Bring IDR 1–2 million in cash per person for a Komodo boat trip. Park and ranger fees are collected in cash on the ground, crew tips run IDR 100,000–200,000 per guest per day, and boats rarely process cards. Labuan Bajo has ATMs, but they can run dry in peak season.
Last updated: July 13, 2026
Komodo is one of the last major destinations where the cash question genuinely decides how smooth your trip is. The boats sail beyond signal range, the park posts run on rupiah, and there is no cash machine at anchor. Here is exactly how much to withdraw, what it covers, and when to get it.
Why is Komodo still a cash trip in 2027?
Three structural reasons. First, park posts and remote ticket offices remain largely cash-based even where e-payment nominally exists — crews collect park fees in rupiah and settle them on your behalf. Second, boats rarely process cards on board: once you leave Labuan Bajo harbor, your wallet is the payment system. Third, tips — the one cost every guest handles personally — are handed over in cash at the end of the trip. Quotes may arrive in USD, but every on-the-ground payment happens in Indonesian rupiah.
How much do park and ranger fees cost in cash?
Budget roughly IDR 400,000–550,000 per foreign visitor per day for park costs, depending on the zones you visit. The line items behind that range, per the fee schedule in force since April 2023:
- Park entry: IDR 250,000 per person per day
- Conservation fee: IDR 100,000 per person per day
- Harbour fee: IDR 25,000; diving surcharge IDR 25,000 if you dive
- Trekking: IDR 400,000 (Komodo soft trek or Padar) / IDR 450,000 (Komodo long trek) per person
- Ranger fee: IDR 200,000 per group of up to five — mandatory on every dragon trek
Rates are higher on Sundays and Indonesian public holidays, and Indonesian citizens pay a lower domestic tariff. The full current table, including how operators pre-file permits through SiORA, lives on our Komodo National Park fees page — and if you want the process itself explained, the SiORA permit booking guide walks through it step by step.
How much should you tip the crew?
The working standard is IDR 100,000–200,000 per guest per day — or IDR 500,000–1,000,000 per person for a 3D2N trip — handed to the captain at the end of the charter to share among the crew. Ranger fees are fixed and tipping rangers is not expected, though a small voluntary gratuity for excellent guiding is appreciated. Tips are the easiest item to forget when counting cash in town and the most awkward to be short on at the gangway, so count them into your withdrawal, not out of your leftovers.
What does a realistic cash budget look like?
| Cash item (per person) | 1-day trip (IDR) | 3D2N charter (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Park, trekking & ranger fees | 400,000–550,000 | 800,000–1,100,000 (typically two park days) |
| Crew tips | 100,000–200,000 | 500,000–1,000,000 |
| Drinks & extras on board | 50,000–150,000 | 150,000–400,000 |
| Suggested cash total | ~700,000–1,000,000 | ~1,500,000–2,500,000 |
That is where the IDR 1–2 million per person rule of thumb comes from — it covers a day trip with a wide margin and a multi-day charter comfortably when your operator has pre-collected some fees. If your booking confirms that park fees will be collected in cash on board for every park day, carry the top of the range or slightly above it. If fees were prepaid with your balance, the lower end holds.
Where are the ATMs and when should you withdraw?
Several major Indonesian bank ATMs operate in Labuan Bajo town, but they can run dry in peak periods — a real problem when an entire harbor of boats provisions and boards within the same two morning hours. The rule: withdraw your full trip cash a day before departure, not on boarding morning. Boats board between 5:30 and 8:00 AM, before banks open; an empty ATM at 6 AM has no backup plan. There are no ATMs inside the national park.
Should you carry USD or rupiah?
Rupiah, for everything on the ground. Charter quotes are commonly issued in USD or IDR, but park fees, tips, and extras are all paid in IDR. The clean pattern most travelers use: pay the deposit by bank transfer, Wise, or online card payment when booking (deposits run 20–50%), settle any cash balance in Labuan Bajo, and carry your fee-and-tip budget in rupiah notes. What that balance actually buys — and which items are never in the package — is itemized in our guide to what’s included in a Komodo boat charter.
What can you pay by card?
Before the trip: deposits and often balances, via bank transfer, Wise, or online card payment. During the trip: almost nothing — assume the boat is cash-only for bar tabs and extras, because most are. KomodoBoatCharter confirms at booking exactly which payments are settled digitally and which will be collected in cash, so guests board knowing their withdrawal number — ask any operator you book with for the same breakdown in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I bring cash or card for a Komodo trip?
Bring enough cash in IDR — park fees, tips, and most local payments are cash-only, and boats rarely process cards on board.
How much should I tip the crew on a Komodo boat?
About IDR 100,000–200,000 per guest per day — or IDR 500,000–1,000,000 per person for a 3D2N trip — handed to the captain to share among the crew.
Are there ATMs in Labuan Bajo?
Yes, several major Indonesian bank ATMs operate in town, but they can run dry in peak periods, so withdraw cash a day before departure.
What currency are Komodo charters priced in?
Quotes are commonly in USD or IDR, but all on-the-ground payments — park fees, extras, tips — are made in Indonesian rupiah.
Should I tip the park ranger separately?
Ranger fees are fixed and tipping is not expected, though a small voluntary gratuity for excellent guiding is appreciated.
This guide is published by KomodoBoatCharter, a boat charter group operating in Komodo National Park since 2015, part of the Komodo Luxury group.