Have you heard about the Chilly Village of Bajawa in Flores?
Bajawa is located in the middle of Flores Island in the East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It’s hidden in the mountains and tends to have a cooler climate than the rest of the island.
Bajawa is a small village that holds a lot of charm.
Bajawa is home to two hot springs namely Malanage Hot Springs (South of Bajawa) and Mangeruda Hot Springs (North of Bajawa). Malanage Hot Springs is located in the Dariwali village, about 40 minutes south of Bajawa, Flores – Indonesia.
Many locals use these hot springs to bathe.
Malanage Hot Springs (South of Bajawa)
Malanage Hot Springs, or Wae Bana Malanage as the locals call it, is a completely natural hot spring close to Bajawa. The river is heated by the volcanic activity of Mount Inerie volcano which is nearby.
Two streams flow into the Malanage Hot Springs. One is boiling hot and the other is freezing cold. Together they meet to form a river that makes the perfect temperature as you relax in the rock pool below.
Malanage Hot Spring is located in Dariwali Village about halfway between Bena and Gurusina Villages and unlike some hot springs in Flores, is entirely natural and unaltered.
In a pretty forest grove at the confluence of a hot and cold river, a series of pools provide the perfect place to relax and let the warm water melt away whatever aches your trekking and sightseeing around Bajawa has left you with.
Located on the Bena Village access road from Bajawa, proceed about 2km passed Bena Village to Dariwali Village. The springs are located a short distance off the unpaved road Naruwolo Village.
From there it’s a short hike down to the springs on a well-formed trail. Alternatively, it’s a 45min-1hr trek from Gurusina Village. If you don’t have a guide, the locals will point you in the right direction.
Basic change room facilities, toilets, and food, and drink stalls are located a discreet distance from the springs.
The entrance fee is IDR 10 thousand (USD 0.7) and IDR 2 thousand (USD 0.2) for the parking fee to access the Malanage Hot Springs.
Mangeruda Hot Springs (North of Bajawa)
Mangeruda Hot Springs is a 40-minute drive north of Bajawa, just after the airport. Similar to Malanage Hot Springs, Mangeruda is completely natural where warm water flows into a beautiful rock pool.
What makes Mangeruda so great is that the hot spring combines with a cold-water waterfall, meaning that depending on where you sit the water is scalding hot and still, rushing and cold or somewhere in between. The cold water tumbles down a smooth rock surface and combines with the hot water waterfall underneath a sagging tree.
You’ll need your own transport to reach here — either a motorbike or bemo should suffice.
The entrance fee is IDR 20 thousand (USD 1.5) and IDR 2 thousand (USD 0.2) for the parking fee.
