Princess Lala
Princess Lala Phinisi
Taka Makassar sandbar
Updated 11 October 2026
Taka Makassar is the sandbar stop at the end of day two on the two-day and three-day sailings of Princess Lala, paired with Manta Point. The crescent of sand shows at low tide only, the reef around it is 1 to 5 metres deep and the current is mild. Bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen; shade is minimal.
The tide table speaks first
At Taka Makassar the tide table speaks first and the clock second. The place is a crescent-shaped sandbank surrounded by shallow reef, and the sand is visible only at low tide. At high tide it is underwater, so it is not a place to walk then.
That is why the order on day two stays loose. Taka Makassar is paired with Manta Point, and the order of the two swaps with the tide on the day. When the sand is not showing, the reef around it is still there to snorkel.
It belongs to day two of both fares, on the open trip and on the two-day and three-day private charters, as the last swim before the day turns towards the table or towards Labuan Bajo. On the four-day private charter it moves to day three, after Manta Point and before lunch.
Easy water, for almost everyone
The water here is between 1 and 5 metres deep and the current is mild, which makes it suitable for most snorkellers. Expect 30 to 60 minutes in and out. It is the easiest water of the afternoon, and it comes straight after the drift at Manta Point, where the current can be strong, so anyone who sat that drift out is back in the sea with everyone else.
Masks and snorkels come from the boat; fins do not, so pack yours if you use them. A child can float in water this shallow with an adult beside them, and a nervous swimmer can stay close to the sand.
From above, the crescent is the picture, and on the open trip the photographer with the drone is part of the fare.
- Best window
- Morning
- Time ashore / in water
- 30–60 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Depth
- 1–5 m
- Current
- mild
- Tide
- Sets the time of the stop
- Busiest months
- July, August
What it is not: the sandbar is visible only at low tide · not a place to walk if the tide is high: it may be underwater
Real photo from a Komodo Explorer trip · 12 photos
Shade, or the lack of it
Shade is minimal on the sand, so bring a hat and reef-safe sunscreen. That advice is for everyone, and for the very young and the very old it is the whole plan. Put sunscreen on before you get in, and keep a towel to hand.
The shade is back on board. The side deck has two canvas deck chairs on its shaded side, the stern table sits under a timber roof, and the bow sundeck has a sofa under an awning. A grandparent who is done with the sun can sit in any of them and watch the rest of the family on the sandbar from the deck.
Crowds are thinnest outside July and August. If you can choose your month, ask us for the quieter ones.
What comes after the sandbar
On the three-day fare dinner is at the long table, and the galley sends out the plates while tea and coffee wait at the end of the table for whoever wants a second cup.
On the two-day fare the boat heads back from here and you are ashore in Labuan Bajo between 19:00 and 20:30, then the transfer to your hotel. Do not book a flight for that evening. Two trips share one sailing, and the two-day trip ends at Taka Makassar.
Private charters keep their own timetable, agreed with you. On the four-day private charter Taka Makassar comes on day three with Manta Point and lunch follows, then Siaba for more snorkelling.
FAQ
What if the tide is high when we reach Taka Makassar?
Then the sandbar is underwater, and you do not walk on it. The reef around it can still be snorkelled, in water between 1 and 5 metres deep with a mild current. The tide also decides whether Taka Makassar or Manta Point comes first, so the order on the day can be the other way round.
Is Taka Makassar easier than Manta Point?
Yes. Taka Makassar is shallow, between 1 and 5 metres, with a mild current, and suits most snorkellers. Manta Point is deeper, between 3 and 15 metres, with a current that can be strong, and its level is confident swimmers. Anyone who skips the drift can still enjoy the sandbar.
Do two-day guests still get Taka Makassar?
Yes. On the open-trip sailing the two-day fare includes it as the last swim of day two. After it the boat heads back, and you land in Labuan Bajo between 19:00 and 20:30 before the transfer to your hotel.
What should I wear on the sandbar?
A hat and reef-safe sunscreen, because shade on the sand is minimal. Swimwear under a light shirt works well for children and for anyone who burns easily. The boat supplies a mask and snorkel but no fins.
How long do we stay at Taka Makassar?
The sail from Manta Point takes 20 to 30 minutes, and the snorkel lasts 30 to 60 minutes. The tide shapes the time on the day, because the sand is visible only at low tide and the guide fits the stop around it.
Check availability — Princess Lala
Princess Lala is sailed by her own crew; bookings and payments are handled by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.