NK Jaya
NK Jaya phinisi fleet
Kanawa Island sunset: day 1 of the 4 days 3 nights route
Updated 20 October 2026
Kanawa is a small island west of Rinca with white sand beaches, about 1 to 1.5 hours by boat from Labuan Bajo. On the 4 days 3 nights route of NK Jaya 1 and NK Jaya 2 it's the day 1 sunset stop, not a snorkel stop.
One route, one evening
Kanawa shows up on one route only. It's stop 3 on day 1 of the 4 days 3 nights route, after Rangko Cave and Burung Island. The plan is sunset, then dinner and free time.
No other route stops here. The one-day tour, the 2 days route and the 3 days route skip it.
- Kanawa, end of day 1. White sand, sunset, dinner on board.
Where the boat spends the night depends on the weather and the captain's decision that day.
The evening stop pays off in light. Sunset at a white sand island is a quiet way to end a long first day.
- Best window
- midday
- Time ashore / in water
- 45–90 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Depth
- 1–6 m
- Current
- mild
- Tide
- Not tide-dependent
- Busiest months
- July, August
What it is not: not on the standard Vinca routes
What the island is
Kanawa is a small island west of Rinca. It has white sand beaches and coral nearby. It takes about 1 to 1.5 hours by boat from Labuan Bajo.
It is popular with day trips, so it can be busy in high season. A sunset stop on an overnight route sees fewer boats than a midday stop.
On our route it's a sunset stop, not a snorkel stop. If you want a swim, ask the crew on the day.
They'll know better than any web page.
Kit and fees
Bring a light layer for the evening breeze, sandals for the beach and a charged phone. A hat is still useful before the sun drops.
Park entry is paid per person per day. A foreign visitor pays IDR 250,000. An Indonesian citizen pays IDR 50,000 on weekdays and IDR 75,000 at weekends and holidays. The boat fare never includes them.
The itinerary can change with the weather. If the evening stop moves, the captain tells you the next best option that day.
Sandals are enough for the beach, and a rash guard is useful if you swim. A short walk on soft sand is all this stop asks of your legs.
FAQ
Is Kanawa a snorkel stop on the NK Jaya routes?
No. Kanawa is a sunset stop, with dinner and free time, and there's no snorkel on the plan there. The snorkel stops on the 4 days 3 nights route are Siaba, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Long Beach and Manjarite. The captain sets the day's plan on the water.
Which route stops at Kanawa?
Only the 4 days 3 nights route, on day 1 as stop 3, after Rangko Cave and Burung Island. The one-day, 2 days 1 night and 3 days 2 nights routes do not stop at Kanawa. It's a sunset stop, so plan on an evening by a white sand beach rather than a long swim.
How far is Kanawa from Labuan Bajo?
About 1 to 1.5 hours by boat. It is a small island west of Rinca with white sand beaches. Exact sailing times between stops aren't fixed, so we confirm them with your plan. Plan the day around that sail, since it eats part of day 1.
Is Kanawa busy?
It can be in high season, since day trips like it too. Evening stops see fewer boats than midday ones.
Check availability — NK Jaya
NK Jaya is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.