BPOLBF Maps Three 70-Kilometre Stages for Camino Flores Pilgrimage

Labuan Bajo — The Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority (BPOLBF) is preparing a Catholic pilgrimage route called Camino Flores, designed as a multi-stage trail across the island that adopts the spirit and concept of Spain’s Camino de Santiago, according to BPOLBF and local media reports.

BPOLBF describes Camino Flores as a long-distance spiritual journey connecting Catholic religious sites and missionary heritage across Flores, with pilgrims encouraged to engage in local culture, food, small businesses and social activities along the way.

The project is still in its development phase and has not yet opened as a formal, fully signposted trail with a published start date.

What has been announced

BPOLBF states that Camino Flores is being designed in three separate stages, each conceived as a 70‑kilometre route.

According to BPOLBF and subsequent reporting, the stages are mapped broadly as follows:

• Western stage: running through Manggarai Barat, Manggarai and Manggarai Timur.
• Central stage: starting from Bajawa and continuing through Nagekeo and Ende.
• Eastern stage: covering the Maumere area and Flores Timur.

In its own explanation of the concept, BPOLBF says Camino Flores is intended to be more than a single shrine visit, and instead a cross-regional pilgrimage route linking a series of Catholic sites and historic missionary locations.

Local coverage frames the project as part of a broader push to develop Catholic religious tourism on Flores using the Camino de Santiago as an international reference point.

Based on BPOLBF’s description, the core project parameters currently available are:

• Theme: Catholic pilgrimage and religious tourism.
• Lead institution: BPOLBF, under the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
• Structure: Three etapes across western, central and eastern Flores, each targeted at around 70 km in length.
• Status: Under design and preparation as a special-interest, sustainable tourism product.

Route and sites

BPOLBF and regional media report that Camino Flores is being planned to connect multiple Catholic religious sites, including churches, Marian grottoes and other devotion points along the three stages.

One detailed local report lists several locations identified for inclusion along the wider Camino Flores concept, particularly in central and eastern Flores.

Among the sites mentioned are:

• Maria Bunda Segala Bangsa statue at Nilo (near Maumere).
• Gua Maria Sere.
• Watu Krus Bola.
• A Bethlehem replica site.
• The “Kamar Paus” (Vatikan Semalam) devotional complex.
• The historic Sikka Old Church.
• The Kapela Tuan Meninu chapel.

BPOLBF’s own article emphasises that the route is intended to connect “various religious sites and missionary history” across Flores, with interaction with local communities as a core element.

Operational status for visitors

Despite the conceptual detail, BPOLBF’s materials and media coverage do not yet announce Camino Flores as a fully operational, waymarked trail with an official opening date.

There is, so far, no publicly available, consolidated Camino Flores map for all stages, no published list of daily walking stages, and no official pilgrim credential or registration process equivalent to that used on the Camino de Santiago.

BPOLBF has released a separate Catholic pilgrimage travel pattern for Labuan Bajo, outlining 12 sites in and around the town, but this Labuan Bajo pattern is presented as its own route rather than as a completed segment of Camino Flores.

For visitors, this means Camino Flores should currently be treated as a developing religious tourism concept, with the structure of three 70‑kilometre stages and an indicative list of sites, but without confirmed stage-by-stage walking information or bookings.

Context and timeline

BPOLBF’s article on Camino Flores was published in mid‑2026 as part of its official communication on Catholic religious tourism, describing the initiative as “a new chapter” in the development of Catholic pilgrimage travel on Flores.

Local coverage through NTT-based outlets later echoed and expanded on this information, presenting Camino Flores as Flores’ answer to Spain’s Camino de Santiago and highlighting BPOLBF’s role as initiator of the route.

Alongside Camino Flores, BPOLBF has also promoted Catholic pilgrimage patterns in Labuan Bajo, as well as religious festivals such as Golo Koe and Golo Curu, positioning religious tourism as a complement to the region’s well-known marine and nature attractions.

Travellers interested in pilgrimage on Flores should monitor BPOLBF’s official channels and reputable regional media for further updates on maps, stage distances, safety guidelines and opening dates before planning a dedicated Camino Flores walk.

Sources

• Badan Pelaksana Otorita Labuan Bajo Flores (BPOLBF) – official news article on Camino Flores
• Viva NTT – tourism feature on Flores preparing its own ‘Camino de Santiago’
• Halokupang – report on three Camino Flores stages and listed pilgrimage sites
• DetikTravel – explainer on Camino de Santiago mentioning Camino Flores