Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia)

Languages: Indonesian

Currencies: IDR · Indonesian rupiah (Rp)

Capitol: Jakarta

Continents: Asia

Borders: Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste

More useful information

Area: 1,904,569km2

Population: 273,523,621

Traffic/driving side: left

Landlocked country: No

Independent country: Yes

United Nations member: Yes

IDD Prefix: +62

Timezones: UTC+07:00, UTC+08:00, UTC+09:00

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Last updated on February 22, 2024

Kanawa Island - exotic paradise beach in Indonesia.

Kanawa Island is often described as a beach paradise, offering a tranquil and idyllic setting for visitors to enjoy. With its crystal-clear turquoise water and picturesque white sand beaches, it provides a true tropical island experience. 

The island is known for its exceptional calmness and clarity of water, making it perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Apart from its captivating underwater world, Kanawa Island also offers opportunities for relaxation and leisure activities. Visitors can lounge on the beach, sunbathe, or simply enjoy the stunning natural beauty of the island. 

Snorkeling in Kanawa's Island coral reef.

The coral reefs surrounding Kanawa Island are teeming with colorful fish and other marine life, creating a vibrant underwater ecosystem that snorkelers and divers can explore. I saw huge shark while snorkeling – but it was too shallow for him to reach my location. However don’t be surprised with number of small sharks swimming around you – I know it sounds crazy but there are harmless! At one time it was 7 of them around me!

Things to do in Kanawa Island.

  1. You’re definitely coming there for Snorkeling and Diving adventure.  Kanawa Island is surrounded by a coral reef, which is home to a variety of marine life, including colorful fish and sea turtles.
  2. Beaches: The island boasts several white sand beaches, perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking.
  3. Trekking: There are a few trekking trails on the island that offer stunning views of the surrounding seascape.

    The island is small, covering an area of 35 hectares. Therefore, it is possible to explore the island on foot and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. When planning to go trekking on Kanawa Island, it’s important to bring proper footwear and supplies, such as water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. 

  4. Definitely Relaxing. Kanawa Island is a perfect place to relax and unwind, with plenty of options for lounging on the beach or in a hammock.

You need to know that Kanawa Island is located within the Komodo National Park, and all visitors are required to pay an entrance fee. 

How to get to Kanawa Island.

Kanawa is a very small island and it’s easily reachable from Labuan Bajo. Best way to get there is to hire a boat from Labuan Bajo for a half-day or 1-day trip to spend the whole day in the island. The boat was still $40/for 5 hours. 

Alternatively there are plenty of boat operators, which will take you to the most spectacular places for snorkeling with mantas and even sharks. 

Kanawa – the idyllic island.

Kanawa is probably one of the best islands in Indonesia if you’re looking for spectacular underworld and white sandy beaches. What’s even more important there are almost no tourists. There is not much to do on the island beside snorkeling and sunbathing, but trust me that’s all you want ot do there. Can you believe in 2013 there were just few bungalows on the island (around 10$ per night). 

Remember to take lots of water, sun lotion and some snacks. I haven’t seen any shops on the island. The temperature went above 40 C degrees in December month. 

Best paradise beach in Indonesia!

Kanawa Island boasts mesmerizing nautical scenery that attracts many travelers seeking a beach paradise experience. Be careful when snorkeing above the coral reef, don’t ever touch anything, don’t break things, don’t step on the coral reef. 

The ocean around Kanawa, Komodo and Rinca was very peaceful, no monsoons or currents in December. But the weather conditions might be very different and changable. That is why you should be careful when diving in this area. But the boat operators are aware of this and they always provide good advice. You will see many other small islands in the area, most of them uninhabited. This region is a true paradise, with not many visitors you will have unforgettable time! This was one of my favourite adventures in Asia of all time. Will never forget this. 😉

Kanawa island
Sassari Sardinia

Hey - I'm Eva!

Hiker, adventurous traveler and the author of this blog. My biggest joy is mountaineering and writing reportage travel stories here on this blog, to help you create a unique travel experience. Traveling is freedom, allows you seeing the world truly, meet communities, grow. Taste it!
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