Yes, sailing out of Labuan Bajo port can be unsafe or outright suspended during the January–March peak of the November–March wet season — the harbormaster (syahbandar) has repeatedly closed all tourist-boat departures fleet-wide, sometimes for a week or more, when BMKG issues high-wave or extreme-weather warnings for Komodo National Park waters. This has happened in multiple recent rainy seasons, most visibly around the 2025/2026 New Year period and again in January 2026.
“Is it safe to visit Komodo in the rainy season” doesn’t have a single yes-or-no answer — most days sail normally, but the risk of a multi-day closure is real and documented, not a theoretical worst case. This page lays out exactly what has happened in recent rainy seasons, based on official KSOP notices and national news coverage, so you can plan a trip in this window with realistic expectations rather than finding out about the risk after booking non-refundable flights.
Has Labuan Bajo port actually been closed for weather before?
Yes, multiple times in documented recent history. At the end of December 2025, KSOP Labuan Bajo issued a Maklumat Pelayaran (sailing notice) closing all sailing activity — including speedboats — across all Manggarai Barat waters, citing a specific BMKG wave-height warning (reference number B/ME.01.02/PDGTI29/DMM/XII/2025, dated 29 December 2025). National coverage described this as a ban on tourist boats sailing from 26 December 2025 through 1 January 2026, with the local syahbandar office confirming it had stopped issuing sailing permits (Surat Persetujuan Berlayar) for that window, extendable depending on conditions. Weeks later, in January 2026, KSOP issued a further notice (Maklumat Pelayaran No. 07/MP-I/2026) extending a tourist-boat closure originally set for 14–20 January through to 27 January, citing BMKG’s maritime forecasting office in Kupang and continued high-wave conditions at Komodo National Park.
What wave height actually triggers a closure?
There isn’t one single published threshold. BMKG’s own classification defines “gelombang sedang” (moderate waves) as 1.25–2.5 meters and “gelombang tinggi” (high waves) as 2.5–4 meters, and its warnings for Komodo National Park waters and surrounding straits commonly fall in the 1.25–2.5 meter range during stormy periods. But the January 2026 closure documented by Liputan6 covered days when BMKG’s forecast for specific islands (Kanawa, Rinca, Sabolo) showed wave heights as low as roughly 0.7–1.6 meters — meaning KSOP’s decision clearly weighs combined factors (wind, thunderstorm risk, local observation) rather than a single wave-height number. In practice, this means you cannot predict a closure from a wave-height forecast alone; only an actual KSOP Maklumat Pelayaran, issued close to the date, tells you definitively whether boats are sailing.
How would I actually find out if sailing is suspended on my dates?
KSOP notices are issued as needed, not on a fixed calendar, and are communicated through local operators, the harbormaster’s office, and regional news coverage rather than a single centralized traveler-facing alert system. The most reliable approach: ask your boat operator directly, close to your departure date, whether any Maklumat Pelayaran is in effect, and treat any operator who cannot answer this question as a warning sign about how closely they track official notices. If you are self-organizing rather than booking through an established operator, checking regional news (Antara, Detik, local Flores outlets) in the days before your trip for “penutupan pelayaran Labuan Bajo” coverage is a reasonable supplementary check.
Does a closure affect every type of boat equally?
Documented closures have applied broadly — the December 2025 notice explicitly named speedboats among the vessel types affected, and KSOP’s language in these notices generally covers “kapal wisata” (tourist boats) as a category rather than singling out one boat type. Larger ASDP ferries are built for rougher conditions and are less frequently affected than small tourist boats, but they are not automatically exempt from a genuinely severe warning either — see our ASDP ferry guide for how that separate system handles weather risk.
What should I actually do if I’m planning a trip in the January–March peak of the wet season?
A few concrete, low-cost precautions reduce the practical risk:
- Build in a buffer day before any non-refundable onward commitment (an international flight home, a connecting booking) rather than scheduling your boat trip for your last possible day in Labuan Bajo.
- Ask your operator’s cancellation and rescheduling policy explicitly before paying a deposit — specifically what happens if KSOP issues a closure on your dates, not just general bad-weather language.
- Avoid booking a same-day airport-to-boat connection during this window; land the day before if your itinerary allows it, since a flight delay compounding a weather-related boat delay is a realistic worst case.
- Consider a longer itinerary over a single tightly-scheduled day trip if your dates are flexible — a multi-day charter has more internal flexibility to absorb one bad-weather day than a single-day booking with no reschedule option.
Is the rainy season a bad time to visit Komodo overall?
Not necessarily — many rainy-season days sail without incident, and the season brings its own advantages (fewer crowds, lush green landscapes on Padar and Rinca rather than the dry-season’s brown hillsides). The honest framing is risk management, not avoidance: understand that a multi-day closure is a documented possibility in this window, plan accordingly, and choose an operator who communicates clearly about weather decisions rather than one who either downplays the risk or cancels unpredictably without explanation.
Frequently asked questions
What months count as the rainy season around Labuan Bajo?
