Labuan Bajo’s harbour splits passenger, cargo and tour-boat facilities

Labuan Bajo — — Travellers arriving in Labuan Bajo should distinguish between the passenger terminal, the Wae Kelambu multipurpose terminal and the main town waterfront around Kampung Ujung, which is where most Komodo tour boats operate, according to local port guides and government material.

The passenger terminal is used by PELNI ships, while the Wae Kelambu facility was built to handle logistics and cargo, separating freight traffic from passenger and tourism activity, according to Indonesia’s cabinet secretariat and the transport ministry.

Which facility serves each traveller?

For travellers boarding a PELNI passenger ship, the relevant point is the passenger terminal at Labuan Bajo, according to Bajo Port’s guide.

For cargo and other freight movements, Wae Kelambu is the dedicated multipurpose terminal. The transport ministry said the terminal is intended for containers, general cargo and liquid bulk, and the cabinet secretariat said President Joko Widodo inaugurated it on 14 October 2021.

For Komodo day trips, speedboats, liveaboards and phinisi charters, the practical departure area is the town waterfront near Kampung Ujung, according to Bajo Port’s harbour guide.

Bajo Port describes Labuan Bajo’s port as a working waterfront with several adjoining jetties and anchorage areas, rather than a single terminal building. It also says operators should provide the exact meeting point, because travellers can be directed to different piers depending on vessel type and schedule.

How cruise calls work

Large cruise ships calling at the Port of Komodo typically anchor offshore rather than berth at a deep-water dock, according to Indonesia Travel’s Port of Komodo listing, which identifies the port as an anchorage.

The same listing gives the anchorage coordinates as 8°34'10.3"S, 119°30'05.2"E and says the closest airport is Labuan Bajo Airport. Bajo Port likewise says cruise ships generally use tenders to bring passengers ashore.

That means cruise passengers should follow the ship’s shore-excursion instructions and tender schedule, while independent travellers should confirm whether their booking refers to the passenger terminal, Kampung Ujung waterfront or Wae Kelambu.

Why the distinctions matter

In practice, “Labuan Bajo port” is often used loosely, but the harbour serves different functions for passengers, tourism boats and cargo traffic. The separation of Wae Kelambu as a logistics terminal was designed to keep freight operations away from the main tourism waterfront.

For visitors, the simplest rule is to check the vessel name first: PELNI ships use the passenger terminal, cargo belongs at Wae Kelambu and most Komodo tour boats leave from the Kampung Ujung waterfront.

Sources

• Bajo Port, Marina Waterfront & Cruise Terminal, Labuan Bajo
• Setkab, Presiden Resmikan Terminal Multipurpose Wae Kelambu Pelabuhan Labuan Bajo NTT
• Ministry of Transportation, Menhub Cek Kesiapan Pelabuhan Khusus Logistik Pertama di NTT
• Indonesia Travel, Port of Komodo