Visit Flores Island, Bali & Indonesia

Fiery Peaks and Cultural Trails: Discovering Flores Island, Indonesia

Tucked in the heart of Indonesia’s Nusa Tenggara province, Flores Island is a place of dramatic landscapes and deep-rooted traditions. With 14 active volcanoes cutting through its spine, the island’s rugged terrain has naturally shaped a patchwork of distinct ethnic communities.

Along the isolated south coast, humble fishing villages dot the volcanic black-sand shores. Locals launch small wooden boats in search of giant pelagic fish, braving the wild seas that define this edge of the island.

Home to around 1.5 million people, Flores reflects a legacy left by 16th-century Portuguese explorers. Roman Catholicism is wide spread, and in many rural pockets, the older generations still converse in Portuguese.

The winding Trans-Flores Highway, stretching from Larantuka in the east to Labuan Bajo in the west, connects the islands vibrant agricultural heartland. Terraced hillsides and valley farms yield rice, coffee, tamarind, coconuts, bananas, cacao, and spices – a rich mosaic of tropical produce.

Don’t be surprised to spot an unusual roadside snack along the way: giant roasted rats, said to be the largest in Asia, are a local delicacy in some mountain villages.

Nearby, the 17 Islands Marine Park offers another dimension of natural beauty, with snorkeling and diving amid vibrant coral reefs and untouched island scenery.