Riung 17 Islands; The Hidden Paradise on the North

The beauty of Komodo National Park in Flores has been widely known and has become the primadona of Indonesian tourism. But remember, the beauty and exoticism of Flores are not only found on Komodo Island.  But Flores holds amazing tourism wealth from west to east actually. One of the tourist attractions that should not be missed from your travel list in Flores is Riung in Ngada Regency with its charming Marine Park and 17 Islands. Riung Marine Park and 17 Islands are other charms of Flores Island that should be unveiled. This stunning archipelago boasts pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a rich marine life. If you’re looking for a unique and off-the-beaten-path the 17 Islands Marine Park in Riung, Flores is an absolute must-visit, especially for snorkeling fans.

Riung is located on the north coast far from the hustle and bustle of modern society. Unlike Labuanbajo and the Komodo National Park area which are crowded with visitors, Riung and the Seventeen Islands Marine Park area are still rarely visited by tourists, except by those who have an adventurous spirit. Yes, this is actually a hidden paradise. Not many tour operators put Riung and the 17 islands in their tour itinerary. There is not much more to do in Riung other than exploring the 17 islands marine park. However, interact with very friendly locals will enrich your  holiday experience. The main target of travelling to Riung is to enjoy exploring the beauty of the 17 Islands Marine Park. Save your one day full to explore the islands and have some snorkeling, beach relax and Fish BBQ on the sandy beach.

-One of the 17 Islands - the home of thousand Fruit Bats-

Riung itself is actually a fishing village located on the northern coast of Flores Island, which is dominated by some of the native Riung residents plus immigrants from Selayar Island and Buton Island in Sulawesi. Riung is 75 km from the city of Bajawa and can be reached in two hours by driving. You will pass several small villages separated one from another by dense and untouched forests or beautiful vast expanse of savanna and exotic hills. The road access is still rather narrow and quiet, but once you reach the last mountain range you will be presented with a truly amazing panoramic of the sea and 17 islands.

There are several hotels, home-stays  and restaurants available for tourists such as the SVD Lodge owned by the SVD Missionary Union which provides quite a lot of rooms, Riung Guesthouse and some other home-stays

TWAL Seventeen Islands has a variety of protected fauna species, one of the most familiar is the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis). This Komodo  dragon can be found on Ontoloe Island, the largest island in the western of the region. Although it has a smaller size and brighter color compared to the Komodo Dragon in the Komodo National Park area, scientifically it is the same, only because of genetic variation that the Komodo dragon in Riung is slimmer and more yellowish in color. Riung and Ontoloe Island are one of the Komodo habitats. However, Riung and Ontoloe Island have not been specifically used as tourist attractions to see Komodo dragons because the Komodo dragons in the area are very wild and rarely interact with humans, so they tend to avoid when they meet visitors.
 
- The Fruit-Bat on Kalong Island -
Nevertheless, Riung offers the beauty and exoticism of the marine park area and its  more than twenty uninhabited islands and isles. The islands in this area can be explored by boat. There are several islands that are often visited by visitors, namely Batang Kolong Island, Ontole Island, Rutong Island and Tiga Island. Batang Kalong Island and Ontoloe are overgrown with dense mangroves and are also home to thousands of bats. Here a truly massive colony of fruit bats calls a mangrove forest home and hangs out during the day. These nocturnal animals are some of the largest bats in the world. They are resting during the day after a night of long distance traveling and flying looking for fruit on the mainland of Flores Island. Once your boat comes closer, your captain will most likely start to make some weird noises in order to wake up the sleeping bats. As soon as a critical mass of bats takes off, all other will follow. It is a pretty eerie sight to watch thousands of these animals with a wingspan of up to 1.5 m rushing into the sky.
 
Rutong Island and Tiga Island have exotic sparkling white sandy beaches. This island is always visited by visitors for relax, swim and soak and snorkel. Even some tourists choose the island’s beach for camping and spend the night away from any pollution and noise. The Seventeen Islands and its Marine Park area is also home to other flora and fauna such as mangrove forests, colorful and various kind of fish, such as sunu fish, barracuda fish, starfish, sea roses sea gulls, fox and Komodo dragons.
In addition to the beauty of the land on its islands, the Riung Marine Park area holds a million amazing underwater natural beauties. Visitors can snorkel at several points such as around Tiga Island and Meja Island. Due to the calm and clear waters, on some points visitors are able to witness the beauty of the underwater world from a boat without having to get wet snorkeling or even diving. The marine life in this area is dominated by various types of coral reefs such as soft coral, table coral, and sea fans.
 
The Seventeen Islands and Marine Park is managed by the NTT Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA). In supporting to improve the management and service of this marine nature tourism area, each visitor is charged an entrance fee to the area of Rp 5,000 for domestic tourists and Rp 100,000 for foreign tourists. Payment of the entrance ticket is made at the BKSDA Desk at the pier’s parking lot before you enter the boat to start the tour. (Adm)
 

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