If you only have a day or two, a speedboat trip covers the highlights of the park in one long day. Most leave the harbour at dawn and visit Padar Island for the viewpoint hike, Pink Beach for snorkelling, Komodo or Rinca for the dragons with a ranger, Manta Point and Taka Makassar sandbank, returning by late afternoon.
You can join a shared trip with other travellers, which is the cheapest option, or charter a boat privately and set your own pace. Sunrise trips to Padar leave even earlier to reach the viewpoint before the heat. Slower wooden-boat day trips to nearer islands such as Kanawa, Kelor and Rinca suit families and anyone who gets seasick.
Check whether park entrance fees, ranger fees, lunch and snorkel gear are included, as prices vary widely. Seas can be choppy in the afternoon, especially between December and March.