Kelimutu National Park is the major natural attraction in Flores island, the mystical three-colored crater lakes. These crater lakes are as the result of the big eruption of Mt. Kelimutu, one of the active volcanoes in Flores island. The lakes share the same name, Kelimutu, meaning ‘the boiling lake’, each has its own colors and a local name. But all are believed to be the resting place of departed souls. Kelimutu lakes are unpredictable as to when and what color they will change into. Sometimes, the colors are blue, green, and black, and some other times they turn to white, red, and blue.
The Kelimutu National Park is comprised of the crater lakes, Mt. Kelimutu (1,690) and Mt. Kelibara (1,732). It is a national park that protects 19 endemic and endangered animals, among which, the Floresian punai (Treron floris), Wallacea owl (Otus silvicola), Floresian kancilan (Pachycephala nudigula), Floresian eagle (Spizeatus floris), and Timorese tesia (Tesia everetti).
Kelimutu is located in Ende, central Flores island. To get here, you can take flight to Ende Airport, then continue on driving to a village Moni, the closest village to the lakes. There are homestays here to stay and local restaurants. The following day, early in the morning at 04.00am, drive to the park for about 45 minutes, and then get ready to go on foot to its view point Mt. Kelimutu, the perfect side to catch the sunrise and see the lakes.
