Komodo National Park is great for scuba diving and other water sports. But more than that, it is also a wonderful place to visit for leisure. One of the reasons for this is that the marine park area has beautiful beaches. The two most well-known of them are Pink Beach and Long Beach.
Deciding which island to visit on your holiday on can be tricky if you’re heading to Komodo and only have a few days in your schedule. Both beaches are great, but each has something different to see, leaving you torn on where to spend your time. In this article, we’ll break down what makes each beach unique so you can choose the perfect spot for your next adventure.
The Differences of Pink Beach & Long Beach
Geographical Difference
If you look on Google Maps, you will never find Long Beach. This is because Long Beach is actually Pink Beach. Confused? That’s okay. There are two “Pink Beach’s” in the Komodo National Park area. One is located on Komodo Island, while the other is on Padar Island. The one in Padar is the one referred to as “Long Beach”. Let’s look at their locations below:
The Difference in The Coloration of the Sand
The sand on both beaches is actually pink-coloured. The pink comes from a mix of white sand and red coral fragments. When they get wet from the waves, the sand will appear pinker. The white sand feels really soft when you touch it, its super fine and makes a great beach to hang out at.
Though both share the same name, Pink Beach on Komodo Island has a brighter pink, somewhat close to red. That is why it is called “Pantai Merah” in the local language: “Red beach”. However, the Long Beach on Padar Island has a softer pink colour.
Different Activities and Attractions
Pink Beach Komodo
The sand on both beaches is actually pink-coloured. The pink comes from a mix of white sand and red coral fragments. When they get wet from the waves, the sand will appear pinker. The white sand feels really soft when you touch it, its super fine and makes a great beach to hang out at.
Though both share the same name, Pink Beach on Komodo Island has a brighter pink, somewhat close to red. That is why it is called “Pantai Merah” in the local language: “Red beach”. However, the Long Beach on Padar Island has a softer pink colour.
Long Beach Padar
Like Pink Beach, you can also do general water sports in Long Beach. However, you can also hike there because Long Beach is located on Padar Island, famous for it’s view point. Although it’s located around the other side of the island to pink beach so you will typically need to take a boat to get there.
Accessibility Difference
You can reach both Pink Beach and Long Beach by boat, starting from Labuan Bajo. However, the route to the latter is shorter due to its closer proximity. Furthermore, they are remote and unpopulated, so you will need to pack essentials like snacks, water, and sun protection before leaving Labuan Bajo. There are a few vendors that set up on Long Beach however if you want to grab a cold drink or a cup of instant noodles. For sustainability reasons however, we recommend you take anything you need in with reusable containers.
We recommend checking up with your travel organizer before going to see if they provide everything or if you will need to arrange it yourself.
Usually, going to Long Beach on Padar or Pink Beach on Komodo is included as part of an itinerary by your travel agencies. On our Ultimate Komodo liveaboard trip, our itinerary also allows you to visit Pink Beach on Komodo Island, and we do a dive site just off the beach too. Interested? Check out our Ultimate Komodo itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes pink beach?
Well, there is actually more than one cause. The dominant cause is a coral skeleton, specially of an organ pipe coral species which is vibrant red in colour and located just off the locations of the beach in the water. These break down into tiny fragments and wash over to the shore.
Pink beaches also get their unique colour from the presence of tiny marine organisms known as foraminifera. These single-celled creatures have red and pink shells, which are made from calcium carbonate minerals found in the water.
Which Pink Beach should I visit?
We recommend that you visit both beaches instead of picking one. Each of them are unique, and doing it will allow you to experience Komodo to the fullest.
Do you go to Pink Beach in your Komodo liveaboard?
Yes, we do. On our Ultimate Komodo itinerary we have Pink Beach on the list of stops! We also offer Padar trekking while doing it, and a trek on Gili Lawa Darat and another on Rinca to see the Dragons.
