March in Komodo is the end of the wet season: warm water at about 29°C, showers that thin out through the month, mantas still at the central cleaning stations and low-season prices. Early March is wetter and busier with holidays; the second half is the better bet.
March is the month Komodo comes out of the rains. The hills of Padar and Rinca are at their greenest, the mantas are still feeding in the central park, and the dry-season boats haven't filled the anchorages yet. For a Komodo island vacation, it's one of the best-value months of the year, as long as you leave room in the plan for a day of wind.
For divers, it's a month of change. The water is at its warmest, the visibility is climbing after the green weeks of January and February, and the northern pinnacles start to come back as the wind drops. Our Komodo dive centre goes back to daily boats on 1 March 2027, when the resort reopens after its renovation.
March 2027 is also crowded on the calendar. Bali's Day of Silence, the end of Ramadan and Easter all fall inside three weeks, and each one either closes an airport for a day or fills the domestic flights. The week you pick matters as much as the month.
What is the weather in Komodo in March?
Weather in Komodo in March is the tail of the wet season: hot, humid and still showery, with the rain and the northwest wind easing as the month goes on.
- About 310 to 340 mm of rain
- Water at 28 to 29°C
- Visibility of 15 to 20 metres
- Wind easing late in the month
It sits between the wettest weeks of January and February and the start of the dry season in April.
You'll notice it most:
- On a Komodo boat tour across open water
- On Komodo snorkeling trips at Manta Point
- On the dirt trails of Padar and Rinca
Expect bright mornings, a heavy shower on some afternoons, and the odd windy spell that keeps boats in port for a day.
Early March vs late March: what is the difference?
March isn't one month in Komodo so much as two. The weather turns somewhere in the middle, and in 2027 the holidays happen to pile up in the first half as well.
Early March (1 to 15 March)
This is still the wet season proper. Rain is frequent, the northwest wind can blow for several days at a time, and the exposed northern sites are often off the schedule. The mantas are at their most reliable, though, and the park is close to empty.
It's also the holiday fortnight. Nyepi closes Bali's airport on 8 March, and the end of Ramadan, Idul Fitri, falls on 10 and 11 March with extra national leave days on 9, 12 and 15 March. Domestic flights and Labuan Bajo hotels fill up around those dates.
Late March (16 to 31 March)
Showers come less often and the wind usually settles, so the boats reach more of the park on more days. The water is clearer, the hills are still green, and prices haven't yet moved to the April rate.
The one busy patch is Easter. Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Sunday 28 March, with a national leave day on 25 March, and Flores is a largely Catholic island, so flights can fill over the long weekend too.
Key distinction:
- Early March gives you the strongest manta season and the emptiest sites, at the cost of more rain and more travel friction.
- Late March gives you calmer seas and more of the park, with only Easter weekend to plan around.
Komodo in March at a glance
The table puts March between its neighbours. The rain figures are ranges because the published sources count differently: one weather station's monthly total is not the same as a satellite average over the whole area, and a "rain day" can mean anything from a light shower to a downpour. Water temperature, visibility and current come from our own Komodo diving conditions log for the central park.
| February | March | April | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall | 360 to 370 mm | 310 to 340 mm | 155 to 255 mm |
| Rain days | 19 to 26 | 20 to 29 | 16 to 20 |
| Water, central park | 28°C | 29°C | 29°C |
| Visibility | 10 to 15 m | 15 to 20 m | 20 to 25 m |
| Wind | Northwest, gusty spells | Northwest, easing | Turning southeast |
| Mantas | Peak, central park | Still strong, central park | Moving south |
| Crowds | Very low | Low | Building |
The drop from March to April is the biggest of the year. Rainfall roughly halves, visibility gains five metres or more, and the sea flattens out as the southeast wind takes over. That's why April is in every "best time" list and March isn't, and it's also why March is cheaper.
The 2026 to 2027 wet season may help. In October 2026, Indonesia's weather agency, BMKG, forecast a late start in December for most of East Nusa Tenggara, a shorter season than usual and a peak in January or February 2027. If that holds, March 2027 could run drier than the averages above. Seasonal forecasts move, so treat it as a hopeful sign rather than a plan. Our guide to the Komodo rainy season explains how BMKG's forecasts and the harbourmaster's sailing decisions work.
