Pinta — Luxury Phinisi, Komodo

About Pinta Phinisi

Pinta is a 30-metre traditional phinisi built from ironwood and teak — two of the hardest
and most salt-resistant timbers worked by Bugis shipwrights on Sulawesi. The hull spans
6 metres at the beam, giving the vessel an assured footing through the tidal corridors
that funnel between Komodo and Rinca. A Mitsubishi 8DC11 engine drives her at 9 to 13
knots, backed by paired generators (30 kVA and 15 kVA) and a 5,000-litre freshwater
capacity that sustains full ship operations across multi-day charters without resupply.
The keel was laid approximately 2018 and the vessel launched and completed approximately
2021 — sources place the build year differently, so both are noted as approx. here.
Navigation equipment includes GPS, SSB and VHF radios, and walkie-talkies for shore
communication, alongside a full safety outfit: life raft, lifebuoys, life vests, flares,
CCTV, and fire extinguishers throughout.

Five private ensuite cabins carry up to 13 guests — a compact configuration that
produces one of the better crew-to-guest ratios on the Komodo charter circuit. Eight
crew members attend to 13 guests: a captain, engineers, deck crew, a chef, and
guest-experience staff. The result is the kind of attentive service that larger
group-charter vessels simply cannot replicate at scale. Communal spaces run across
three distinct zones: a forward foredeck with a jacuzzi overlooking the bow, a
second-deck sofa lounge for sheltered daytime use, and a rooftop sundeck fitted
with beanbags for open-sky evenings at anchor in the national park.

What sets Pinta apart from comparable Komodo phinisi is the convergence of features
rarely combined at this vessel length. The master cabin carries both a private balcony
and a bathtub — exceptional on a 30-metre wooden hull. A glass-bottom speedboat, stored
and deployed from the vessel, extends the experience to guests who prefer to observe reef
and marine life without entering the water. The Flores Sea around Komodo National Park
rewards an intimate vessel: shallow reef channels, protected bays like Taka Makassar, and
the manta aggregation at Manta Point
are all navigated more naturally aboard a 30-metre phinisi than a 47-metre ship. Pinta
is chartered exclusively through Komodo Luxury’s curated Komodo liveaboard fleet.

Technical Specifications

Cabins & Accommodation

All five cabins are air-conditioned and fitted with private ensuite bathrooms with hot
and cold showers. Each cabin also includes a personal safety box. The lineup descends
from a sea-view master suite with balcony and bathtub to lower-deck porthole cabins
— every option is genuinely private, none are shared.

Deck Life & Dining

The jacuzzi on Pinta’s foredeck faces forward over the bow — a positioning detail that
matters. Most phinisi with jacuzzis place them on the aft lounge deck, facing the wake.
Pinta’s faces the destination: at anchor off the limestone formations of Gili Lawa or
the pink-sand shoreline of Pink Beach,
guests soak with the full panorama ahead of them rather than behind. After a
morning dive at Batu Bolong or a ridge-top trek on Padar, the foredeck jacuzzi is
where the day’s decompression properly begins.

The rooftop sundeck runs the length of the upper deck and is appointed with beanbags
and sun pads. By day it serves as the sunbathing and photography platform — the
elevation gives a clear sightline across the national park’s island chain.
By night, anchored well clear of any town lights, the same deck becomes a
star-watching platform that rewards patience with the Milky Way arching across
the Flores Sea sky. The second-deck sofa lounge sits below the sundeck: a
partially shaded social space where guests congregate for pre-dinner drinks,
card games, or simply sitting with the sea passing by. Outdoor dining is served
here, with meals crafted from fresh ingredients sourced in Labuan Bajo —
reef fish, local produce, and Indonesian staples handled by an on-board chef
who adapts menus to dietary requirements notified at booking.

The glass-bottom speedboat is the feature that extends Pinta’s reach to guests who
prefer not to snorkel or dive. When the vessel anchors at a reef site — Sebayur’s
coral gardens, the walls around Manjarite, or the manta aggregation zone at
Manta Point — non-swimmers board the speedboat and observe the same marine
environment through the transparent hull section below. It is a considered touch
for mixed-ability charter groups: a family where one parent does not swim, a
couple where one partner has just completed their first open-water dive while the
other is a non-diver. Nobody sits on the boat while everyone else is in the water.
The diving platform at the stern provides direct water entry for certified divers,
with equipment racks and rinse tanks integrated into the deck layout.

Sample Komodo Itineraries

The following routes are representative. Actual stops depend on sea conditions,
tidal windows at each reef site, and park ranger schedules for dragon treks.
The captain and crew adjust in real time to give guests the best available
experience on every day. Itinerary requests are welcomed at the time of booking.

