected by the Komodo National Park. Underwater life around the archipelago is one of the best diving points in the world. So don’t forget to get a diving certification, because an adventure underwater awaits.

A diving spot called Tiga Dara (Three Sisters) sets right at the south of the island. It is called three sisters for the three rocks submerged under the water. These rocks provide a place for colorful corals, hard and soft, to thrive.

And then this colony of corals provides a home for colorful little sea creatures. Mantis shrimps, seahorses, and nudibranchs are among the few sea animals divers can spot here.

See: Komodo International Airport Flight & Public Transportation Guide.

Padar Island Opening Hours

There are no official opening hours, anyone can go at any time. Tourists may go early to watch the sunrise or stay well past the sunset. The ticket to this island is included as one entrance ticket to Komodo National Park. Tourists can buy entrance tickets at the National Park Office at Labuan Bajo.

See: Komodo National Park, Trekking & Beach.

Padar Island Entrance Fee

As the island is part of the Komodo National Park. Visitors will only have to buy a day pass that includes an entrance to the entire Komodo National Park Area. Don’t lose the ticket. A day boat tour usually includes Padar Island on their list.

See: How To Get To Wae Rebo Village & What To Expect.

Facilities

There are no man-made facilities built here. Toilets are usually provided on the boat. It’s recommended for travelers bring their own drinks and food since there will be no restaurants. To avoid littering, tourists are advised to keep their rubbish in their bags/pockets and throw them later when there’s a trash bin.

See: Guide To Explore Kelimutu National Park & 3 Colored Lake.

How To Get To Padar Island

Plenty of airlines now offer direct flights from many cities in Indonesia to Labuan Bajo. There is also a 3-day ferry from Bali to Labuan Bajo. This can provide an alternative, especially for budget travelers. From Labuan Bajo, tourists can reach the island by boat. Sailing to Padar from Labuan Bajo will take 30-45 minutes.

See: Indonesian SIM Card for tourists, Price & Provider.

Address & Location

The island is located in Komodo, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara 86554.