Navila Liveaboard
Navila Liveaboard
Kanawa: a last swim over shallow coral, then home by noon
Updated 3 November 2026
A Kanawa Island snorkel for the last morning of the open-trip route offers white sand, shallow coral and no hurry. The island lies west of Rinca, 60 to 90 minutes from Labuan Bajo. The boat reaches the harbour at 12:00, so a flight home after 15:00 fits.
Kanawa after the last breakfast
On the third morning of the open-trip route, the boat is at anchor, breakfast has been served, and the day has no climb in it. Today's stop is Kanawa, a small island west of Rinca, ringed by white beaches and shallow coral.
It is an easy stop in every sense. The table gives a snorkel of 45 to 90 minutes, a depth of 1 to 6 metres and a mild current. Nobody needs to be a strong swimmer, and nobody needs to be up before the sun. After two days with Padar and the dragons, Kanawa is the day that asks for nothing.
From Labuan Bajo the island is 60 to 90 minutes by boat. That is near enough to the harbour for Kanawa to be the last stop, with the sail home done by noon.
White sand, shallow coral, nobody hurrying
The pleasure of Kanawa is its smallness. The beach is white, the water over the coral is shallow and warm, and the reef begins close to the sand. A first-time snorkeller can practise here, and a confident one can drift over the coral without effort.
Snorkelling sets and life jackets are aboard and included. A guest who prefers to stay above the surface can use the paddleboard. Dry towels are on the boat, and the tender carries the party in turns.
Day trips from the harbour favour the island, so it can fill up in July and August. We make no promise of empty sand. Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat are part of the kit.
Guests who will enjoy Kanawa most
Kanawa suits people who have had enough of effort. A guest with weary legs, an older relative who skipped the dragon walk, a child learning to float, a couple who want a slow last morning: each of these finds a use for it.
It suits first-time snorkellers best of all, because the depth is small and the current is mild. A guest who found the drift at Manta Point demanding will enjoy the contrast. It also suits photographers who want a still subject after two days of moving ones, since the water is clear enough in the dry months to show the coral from the surface.
If the last morning is the one you look forward to least, because it means leaving, Kanawa is a kind way to end. Nothing is asked, and the boat is yours for a few more hours.
Noon at the harbour once Kanawa is behind you
A 3D2N brings the boat into Labuan Bajo harbour near 12:00. The open trip finishes from 12:00 to 13:00, with the drive to your hotel or the airport included. A flight after 15:00 fits comfortably, and lunch is possible before it.
The last morning is shorter than it feels, because the sail home takes its share. The captain times the Kanawa stop so that the harbour is reached at noon, and the weather can shift the hours either way. If your flight is earlier than 15:00, tell us when you book, and we say honestly whether the route can meet it.
On the other routes the return time follows the plan for that route, and we confirm it in writing. Kanawa is on the open-trip 3D2N route, and a private party can ask for it on the last morning of its own plan.
FAQ
How far is Kanawa from Labuan Bajo?
Kanawa is a 60 to 90 minute sail from Labuan Bajo, west of Rinca. That puts it near enough to be the last stop of the open-trip route, with the boat in the harbour at 12:00, and far enough to feel like an island of its own.
What time do we reach the harbour after the Kanawa snorkel?
Day three of a 3D2N ends at the Labuan Bajo quay near 12:00, and the open trip closes between 12:00 and 13:00. The drive to the airport or hotel is included. Book a flight after 15:00 on the last day to leave room for lunch and the drive.
Is Kanawa crowded in high season?
It can be. Day-trip boats from the harbour favour Kanawa, and July and August bring the most visitors. We cannot promise empty sand. The reef is shallow and wide enough for a party to spread out, and the captain sets the time of the stop.
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