The wet season runs November through March. Within it, roughly January through March sees the highest documented frequency of high-wave warnings and sailing closures, though isolated bad-weather days can occur outside that window too.
If my boat is cancelled for weather, do I get a refund?
This depends entirely on your specific operator’s policy — there is no government-mandated refund rule for weather cancellations, which is exactly why confirming the operator’s policy before booking matters.
Can I just wait at the port and see if boats are sailing that day?
This is not a reliable strategy for a trip with a limited timeframe; closures are typically announced in advance via Maklumat Pelayaran, but conditions can also change day to day, so coordinating directly with your booked operator is more reliable than showing up unannounced.
Does the rainy season affect Komodo National Park’s SiOra booking system?
The SiOra reservation requirement itself doesn’t change by season, but a weather-cancelled trip may require your operator to rebook your park-entry reservation for a new date — another reason to confirm how your operator handles SiOra changes when a sailing is cancelled.
Does travel insurance cover a weather-cancelled Komodo boat trip?
Coverage depends entirely on your specific policy’s terms around trip interruption and “weather event” clauses — check your policy wording before travel rather than assuming standard travel insurance automatically covers an operator-side sailing cancellation, since some policies distinguish between a cancelled flight and a cancelled tour activity.
None of this is meant to discourage rainy-season travel — it is meant to replace vague reassurance (“it’ll probably be fine”) with the actual documented pattern: closures happen, they are announced through official KSOP notices rather than unpredictably, and a traveler who asks the right questions before booking is in a materially better position than one who doesn’t. If your trip planning starts with getting to the port itself, our arrival guide covers the airport transfer side of that same planning process.
Last updated: 29 August 2026.
Larger vessels generally handle swell better during the wetter months — many travelers shift to a Komodo liveaboard cruise rather than a small day boat when rain and rougher seas are in the forecast.
Questions readers ask next
Is it safe to visit Labuan Bajo during rainy season November–March?
The safety of visiting Labuan Bajo during rainy season November–March depends on what you are hoping to do and how flexible your dates are. In town itself, the main issues are heavier afternoon showers, occasional flooded side streets, and short power or internet cuts rather than personal safety problems. The bigger risk is disruption to sea-based plans: boat departures to Komodo National Park can be delayed or halted altogether for several days when the harbormaster responds to BMKG storm or wave alerts. If you build in spare days, keep your schedule loose, and are prepared to swap a day at sea for land-based activities when necessary, it is a manageable season rather than something to avoid at all costs. If your dates or budget cannot absorb a multi-day interruption, you should treat November–March as a higher-risk window compared with the drier months.
Is it safe to visit komodo from Labuan Bajo port in March?
March safety turns on sea conditions, not on crime or wildlife risk. March sits at the tail end of the wet season: some years it is already calming down, other years strong squalls and confused swell can linger, especially in the narrow straits. When conditions are judged unsafe, the harbormaster simply stops issuing sailing permits and boats do not leave, which is precisely what keeps you from being pushed out into dangerous weather. On days when permits are issued, reputable operators still adjust routes, skip exposed islands, or cut trips short if the wind builds. If you choose March, prioritize boats with good safety gear, avoid overloaded day trips, and keep at least one backup day in Labuan Bajo in case your first sailing attempt is postponed.
Where is the Dinas Pariwisata Manggarai Barat Labuan Bajo office and how should I use it?
The Dinas Pariwisata Manggarai Barat Labuan Bajo office is the local government tourism office, but its address and room location can shift when agencies move between shared government buildings, so always confirm the latest details through the Manggarai Barat Regency website or by asking your accommodation. In practice, visitors use this office to check official rules (like park entry regulations), verify whether a guide or operator is properly registered, or ask whom to contact to escalate a serious complaint. Staff generally speak at least basic English, but coming with screenshots of your bookings and any permits makes conversations faster. It is not a booking office for specific Komodo tours, yet it is a useful place to sanity-check information you have been given by private agents around the harbour. If you struggle to find it, most ojek (motorbike taxis) at the harbour or airport will know where the main regency and tourism offices are clustered and can drop you nearby for a small fare.
How do Labuan Bajo tour deposit refund practices usually work?
Deposit and refund arrangements are not standardised between operators here, so treat whatever is written in your invoice or WhatsApp agreement as the only thing that will be honoured. Many operators ask for a deposit ranging from a modest token up to a large percentage of the trip cost, but whether this is refundable depends on how close to departure you cancel and why. For weather-related issues, the key distinction is whether the port is officially closed or the sea is simply rough but still sailable; some companies will refund or fully reschedule only when an official closure is declared. Before you pay, ask for written terms that explicitly mention refunds or date changes for government-ordered suspensions versus personal change-of-mind. If the answer is vague or only verbal, assume the deposit is effectively non-refundable and only proceed if you are comfortable with that risk.
What happens to a Labuan Bajo port trip cancellation due to bad weather?
