Is Komodo National Park Open After the Earthquake? Padar, Pink Beach & the Dragons

Last updated: August 2026 · Prices & availability verified for the 2026/2027 season

Last updated: August 16, 2026 · Written from Labuan Bajo

Yes — Komodo National Park is open. The park was never closed after the M7.7 Flores earthquake of August 15, 2026, whose epicenter lay roughly 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo. As of August 16, Padar Island, Pink Beach, and the ranger-guided dragon treks are running on normal itineraries so far, and boats are sailing from Labuan Bajo under an official Harbormaster reopening issued the same day as the quake.

This update comes from the Komodo Luxury team in Labuan Bajo, the gateway town to the park. Our crews were at sea with guests when the earthquake struck on Saturday morning; every guest and crew member was safe and accounted for, and our boats returned to the water the same afternoon. What follows is what we know first-hand, checked against the official sources travelers keep asking us about.

• The earthquake: magnitude 7.7 (BMKG’s initial estimate of M7.0 was later revised), Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 05:58 local time (WITA).
• The epicenter: under the sea north of Flores near Mbay, Nagekeo — about 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo and the park, at a shallow depth of around 15 km.
• Tsunami: no destructive tsunami formed. The Labuan Bajo tide gauge recorded a wave of about 0.36 m, and BMKG lifted its warning within roughly three hours.
• The park: Komodo National Park did not close. Treks, viewpoints, and snorkeling sites are operating as of August 16.
• Sailing: officially reopened by the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) on August 15 itself, under Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026.
• Komodo Airport: runway and apron declared safe by the airport authority; flights are operating.

Is Komodo National Park open right now?

Yes. The park authority issued no closure on August 15 or 16. Ranger stations on Komodo and Rinca received visitors again as soon as boats were cleared to sail, and our own guests walked the Padar viewpoint trail on the morning of August 16 exactly as scheduled. The islands themselves — dry savannah ridges, beaches, and reefs — have reported no damage that affects visits so far. For the full picture of what the park includes, our Komodo National Park guide covers the islands, the dragons, and the marine sites.

One honest caveat: this is a live situation, and park management makes its own assessments. Should the park authority adjust anything — a specific trail, a specific island — we will update this page.

Are Padar, Pink Beach, and the dragon treks operating as usual?

So far, yes. The itinerary our guests are sailing this week is the same one we ran before August 15: the sunrise hike to the Padar Island viewpoint, swimming and snorkeling at Pink Beach, and ranger-guided walks to see the Komodo dragons on Komodo and Rinca. Snorkeling stops such as Manta Point and Taka Makassar continue to run sea-state permitting, exactly as they always have. The route, timings, and stops of a standard Komodo boat tour have not changed as of August 16.

How far was the earthquake from the park?

About 200 kilometers. The epicenter sat in the sea north of Flores near Mbay in Nagekeo — the same island as Labuan Bajo on a map, but a very different place on the ground. Flores is nearly 400 km long, and Labuan Bajo and the national park sit at its far western tip. That distance is why the town came through with limited damage and a functioning port and airport, while the serious impact was concentrated in central and eastern Flores.

Are boat trips into the park running?

Yes. The Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) reopened sailing on the afternoon of August 15 — the same day as the earthquake — after BMKG declared the tsunami potential over. The reopening is documented in Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026, and we tell that story hour by hour in how Labuan Bajo sailing reopened the same day. Our phinisi fleet was back on the water that afternoon, and departures on August 16 ran to schedule, from shared-cabin sailings to fully private yacht charters.

What about aftershocks and safety on board?

We will not tell you the earth is done moving — nobody can promise that, and we don’t. Aftershocks have been felt in the region, which is normal after an earthquake of this size, and none has changed the operating status of the park, the port, or the airport so far. What we can tell you is how the system works: our captains sail only under Harbormaster clearance, monitor BMKG bulletins throughout every trip, and follow strict safety protocols — the same ones that kept every guest in life jackets and every boat holding steady in deep water on Saturday morning. For the wider picture of the town itself, read is Labuan Bajo safe after the earthquake.

What would change this answer

We would revise this page immediately if any of the following happened:

• The park authority suspends visits to a specific island, trail, or dive site.
• BMKG issues a new warning for the waters around the park.
• The Harbormaster suspends sailing from Labuan Bajo again.
• Komodo Airport restricts flights beyond the brief adjustments already resolved on August 15.

None of these has happened as of August 16, 2026. Should the park authority adjust anything, we will update this page — and our team answers status questions in real time on WhatsApp.

A word for Flores

The park is open, but this is not a story with only good news. Dozens of lives were lost in central and eastern Flores — in Nagekeo, Sikka, Manggarai, and Manggarai Timur — and communities there are grieving and rebuilding. Our crews and guides call this island home, and our thoughts are with every family affected across NTT. Traveling to the western tip of Flores, where the park and Labuan Bajo stand open and working, is one quiet way the region’s recovery continues.

Questions guests asked us this week

Are Komodo Island tours still running after the quake?

Yes. Sailing was officially reopened by the Harbormaster on August 15, and tours entered the park again that same afternoon. Departures on August 16 ran on their normal schedule, so far without itinerary changes.

We arrive on Monday — will boat trips into the park be operating?

As of today, yes. Trips are running under official clearance, and we confirm each departure with guests the day before, so you will never be left guessing at the pier.

Are there still aftershocks? Should we come or cancel?

Aftershocks have been felt, as is normal after a large earthquake, and authorities continue monitoring. The park, port, and airport are all operating so far. If you would rather not decide under pressure, you don’t have to: our flexible rebooking guarantee protects your booking either way.

Is the itinerary still the same — Padar, Pink Beach, and the dragons?

Yes, so far the itinerary is unchanged. Padar’s viewpoint hike, Pink Beach, and the ranger-led dragon treks are all running as they did before August 15.

If we decide not to travel, do we lose our booking?

No. Under our Sail Again Guarantee, 100% of your payment is protected as travel credit — you can move your dates, hold the credit for a future season, or transfer it to family or friends. Nobody loses their Komodo trip to this earthquake.

Is the airport open for my flight to Labuan Bajo?

Yes. The runway and apron were declared safe and flights are operating, after brief adjustments on the morning of August 15. Full details are in our Komodo Airport status update.

Planning your Komodo trip

The dragons are still there, Padar still turns gold at sunrise, and the boats are sailing. Whether you join a shared open trip, book a private trip for your own group, or start with a Komodo tour from Bali, our team in Labuan Bajo will give you a straight, current answer about your dates. Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 — we’re the ones standing on the pier.