Kelimutu

Kelimutu is a volcano on the island of Flores in Indonesia. Kelimutu is Mount Boiling means mount is always active. It is a good base for a trip to the coloured craters of the volcano. There are three craters which are usually dark red, green and light green, but the colours are not fixed and depend on the activities of the volcano, so the colour changes from lighter or darker. The similar Kawah Putih (White Crater) near Ciwidey on the island of Java has only one lake, with light green to white colour.

Travel to Kelimutu

Airplanes from Denpasar to Maumere and Ende are limited. The ticket price is more than Rp 2 million to more than Rp 6 million for one way trip.

Buses from Bajawa (3-4 hr, Rp 80,000) start at 6AM. Gunung Mas runs 12-seater "Travel Bus" from Ruteng to Kelimutu (continuing to Maumere) at 7AM and 1.30~2.PM. Your lodging may be able to arrange a "Travel" shared vehicle for IDR 100,000 per person (as of Nov 2023).

From Ende there are more options. Public cars (2 hr, Rp 60,000), Toyota Kijang are the normally the most comfortable option. Bemos (Rp 40,000) and buses (Rp 50,000) also ply the route in 2.5 hr. If you're feeling adventurous ojeks will take you there for Rp 200,000 letting you make your way in your own pace and stop for photos along the very scenic route.

From Maumere (3-4 hr) there is the same plethora of buses (Rp 50,000) and public cars (Rp 50,000), just ask at your hotel.

From Riung and the public bus to Ende (50 000) leaves at 6am and you can catch a bus to Kelimutu from there.

Your hotel can arrange transport for you in the public cars, but the downside is that the vehicle will save a seat for you from their start in Maumere/Ende, so you have to pay the price of the full route even though you only get on in Kelimutu. Given that enough people get off in Kelimutu, it is better to just flag a car/bus in Kelimutu when you are ready to leave. It might take you an hour to do so, but there is also no guarantee that the vehicle your hotel arranges for you will arrive at a specific time. This is Indonesia.

How to get around in Kelimutu

The ubiquitous ojek is never far away. Depending on your hotel's proximity to the national park, ojeks are between Rp 65,000-35,000 (1 way) for a ride up to see the sunrise at 4:30AM. It's best to walk back since it's a nice walk, and there's nothing worse than having an eager ojek driver pulling at you to leave the beautiful lakes just as the light is getting perfect for that moment.

You can rent a motorbike at many places around town for IDR 150,000 for the day.

The cars licensed to carry public transport passengers are the ones with yellow license plates. (However, it seems everyone is willing to stop and let you on for a price).

Some hikers sometimes hike down from Kelimutu to Ende on foot. This is not so difficult, because the hike goes down and the forest is light.

What to see in Kelimutu

Mount Kelimutu - Beautiful at sunrise and the 3 mineral lakes at the top (in the craters) change colour with the changing of the volcnoes activities. The lakes change color completely from time to time. In the national park you can see a table of what color the lakes were for each year going back 20 years. It is imfeasible to take the three lakes altogether in one frame as displayed on postcard from the ground. Should use drone or sometimes there are chartered air planes fly over the three lakes. Rp 20.000 for motorbike parking.

Monkeys - On your way down the volcano you will find the monkeys have awoken. There is an official feeding ground where you can go and feed the monkeys. Be careful and they are sneaky buggers, and there's always a risk of being bitten or scratched when interacting with wild animals.

Local Villages - The settlement itself is surrounded by spectacular scenery, landscapes dotted with palms and banana trees. There are also a number of visible burial sites in front gardens, a local cultural tradition.

Hot springs - Near the entrance to the Kelimutu National Park you find the thermal spas (Muslim Friendly). A perfect end to an early morning.

Waterfalls - Opposite Rainbow Cafe, a small path leads down to a roaring waterfall. Popular with the young local residents, this is considered the perfect site for a picnic.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Kelimutu

Not far from Kelimutu (about 5 kilometers in the Ende direction) and the big fruit and vegetable market is where the villagers sell the produce from their gardens. Everything is fresh, tasty and picked daily.

Ikat sarongs and scarfs woven by the local women in the surrounding villages are easy to find. They come in 2 qualities, natural dye and chemical dye. If you don't know the difference, opt for the cheaper chemical dye.

Halal Food & Restaurants

Besides the guesthouses and there are several good restaurants around Kelimutu offering local menus. And of course a couple of Halal warungs peddling the affordable and tasty Bakso and Soto Ayam.

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Accommodation in Kelimutu is plentiful, although fairly spread out over 2 kilometers along the primary street. Prices are per room, and all have private bathrooms with western toilets. This lists lodgings in the order you approach them when arriving from Ende. Take your own covers or wear a sweater to bed, as the blankets these lodges provide for you are usually too thin to warm you up.

Arwanty Bungalow - 2 large bungalows each with 2 rooms that can hold 3 people. A double bed in one room and a single bed in the other room that also holds furniture making out the living room.

Flores Sare - Imagine a hotel in an atrium setting with a beautiful garden with ponds, canals and fountains in the centre and nice comfortable rooms surrounding that garden. Then you might get an idea what this place looked like 10 years ago. Now imagine that it has never been maintained and they canals are dry and the garden overgrown, and the staff indifferent or simply absent.

Kelimutu Crater Lakes Eco Lodge - 10 cute concrete bungalows with balconies and thatched roof. The hotel recycles water and uses solar power. It is the only up-market (although hardly luxury) option in Kelimutu.

Santiago Dorm, cheap, though very simple dorm beds. Rp 200,000, breakfast not included.

News & References Kelimutu

Travel Next

Maumere, 3 hours
Ende, 2 hours, IDR 60,000 to take bemo/shuttle van or "Travel" vehicle may pick you up for IDR 50,000. Wait on the side of main street (as of Nov 2023). Some travelers sometimes hike down from Kelimutu to Ende on foot and is not so difficult.