Ruteng

Ruteng is a city of around 35,000 people on Flores island in Indonesia.

Understand
Ruteng is the center of the interesting villages of the Manggarai ethnic minority. This region has a cooler climate as it is located 1,100 meters above ground.

By car
From Labuan Bajo airport, lots of drivers will negotiate a trip to Ruteng for you. Prices range from Rp250,000 to 600,000. For around Rp120,000 you can go by local buses (e.g. Gunung Mas, Gemini) or 'Travel' (which are cars) on the Labuan Bajo - Ruteng route (as of Nov 2018). Some of them continue to Bajawa - Ende - Maumere. An ojek can bring you for Rp10,000 to the starting point of the 'Travel' (from the airport or town).

Get around
It is easy to explore Ruteng as it is a small town, but you would need a motorbike to go around the region. A motorbike is ideal to discover the surrounding area. You can rent it for about Rp100,000 per day from your accommodation (as of Nov 2018).

See
The main points of interests are outside the town. The surrounding nature is beautiful, and very accessible by motorbike. The main attractions are as follows:


 * Caci, a traditional war dance of Flores accompanied by gongs, drums and singing, is performed at the Rice Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (hang woja) and the New Year Festival (penti).
 * Caci, a traditional war dance of Flores accompanied by gongs, drums and singing, is performed at the Rice Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (hang woja) and the New Year Festival (penti).
 * Caci, a traditional war dance of Flores accompanied by gongs, drums and singing, is performed at the Rice Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (hang woja) and the New Year Festival (penti).
 * Caci, a traditional war dance of Flores accompanied by gongs, drums and singing, is performed at the Rice Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (hang woja) and the New Year Festival (penti).
 * Caci, a traditional war dance of Flores accompanied by gongs, drums and singing, is performed at the Rice Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (hang woja) and the New Year Festival (penti).
 * Caci, a traditional war dance of Flores accompanied by gongs, drums and singing, is performed at the Rice Harvest Thanksgiving Festival (hang woja) and the New Year Festival (penti).

Do



 * Overnight Trip to Wae Rebo
 * If you receive an invitation to attend a wedding, birth, or funeral, never miss it. Those are the best way to learn about the culture. Ask for the norm (what to bring along, what not to do) and behave (e.g. avoid taking excessive photos during sensitive time).

Eat
As the evenings can be chilly, the local soup (Baksoto and Soto ayam) places are popular with the locals. As with every other Indonesian town, there are many Padang Restaurant.

The fried bananas (Pisang Goreng) here are delicious, especially when still hot (ask if they are 'hangat').


 * The Rumah Makan II at the bottom of the town square offers slightly more expensive but very good food with a varied menu of Indonesian dishes.
 * The Rumah Makan II at the bottom of the town square offers slightly more expensive but very good food with a varied menu of Indonesian dishes.

Drink
Ruteng coffee is legendary in Flores (together with Bajawa coffee). Never miss a chance to drink it. By default here coffee is served with sugar, so please request in advance if you would like to have less or no sugar.

Because of the cold climate, drinking arak or sopi or moke are popular for the locals.

Go next

 * Labuan Bajo, 110 km away or 3 hours by car or motorbike.
 * Bajawa, about 3-4 hours by car. The place to see Ngadha culture and villages.