Goa Rangko Cave & Blue Pool Near Labuan Bajo, Flores

by David & Intan

The Goa Rangko Cave is a neat hidden spot with a natural blue pool near the town of Labuan Bajo in Flores, Indonesia.

Labuan Bajo is already known as the gateway to Indonesiaโ€™s famous Komodo National Park, and this unique cave (also known as Gua Rangko) is pretty easy to visit with a short drive from town and then a quick boat ride up the coast.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Gua Rangko Cave from Labuan Bajo, and everything you need to know before you go!

Where To Stay In Labuan Bajo

 

Goa Rangko Cave โ€“ What To Expect

The Goa Rangko cave (also known as Gua Rangko) is a limestone cave that only gets hit by sunlight once a day (Iโ€™ll explain more about that in a bit), and when itโ€™s lit up, the pool has a very nice blue color.

You can swim in the pool, and itโ€™s extra easy to float because of minerals in the water. You can even spot some small fish swimming in it.

There are steps down to the water, but be careful on the rocks near the edge of the pool because they can be slippery.

Water shoes could be a good idea, at least until you get into the water.

Cave entrance

Cave entrance       Goa Rangko Cave in Labuan Bajo Flores Indonesia
 
 

Best Time To Visit

In our experience, the cave started getting light at 2:00 PM, but the best lighting was from 2:30 to 3:00 PM. It was already fading again by 3:30 PM, so you donโ€™t have a very long window to take pictures.

We first came to the cave at 12:00 (based on what a friend said), but it was still dark. Iโ€™m sure the timing changes a bit with the seasons, so keep that in mind. This was in early March.

Your best bet is to find someone whoโ€™s been there recently, or maybe ask the guy at the ticket booth. Clouds can also block your lighting, but thankfully Labuan Bajo has a very sunny climate so itโ€™s not normally an issue.
 

Entrance Fee

  • Boat Crossing: 200k IDR ($14) return
  • Cave Entrance Fee: 50k IDR

These are the current fees for Gua Rangko as of 2021.

The boat carries up to 5 people so you can split the cost if you go with friends. The drivers will try to quote crazy high prices at first, so youโ€™ll need to do some haggling.

Boat ride to Goa Rangko
 
 

How To Get There

Goa Rangko Cave is accessed by boat, but first you have to drive to the harbor, which is 20-30 minutes from Labuan Bajo town.

The road is mostly paved, with a few steep hills. Overall, itโ€™s a pretty easy drive with low traffic and great views of the coast.

Next, you have to take a boat over to Goa Rangko Cave, which is in a small hidden beach surrounded by mountains. There will be boat drivers waiting at the harbor, but haggle for a fair price (see above). The boat ride only takes 15 minutes or less, and the driver will wait for you while you explore the cave.

When you arrive at the island, thereโ€™s a small ticket booth and then a short path to the cave. Follow the path left along the rocks and youโ€™ll see the cave in 5 minutes or less.


 

EXTRA: Pasir Timbul Sandbar

If you want something extra to see near Goa Rangko, thereโ€™s a tiny sandbar called Pasir Timbul that can be reached by boat in just 5 minutes!

At low tide, the sandbar is a crescent shape. At high tide, itโ€™s only a neat little disc of sand. This spot is easy to combine with the Gua Rangko Cave, and itโ€™s great for drone photos.

Just pay your boat driver an extra 50-100k Rupiah and they will take you there (itโ€™s actually close enough to be visible even from the harbor).

Pasir Timbul Sandbar Drone Picture

Drone pic of the Pasir Timbul sandbar near Goa Rangko. At high tide, itโ€™s only a little circle like this.


 

Labuan Bajo Hotels

 

More Komodo Travel Tips

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed these tips for seeing the Goa Rangko cave near Labuan Bajo.

Donโ€™t forget to check out my complete Komodo Travel Guide for more information about seeing the dragons and all of the islands!

Komodo Island Dragon In Komodo National Park Indonesia

Donโ€™t forget to check out my complete Komodo Travel Guide!


 

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4 comments

Warren Ho August 30, 2022 - 2:23 am

Hi David
Visited the komodo dragons in July. Indonesia has so many natural wonders. Thanks to both of you, the world is waking up to the diversity of this beautiful country. I am a regular visitor to Bali. Was there for a month. But sad to say that the authorities are turning a blind eye and eroding the culture & heritage of Bali. Atlas beach club is an example.

Reply
David & Intan August 30, 2022 - 7:57 am

Thanks Warren, yes itโ€™s sad to see some of the changes in Bali.

Reply
peter dunn January 12, 2023 - 5:10 am

just read your blurb on Rangko cave. excellent information. thanks

Reply
David & Intan January 12, 2023 - 6:04 am

Have a good trip!

Reply

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