What’s Included in Your Charter

Private Charter Rates

All rates are quoted per charter — the entire vessel for your group, not per person.
Pinta accommodates up to 13 guests across 5 cabins, making it a natural fit for
intimate group charters: couples, small families, and groups of 6 to 10 who want
private service without sharing a vessel with strangers. Rates are indicative and
subject to annual revision; contact us for a confirmed quote for your dates.
The charter base rate starts from USD 4,900 per night. A 4-day/3-night diving
package starts from USD 11,250.

A 50% deposit is required to confirm dates. The balance is due 30 days before departure.
For bookings made 6 months or more in advance, a 30% initial deposit secures the date.
Children aged 3 and above are counted in the group total. Peak-season dates
(July through September) book 3 to 5 months ahead — submit your enquiry early.

Frequently Asked Questions — Pinta Phinisi

How many guests does Pinta Phinisi accommodate?

Pinta accommodates up to 13 guests across 5 private ensuite cabins: one
Master Sea View with private balcony and bathtub, one Deluxe Sea View, one
Junior Suite, and two Deluxe Rooms. All cabins are air-conditioned with
private hot showers and individual safety boxes. The crew of 8 attending
13 guests delivers a personal service level that larger Komodo charter
vessels cannot match.

What makes Pinta Phinisi different from other Komodo liveaboards?

Three features separate Pinta from comparable Komodo phinisi at this length.
First, the master cabin combines a private balcony and a bathtub — rare on
any traditional 30-metre wooden hull. Second, a glass-bottom speedboat allows
non-swimmers to observe reef marine life from above the water alongside
snorkellers and divers. Third, the foredeck jacuzzi faces the bow, so guests
soak facing their next destination rather than the wake. The ironwood and teak
construction follows the traditional Bugis phinisi method — the same
shipbuilding tradition now recognised as part of Indonesia’s cultural heritage
— wrapped around a modern, minimalist floating-hotel interior.

Is diving equipment included on Pinta Phinisi?

The charter includes scuba tanks, weights, a certified dive guide (1 per 4 divers),
and standard snorkelling equipment for all guests. Personal scuba equipment —
BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, booties, and dive computer — is not included.
Guests who do not own gear can hire from dive shops in Labuan Bajo before
embarkation. National park diving permits are charged separately and
vary by site. Non-divers and non-swimmers can observe reef life from the
included glass-bottom speedboat.

When is the best season to charter Pinta in Komodo?

April through October brings the calmest Flores Sea conditions, strongest
underwater visibility at dive sites like Batu Bolong and Castle Rock, and peak
manta ray activity at Manta Point. Komodo dragon treks on Komodo Island and
Rinca are available year-round. The northwest monsoon from January through
March can produce swell; charters still operate but some exposed anchorages
may be substituted for sheltered alternatives. Book 3 to 5 months ahead for
July through September dates — that window closes fastest.

How do I reach Labuan Bajo to board Pinta Phinisi?

Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport (IATA: LBJ) receives direct flights from Bali (DPS)
on Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, and Air Asia — approximately one hour’s flight
from Denpasar. Direct services also run from Jakarta (CGK) and Surabaya (SUB).
Airport transfer to the Labuan Bajo marina is included in the charter.
Share your flight arrival details at booking confirmation so the crew
can time embarkation accordingly and have the vessel ready when you arrive.

Komodo Destinations on This Route

Pinta’s standard itineraries cover the national park’s most significant sites.
Each destination below has a dedicated guide with tide windows, marine life notes,
and trekking conditions.

• Padar Island — three-bay viewpoint, sunrise trek, one of Indonesia’s most photographed panoramas
• Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) — red-coral fragment sand beach, reef snorkelling in 2 to 5 metres
• Manta Point — cleaning station for oceanic mantas; peak season April to October
• Komodo Island — ranger-guided Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) encounter
• Rinca Island — Komodo dragon trek at Loh Buaya; typically closer sightings than Komodo Island
• Taka Makassar — white sandbar surrounded by turquoise shallows; wading and photography
• Gili Lawa Darat — hilltop viewpoint over the western park island chain; best at sunset
• Batu Bolong — submerged pinnacle dive; schooling jacks, grey reef sharks, hard coral walls

Why Book Through Komodo Liveaboard Cruises

• Since 2015, 10,000+ guests served.
  A decade operating Komodo National Park charters produces route knowledge, reef timing,
  and ranger relationships that new operators cannot replicate.
• Curated private fleet.
  Every vessel in our Komodo liveaboard fleet
  is hand-selected for condition, crew quality, and safety equipment —
  not aggregated from an open marketplace.
• Expert local captains.
  Pinta’s crew knows the tidal gates at Manta Point, the optimal Padar trek window,
  and the sheltered anchorages when afternoon squalls push through the Flores Sea.
• Full concierge service.
  From flight schedules and Labuan Bajo hotel recommendations to dietary requirements
  and in-park permit logistics — our team handles the details before and during your voyage.