On a Lombok to Flores boat trip, two islands do almost all the work between the harbours: Moyo, where you stop on the first day for the Mata Jitu waterfall, and Satonda, a volcanic crater island with a saltwater lake in its middle that you reach on the second day. Everything else on the crossing is open water and sleeping under the stars. These two stops are the reason a multi-day boat beats a plain point-to-point ferry — they break up the sea, give you somewhere to swim and stretch, and turn a transfer into an actual trip.
I coordinate these departures out of Bangsal and Labuan Bajo, so Moyo and Satonda are the two names travelers ask about most before they board. Here is exactly what to expect at each, where they fall on the schedule, and when the weather can quietly take one of them off the list.
Moyo and Satonda at a Glance
The crossing is mostly time on the water, broken up by short landings. Two of them define the first half of the trip: Moyo for its jungle waterfall on day one, and Satonda for its crater lake on day two. Here is how the two stops compare before we go into detail.
| Stop | Day | What it is | The highlight | Time ashore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moyo Island | Day 1 | Forested island off north Sumbawa | Mata Jitu waterfall, easy reef snorkeling | ~1.5–2 hours |
| Satonda Island | Day 2 | Volcanic crater island, marine reserve | Saltwater crater lake, wishing tree, snorkeling | ~1.5–2 hours |
Moyo Island and the Mata Jitu Waterfall
A Moyo Island boat trip is never a standalone tour from this side of the water — it is always the first stop on the wider Lombok to Flores crossing. Moyo (Pulau Moyo) sits off the north coast of Sumbawa, a short hop from the town of Sumbawa Besar. It is a big, forested island, and the reason boats stop here is the Mata Jitu waterfall — a set of tiered turquoise pools stepping down through the jungle. The water is clear and cool, the limestone shelves make natural seats, and you can wade and swim between the levels. After a hot morning at sea, that first freshwater swim is the moment most people remember.
The waterfall is sometimes called the “Queen’s Waterfall”: Princess Diana reportedly visited Moyo in the early 1990s and the nickname stuck. You do not need the history to enjoy it — it is simply one of the prettiest freshwater swims in the region, and a welcome rinse before the first night at anchor.
What Else There Is to Do on Moyo
Most open trips give you roughly an hour and a half to two hours ashore, then anchor nearby for the night. Beyond the waterfall you can:
- Snorkel the reef off the island’s coast, which is calm and good for beginners
- Walk the short jungle path up to the pools from the landing
- Watch for macaques, deer and birds in the forest reserve
- Swim off the boat in the sheltered anchorage before dinner
In the dry season (roughly June to September) the waterfall runs lower but the pools stay swimmable; after heavy rain it flows harder and browner. Ask your crew which pools are best on the day you land.
Satonda Island: A Lake Inside a Volcano
Day two’s stop is stranger and, for a lot of travelers, the real highlight. Satonda (Pulau Satonda) is a small volcanic crater island off the north Sumbawa coast, in the shadow of the giant Mount Tambora. Filling the old crater in the middle of the island is a calm, greenish lake — and it is saltwater, not fresh. The crater is thought to have been flooded by the sea long ago, leaving a near-enclosed saltwater lake ringed by forest, which is why it looks and feels unlike any freshwater crater lake you have seen.
You land on a small beach, walk a couple of minutes to the lake, and can swim or simply sit on the rim. The island is a protected marine nature reserve, so the reef just offshore is healthy — most trips let you snorkel here before or after the lake walk.
The Satonda Wishing Stone
Satonda has a small tradition worth knowing before you go. Near the lake stands a “wishing tree,” where visitors tie a stone to a hanging branch with a length of rope and make a wish — local belief says that if you return one day and find your stone, the wish comes true. Crews usually have the rope and stones ready. It costs nothing, it takes two minutes, and it is exactly the kind of small, real moment a point-to-point ferry never gives you.
