Gurusina village, Flores, Indonesia

What to see in Gurusina village

The moment you enter Gurusina, you stretch your hands out to make sure the image you see is not a photograph wallpaper. It seems too perfect to be true. This impression stays with you for the whole time – what you see is so absurdly beautiful, that it cannot be real.

Yet here you are, wandering around the amazingly decorated houses, chatting to their inhabitants, inhaling the scent of cloves drying in the sun…

Like in any other traditional village in Flores, you will be asked to leave a donation and a signature in the guest book before you enter.

The thatched houses encircle the central terraced space, occupied by the megalithic stone structures. Among them, you’ll find wooden, hut-like structures called ngadhu and bhaga. They are used for the special ceremonies and gatherings (and of course animal sacrifices, omnipresent in Indonesia).

Notice the rooftops, as on some of them you will spot the interesting human-shaped sculptures.

Don’t hesitate if you get invited to one of the houses – the interiors are as beautiful as the external constructions and worth a moment of contemplation.

Despite the traditional look, Gurusina is a modern village with all the modern amenities like electricity, so don’t be surprised when you encounter a satellite dish attached to a straw roof.

See more PHOTOS OF INDONESIA HERE

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How to get to Gurusina village

If you stay in Bajawa, the best idea is to hire the motorbike (ojek), preferably with a driver who knows the way. The tarmac ends near Bena village (about 7 kilometers from Bajawa), so the rest of the road to Gurusina might be a bit rough. Between Bena and Gurusina there's one more village worth a visit - Luba.

To see what else you can do in Flores go to our article What to see and do in Flores, Indonesia.

And if you need help with planning your trip, see our itinerary on How to plan a trip to Flores, Indonesia.