Flores Sets 70-Kilometre Camino de Flores Pilot Route

Flores — The Ministry of Tourism and the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority are preparing a pilot Camino de Flores religious-tourism route from Bajawa through Nagekeo to Ende, scheduled for Oct. 23–27, 2026. About 70 participants are expected to walk roughly 70 kilometers across the central part of Flores.

The Oct. 19 update confirms the pilot’s participant scale, route and five-day schedule. Camino de Flores, also known as The Sacred Journey of Flores, is designed as a Catholic pilgrimage journey linking religious sites, villages, landscapes and local cultural traditions on foot.

For visitors, the pilot represents a structured walking itinerary rather than a conventional vehicle-based tour. The route is intended to connect destinations beyond Labuan Bajo and bring travelers into communities in Ngada, Nagekeo and Ende. The reports describe the participants as coming from charitable or creative communities and say the journey will combine spiritual reflection with cultural, historical and natural experiences.

The pilot could spread tourism beyond Labuan Bajo

The initiative comes as tourism authorities seek a wider distribution of visitors and economic benefits across Flores. The route is also associated with a social mission: fundraising is planned for projects including health, religious, cultural, tourism, sanitation and clean-water facilities.

The pilot is the central stage of a broader concept. Future stages are planned for the western route between Labuan Bajo and Ruteng and the eastern route between Maumere and Larantuka. The pilot’s results are expected to help guide the development of the wider Camino de Flores program.

Sources

• detikBali — Indonesian regional news organisation
• NusaBali — Balinese regional news organisation
• rri.co.id
• pantau.com