Diving in Komodo in March
March diving is warm, green-tinged early in the month and clearer later, and it's built around the central park. Here's what changes underwater.
Mantas at Karang Makassar
The manta season that peaks from December to February carries on into March. The rays feed and get cleaned on the long rubble bank of Manta Point, also called Karang Makassar, about 40 minutes by boat from Sebayur. The same plankton that brings them in is what turns the water green, so the best manta days are rarely the clearest ones. Our guide to swimming with manta rays in Komodo explains how the seasons move them around the park and how to behave around them.
The central sites
When the wind blows from the northwest, guides pick sites in the lee of the islands. In practice that means the central park: Siaba Besar, a gentle turtle slope with mild current about 25 minutes from Sebayur, Tatawa Besar, a colourful drift along a sloping reef about 35 minutes out, and Manta Point. These are the sites that keep running on days the north is off.
The north comes back
Through March the northern sites start returning in windows between bouts of wind. Batu Bolong is about 45 minutes from Sebayur and Crystal Rock about 50. These are current sites, and in Komodo current is the thing that hurts careless divers, so the guide decides on the day whether a site is safe. Read our guide to Komodo currents and drift diving before you go if you're planning to dive them.
Water temperature and wetsuits
March is the warmest month of the year in the water: about 29°C in the centre and 27 to 28°C in the south, because the cold upwelling on the south coast only runs from June to September. A 3 mm full suit is plenty for almost everyone, and a shorty works for snorkellers. Our guide to Komodo water temperature has the full month-by-month table.
Visibility
Expect 15 to 20 metres in March, against 10 to 15 in February. It isn't the 25-metre water of the dry season, and after a big rain the runoff can cloud the shallows near the larger islands for a day or two. For wide-angle photography it's a so-so month; for mantas and macro, the extra plankton is the point.
Komodo on land in March: dragons, Padar and the green hills
On land, March gives you the version of Komodo most visitors never see. The savannah that turns gold and brown by August is bright green, and the ridges of Padar look closer to Scotland than to the postcards.
Dragons
The dragons don't mind the rain and are seen all year on Komodo and Rinca. March and April are when the year's hatchlings come out of the nests, though they head straight up into the trees and you'll rarely see one. The adults are easiest to spot in the cool of the morning. Komodo dragon tours go ahead with a park ranger as usual; walk early, before the heat and the humidity build.
Padar viewpoint
The climb to the famous three-bay view is steep, and after a night of rain the dirt steps are slippery. Wear shoes with real grip, and skip the sunrise climb if it's been pouring. The reward is the view in green rather than brown, and far fewer people at the top than in July. Our Padar Island guide covers the trail and the timings.
Heat and showers
March days are hot and sticky between the showers. Most of the rain falls in the afternoon or overnight, so mornings are the best time for both boats and trails. Carry a light rain jacket, a dry bag for your phone and plenty of water.
Park fees apply in March as in any other month. They change often, so check the latest on our Komodo National Park entrance fees page before you budget.
March 2027 holidays: Nyepi, Lebaran and Easter
Three of Indonesia's biggest holidays fall in March 2027. None of them closes Komodo, but they all change how you get there. The dates below are from the government's 2027 national holiday decree.
| Date | Holiday | What it means for a Komodo trip |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 8 March | Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence | Bali airport expected closed for 24 hours |
| Tue 9 to Mon 15 March | Idul Fitri (Lebaran), plus leave days | Domestic flights full, fares high |
| Thu 25 to Sun 28 March | Good Friday and Easter | Long weekend, busy flights within Flores |
Nyepi: Monday 8 March
Nyepi is the Balinese new year, a day when the whole island stops. In 2025 and 2026 Ngurah Rai airport closed for 24 hours from 06:00, and the same is expected for 2027, from 06:00 on 8 March to 06:00 on 9 March. That means no flights between Bali and Labuan Bajo for a full day. The exact 2027 hours are usually announced in late February, so confirm them with your airline. If you're routing through Bali, don't book a connection on 8 March, and our guide to getting from Bali to Komodo lists the alternatives.
