Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo is a fishing port turned tourism hub on the western tip of Flores, best known as the jumping-off point for Komodo National Park. Boats leave every morning for dragons, pink beaches and some of the best diving in Asia. It suits divers, adventurous remote workers who want a few weeks somewhere unusual, and people who can work independently without much of a community around them.

Most visitors stay along the main street, Jalan Soekarno-Hatta, close to the harbour, restaurants and dive shops, or in the hills behind town for views over the bay. Waecicu, a short ride north, has quieter beach hotels. There is no established coworking space that we could verify as operating, so remote workers rely on laptop-friendly cafés instead, chiefly Bajo Taco, with its quiet upstairs area, and a long-running café on the main street with sockets at every table, as well as resorts with fibre and day rates.

The town is compact enough to walk in parts, but steep, and scooters and ride-hailing cars handle the rest. Internet speeds of 20 to 50 Mbps are typical in cafés and better hotels, which is enough for calls, but power and connection cuts happen, especially in the wet season from December to March. Bring a power bank and a Telkomsel SIM for tethering. The dry months from April to November give calm seas and the best diving visibility. A comfortable month costs around US$1,350, with a long-stay room or apartment for roughly US$450.

Prices have risen with the luxury hotels and liveaboard trade, and dive trips and park fees add up quickly. Water and power supplies are less reliable than in Bali, healthcare is basic, and serious medical cases go to Bali. Some areas of town smell of rubbish in the dry season, and the remote-work community is very small, so do not expect networking events or a ready-made social life.