Where Moyo and Satonda Fall on the 4-Day Crossing
Both stops belong to the classic four-day, three-night route from Lombok to Flores. If you want the full hour-by-hour version, see our 4 days 3 nights Lombok to Flores itinerary; the short version is below.
| Day | Leg | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Bangsal (Lombok) → Moyo Island | Board, sail east, swim at Mata Jitu waterfall, first night at anchor |
| Day 2 | Moyo → Satonda → open sea | Crater lake and wishing tree, snorkeling, overnight sail toward Komodo |
| Day 3 | Komodo National Park | Dragons, Padar viewpoint, Pink Beach (park fees paid separately) |
| Day 4 | Manta Point → Labuan Bajo | Final snorkel, then arrival in Flores |
For the wider picture — deck versus cabin, prices and which operators sail which days — start with the main Lombok to Flores boat trip guide. Deck spots on the crossing start from around IDR 3,500,000 per person in 2026 (checked August 2026); the full breakdown by class and operator lives on that page.
Do You Always Stop at Both? Weather and Direction
Not always, and it is worth being honest about why. Moyo and Satonda sit in open water, and from roughly December to February — worst in January and February — the seas between Lombok and Sumbawa can get rough enough that a captain shortens or reorders the route for safety. A skipped or swapped stop in that window is a sign your crew is being careful, not cutting corners. If you are traveling then, read our note on how rough the crossing gets before you book.
Direction matters too. Sailing west from Flores to Lombok, the same two islands come near the end of the trip rather than the start, after Komodo. If you are weighing the reverse route, our Flores to Lombok open trip guide explains how the order changes. Either way, Moyo and Satonda are the calm-water bookends around the busier Komodo days.
Practical Tips for Both Stops
- Bring water shoes. The waterfall pools and the Satonda beach both have rock and coral underfoot.
- Pack a dry bag. You go ashore by dinghy or wade in, so phones and cameras get wet.
- Carry small cash. Both islands charge a modest local entrance or conservation fee; it is often covered by your operator, but bring rupiah in case.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen. You snorkel over living reef at both stops.
- Manage dry-season expectations. Mata Jitu runs lower from June to September but still swims well.
- Do the wishing stone. It is free, quick and genuinely local — worth the two minutes.
- Ask before you swim off. Currents around Satonda’s reef edge can pick up; follow the crew’s lead on where to snorkel.
Planning a Lombok to Flores crossing and want Moyo and Satonda done right? Tell us your dates, group size and whether you want a deck spot or a cabin, and we will match you to a departure with honest pricing — no invented package rates. Message WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected]. Part of Juara Holding Group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Moyo Island?
Moyo (Pulau Moyo) lies off the north coast of Sumbawa, near the town of Sumbawa Besar. On a Lombok to Flores boat trip it is the first main stop, usually reached on day one, where boats anchor so you can visit the Mata Jitu waterfall and snorkel the reef before the first night at sea.
What is the Satonda Island crater lake?
Satonda's crater lake is a calm saltwater lake filling the crater of an old volcano in the middle of the island, off the north Sumbawa coast. Unlike a normal freshwater crater lake, it is salty — thought to have been flooded by the sea long ago. You can walk to it, swim, and tie a stone on the "wishing tree" beside it.
Do all Lombok to Flores boat trips stop at Moyo and Satonda?
Most standard 4-day, 3-night open trips include both, with Moyo on day one and Satonda on day two. Shorter 3D2N routes may include only one, and from December to February rough seas can force a captain to shorten or reorder the stops for safety. Always confirm the day's plan with your crew.
Is there an entrance fee for Moyo waterfall or Satonda?
Both islands charge a modest local entrance or conservation fee, paid in cash. It is often already bundled into your open-trip price, but it is worth carrying small rupiah in case it is collected at the landing. These fees are unrelated to Komodo National Park, which you only pay from day three.
Can you swim in Satonda's crater lake?
Yes. The lake is calm and enclosed, so it is an easy, safe swim, and the salty water is very buoyant. Many travelers combine a dip in the lake with the short wishing-tree ritual on the rim and a snorkel over the reef just offshore before sailing on toward Komodo.
How much does the Lombok to Flores boat trip cost?
Deck spots on the 4D3N crossing start from around IDR 3,500,000 per person in 2026, with shared and private cabins costing more (checked August 2026). The Moyo and Satonda stops are part of that standard route. See our Lombok to Flores boat trip guide for the full price breakdown by class and operator.