Idul Fitri: Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 March
The end of Ramadan is the biggest travel week of the Indonesian year, when millions go home to their families. With leave days on 9, 12 and 15 March, the whole stretch from about 5 to 16 March is busy on domestic routes, especially from Jakarta. Flights sell out and fares rise, so book early or travel outside it. The exact date of Idul Fitri is confirmed by the religious affairs ministry shortly before, but the leave days are fixed. Our guide to flights to Komodo Island covers the routes into Labuan Bajo.
Easter: Thursday 25 to Sunday 28 March
Most people in Flores are Catholic, and Easter is one of the biggest events of their year. The best-known celebration is Semana Santa in Larantuka, at the far eastern end of Flores, where a tradition going back five centuries to the Portuguese ends in a candlelit Good Friday procession through the town, with eight stops along the way and thousands of pilgrims. It's a long way from Komodo, so plan it as its own trip; our Flores road trip guide covers the island end to end. In Labuan Bajo, expect church services and busy flights over the long weekend rather than closures.
How to plan a Komodo trip in March
A March trip works best when it's built around the calendar first and the weather second.
1. Choose your week
For mantas and empty sites, early March is strongest, but avoid flying through Bali on 8 March and from Jakarta around Lebaran. For calmer seas and more of the park, aim for 16 to 24 March, between Lebaran and Easter.
2. Build in a spare day
Wind can still keep boats in port in March. Plan at least one free day before your flight home, so a lost boat day costs you a dive rather than a flight. It also gives you the 24 hours you need between your last dive and your flight.
3. Don't pre-book every dive
Book your diving loosely and confirm it on the island. Sites are chosen each morning by the guides, based on the wind, the current and the divers on board. If you need to book ahead, book two dives a day and add any third dive once you're here.
4. Time your arrival for the boat
The scheduled shuttle to Sebayur leaves Labuan Bajo at 10:30 and 15:00, and there are no boat transfers after 17:00 for safety. A morning or midday flight into Labuan Bajo works; on a late flight, plan a night in town.
5. Pack for both seasons
Bring a light rain jacket, quick-dry clothes, reef-safe sunscreen and a dry bag. A 3 mm wetsuit is enough for divers. Sandals are fine on the boat, but bring proper shoes for Padar and the ranger walks.
A worked example: five nights in late March 2027
Two certified divers fly into Labuan Bajo late on the morning of Thursday 18 March 2027, after the Lebaran rush and a week before Easter. The resort's airport transfer takes them to the harbour for the 15:00 shuttle, and they're on Sebayur by about 15:40. They book an Ocean View Bungalow on bed and breakfast, which costs IDR 4,245,000 a night in March, including tax and service. In April the same room is IDR 5,525,000, so the March dates save them IDR 6,400,000 over five nights.
They dive three mornings: Friday to Manta Point and Siaba Besar, Saturday to Tatawa Besar and Batu Bolong once the guide judges the current, and Sunday back to the mantas. Two morning dives cost IDR 2,700,000 per person, full equipment included except a computer, and one of them rents a dive computer for IDR 245,000 a day. On Monday they don't dive; they snorkel the house reef with the free gear and spend the afternoon in the new Neptune Club Lounge. On Tuesday they take the 08:00 shuttle back for a midday flight, well over 24 hours after their last dive.
| Item | Cost (IDR) |
|---|---|
| Ocean View Bungalow, bed and breakfast, 5 nights at 4,245,000 | 21,225,000 |
| Two morning dives, 2 divers, 3 days at 2,700,000 | 16,200,000 |
| Dive computer rental, 1 diver, 3 days at 245,000 | 735,000 |
| Airport transfers and shuttle boat | Included |
| Total before park fees and other meals | 38,160,000 |
Park fees are on top and paid at the resort at the rate in force on the day. Lunch and dinner are charged separately on bed and breakfast; full board adds IDR 1,200,000 a night for the bungalow. There's no ATM on the island, so bring a card or enough cash for tips and extras.
