Neptune
Neptune Phinisi
Kanawa, on request
Updated 4 November 2026
Kanawa island by private phinisi: a small island west of Rinca with white sand and shallow coral, 60 to 90 minutes from Labuan Bajo harbour. On a Neptune charter it is a stop you request when you book, and the captain fits it into the day with the weather.
Kanawa on request: how it works
Neptune's 3D2N plan runs Sebayur, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo or Rinca, Kalong, Kelor and Manjarite, and the other routes are built from the same stops. Kanawa is the stop you add.
On a private charter the order of stops is agreed with the captain, and Kanawa can be requested when you book. The captain decides with the weather and the plan for the day, and we send you the answer in writing before you pay.
A request made early works best, because the dates and the party are in front of the captain from the start.
What a request for Kanawa changes in a private day
A stop added to a day displaces another stop or adds time. Neptune's days are full: the 3D2N runs from the 10:00 departure to a dinner at anchor, with a snorkel, a trek or a sunset in each part of the day.
On a day charter or a 2D1N, there is more room to rearrange. A 1D sample route of Kelor, Rinca and Manjarite could trade a stop for Kanawa, with the captain's agreement. On a longer route, an extra morning can hold it.
Tell us when you book, not on the quay. A request made early is put to the captain with the dates and the party in front of the captain, and the answer reaches you in writing before you pay.
If a request changes the plan, we quote the change before it is added.
Kanawa's white sand and gentle reef
Kanawa is a small island west of Rinca with white-sand beaches and shallow coral reefs. The water is 1 to 6 m deep, the current is mild, and a snorkel runs 45 to 90 minutes. It suits every level, and it is a gentle first snorkel.
The island is popular with day trips, so it can be busy in July and August. The captain picks the time of arrival with the crowd in mind.
The harbour is 60 to 90 minutes away by boat. That makes it a morning stop on a day charter, or an addition on the first day of a longer route.
Snorkelling gear is aboard. There are no dragons here, and no climb: the stop is sand, water and coral.
Kanawa, Sebayur or Pink Beach
The planned stops each have a reason. Sebayur gives the first reef after the harbour, Pink Beach gives the coral sand, Taka Makassar gives the bar, and Manta Point gives the chance of mantas. Kanawa gives an easy reef close to the harbour.
If your party wants a beach and a gentle reef, a planned stop such as Sebayur or Pink Beach already does the job. If your party wants Kanawa for its own sake, the request is worth making.
Choose by what you want the day to hold. A family with small children may like the closer reef; a party that wants mantas and dragons has little room to spare for a second beach.
Whichever you choose, we confirm the plan on WhatsApp, and the captain and the weather decide the final order.
FAQ
Is Kanawa on any Neptune route?
Kanawa is a request stop rather than part of a set route. On a private charter the order of stops is agreed with the captain, so you can ask for it, and we put the request to him and confirm his answer in writing before you pay.
How do I ask for Kanawa?
Tell us when you book, with your dates and the length of the voyage. We put the request to the captain, who decides with the weather and the plan for the day. If the stop changes the day, we quote the change before it is added.
How far is Kanawa from Labuan Bajo?
About 60 to 90 minutes by boat. That makes it a morning stop on a day charter, or an addition on the first day of a longer route. It lies west of Rinca, and the captain decides whether the day has room for it.
Check availability — Neptune
Neptune sails with its own crew and captain; Komodo Explorer plans the voyage, takes your payment and answers every message before you board.