A weather cancellation unfolds in two very different ways, depending on whether the harbourmaster formally suspends sailing. If KSOP issues a notice and stops giving out permits, tours cannot legally depart; most operators will then either move you to the next available date or offer a partial or full refund according to their policy. When there is no formal closure and the operator decides conditions are acceptable, you may be charged a cancellation fee or lose your deposit if you personally decide not to sail. The best practice is to clarify in advance, in writing, what happens in all three scenarios: official closure, operator-led cancellation for safety, and guest-initiated cancellation. Keeping a flexible window rather than a single fixed day gives you more leverage to accept rescheduling instead of having to argue over money while the rain is still coming down.
Do I need travel insurance for Komodo tour from Labuan Bajo port, and what should it cover?
Insure the trip. Weather disruption here is common enough to derail a tightly packed itinerary. Look for a policy that covers trip interruption or additional accommodation costs if your sailing is postponed or your return to Labuan Bajo is delayed by port closures. Medical cover that includes boat-based activities, snorkeling, and emergency evacuation from a remote island back to a major Indonesian hospital is also important, since local facilities are basic compared with Bali or Jakarta. Insurers differ on how they treat government-ordered closures, so read the fine print or ask directly whether this is classified as a covered reason for claims. Bring digital copies of your policy and receipts for flights, tours, and hotels, as this paperwork is what will support any claim you file after the fact.
Which office handles sailing permits at Labuan Bajo port?
Sailing permits are issued by KSOP Labuan Bajo, the harbourmaster’s office under Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation. This office issues the Surat Persetujuan Berlayar (SPB, or sailing permit) that every legal tourist boat must obtain before departure. When BMKG forecasts trigger concern, it is KSOP that decides whether to withhold permits for certain boat categories or close tourist departures entirely. As a visitor, you normally will not deal with KSOP directly, but any serious operator should be able to tell you what the latest instructions from this office are. If an agent insists that permits are not needed or that they can “skip” the harbormaster, take it as a sign to walk away.
Can I get a refundable deposit for Komodo tour from Labuan Bajo port?
A genuinely refundable deposit takes negotiation, because many small operators make deposits non-refundable close to departure. You are more likely to get flexible terms if you book well in advance, choose midweek dates, or are willing to accept a rescheduled trip instead of cash back when the port is closed. Ask the operator to distinguish clearly between three cases: normal cancellation by you, cancellation when KSOP shuts the port, and cancellation when only that company’s boat has a technical problem. Try to get this spelled out in a dated invoice or email rather than buried in a brochure graphic or a voice note. Remember that higher-end boats sometimes build this flexibility into a slightly higher base price, so compare not only cost but also how much of your money is at risk if the weather turns.
Where can I check the wind and wave forecast for the week ahead?
Start with BMKG’s official maritime forecast for the Komodo and Flores Sea sectors, the same source local authorities use. BMKG publishes maps, text bulletins, and color-coded warnings that indicate expected wave heights and wind strength over several days. For a more visual, hour-by-hour view, many captains cross-check international forecasting tools and wind apps, though these should be treated as guidance rather than permission to sail. Conditions can change quickly in the narrow channels between the islands, so even a calm-looking forecast does not guarantee your trip will depart. Use these tools to understand general trends, but always treat the final word from your operator and the harbormaster as decisive.
How does Labuan Bajo port high season vs low season affect rainy-season travelers?
Separate two things that are often conflated here: crowd levels and rainfall patterns. The global high season for Labuan Bajo runs roughly June–September and again around Christmas–New Year, while the core wet months are roughly November–March, so you can have rainy conditions in what is technically a shoulder or even busy period. In high season, boats and park quotas are tighter, but more departures mean you have better odds of finding a last-minute alternative if your original trip is moved by weather. In low or shoulder season, the harbour feels calmer and prices can be softer, yet a multi-day port closure will have fewer backup options and may shut down almost all tours at once. If you plan to visit during the wet months, aim for the drier edges (November or March) if you also want to benefit from lower-season crowds without the heaviest rains of January–February.
What are Labuan Bajo port low season advantages and disadvantages for planning a Komodo trip?
Weighing the low season honestly is what tells you whether to accept the wetter months or hold out for the dry window. On the plus side, you typically see fewer boats at the most famous viewpoints, more relaxed negotiation over charter prices, and easier access to last-minute spots on shared tours. The downsides are more frequent squalls, a higher chance of choppy crossings or full closures, and occasional murkier visibility for snorkeling when rivers wash sediment into the bays. Some travelers like the moodier skies and greener hillsides, but you must be psychologically ready for plan B days in town if the port shuts. A good compromise is to keep at least one or two land-based activities in reserve—such as caves, waterfalls, or inland viewpoints—so that even a stormy spell does not feel like wasted time.
Also on Bajo Port
- When Boats Are Cancelled
- Peak Hours and Crowds at Labuan
- our guide to boat Departure Times at Labuan Bajo
- Weather and Sea Conditions at Labuan
- Every practical guide in Travel Tips
Turning this into a trip
This guide does not operate boats. Bookings are fulfilled by Komodo Luxury, and this site may earn a referral commission.