What to look for in a Komodo operator in March
In the dry season most operators look the same. In March, the difference shows up on the windy days, so these are the questions worth asking before you book.
1. A plan for wind days
A good operator has a Plan B for the day the harbourmaster restricts routes or the north is too rough. Ask: "What happens to my booking if the boats can't go out?"
2. Sites chosen on the morning
A fixed itinerary promised weeks ahead is a warning sign in March. Ask: "Who decides the sites each day, and how?"
3. A boat that suits the conditions
Covered cabins, enough engine power to get home quickly if the weather turns, and short runs to the central sites all make March days more comfortable. Ask: "How long is the ride to the sites, and is there shelter on board?"
4. Small groups
With fewer divers per guide, the dive can be planned around the least experienced diver in the current. Our dive centre takes four guests per guide. Ask: "How many divers per guide?"
5. Honest manta expectations
Mantas are likely in March, not guaranteed. An operator who promises them every day is selling, not briefing. Ask: "How often have you seen mantas in the last two weeks?"
6. Clear cancellation terms
Know before you pay what happens if weather stops a trip and what the cut-off dates are. Ask: "What's refunded, and when?" Seasickness is the other common reason March days go wrong; our guide to seasickness on Komodo boat trips covers what actually works.
How to plan March in Komodo by traveller
March suits some travellers better than others. Here's how it works out for each.
Snorkellers and non-divers do well in March. The water is the warmest of the year, and Manta Point is one of the places where snorkellers can see mantas. Book snorkelling tours in Komodo for the calmer mornings, and leave the afternoons free in case of showers.
First-time divers get warm, gentle sites in the central park, which is where courses are taught. A Discover Scuba Diving day costs IDR 1,800,000 and the Open Water course IDR 8,700,000 over three days. Our guide to how to learn to dive in Komodo explains the options.
Certified divers get the best of the mantas and the start of the northern season. If you're set on the strong-current northern pinnacles every day, late March is better than early March, and a Komodo liveaboard reaches more of the park than any day boat.
Families will like the warm water and the quiet beaches, but should take the holiday dates into account when booking flights. Our Komodo with kids guide covers ages, activities and safety.
Couples get green hills, empty viewpoints and low-season rates. If you're coming for a honeymoon, late March is the better half. Our Komodo for couples guide has ideas for the trip.
Who Komodo Resort is for in March, and who it is not for
Komodo Resort is on Sebayur Island, inside the national park and 30 to 40 minutes by speedboat from Labuan Bajo. We reopen on 1 March 2027 after closing for January and February for facility upgrades and a new jetty. March 2027 is also when two new spaces open: an air-conditioned gym with cardio machines and free weights, free for all guests, and the Neptune Club Lounge, with air conditioning, complimentary coffee, tea and snacks, and a library. Choose from 31 bungalows at Komodo Resort, see the gym and the lounge on the Komodo Resort facilities page, and dive with the dive centre at Komodo Resort, whose boats reach Manta Point in about 40 minutes.
We're the wrong choice in a few cases. If you want to arrive in January or February 2027, we're closed. If you want bars and nightlife between dives, Sebayur is a quiet island with no town, and the last scheduled shuttle from Labuan Bajo leaves at 15:00. If you want to dive the southern sites every day, they're too far for comfortable day trips from Sebayur and better reached by liveaboard. And diving on the house reef isn't allowed, though you can snorkel it with gear we lend for free. If you're coming in late March and want the new hilltop bungalows, note that Hilltop Komodo Resort opens a few weeks later, in April 2027.
Key takeaways
- March is the end of Komodo's wet season: warm, showery and greener than any other month, with the rain easing as it goes on.
- The water is at its warmest, about 29°C, and visibility climbs to 15 to 20 metres.
- Mantas are still strong at Manta Point, and the northern sites start coming back in late March.
- Plan around 8 March (Nyepi, Bali airport closed), 9 to 15 March (Lebaran) and 25 to 28 March (Easter).
- March is low season at Komodo Resort, which reopens on 1 March 2027 with a new gym and the Neptune Club Lounge.
- Keep a spare day before your flight home in case wind keeps the boats in port.
