Bright Horizons

With a new luxury resort, a lesser-known Indonesian island steps into the spotlight.

- Laura Ratliff

DURING A COCKTAIL class at Ta'aktana, a new resort and spa from Marriott's Luxury Collection on the Indonesian island of Flores, the hotel's beverage manager, Andreas Widiyanto, pointed out the irregular roofs on the overwater villas. It was a feature I hadn't noticed. "It's meant to resemble a clamshell, slightly open," Widiyanto said, noting that the structures are a nod to the Indonesian warriors and fishermen who sailed these islands for centuries.

After three nights at Ta'aktana (doubles from $562), I was starting to realize that every detail revealed something new about this remarkable island-just a one-hour flight east of Bali-that, until now, has flown beneath the radar for all but the most intrepid travelers.

Ta'aktana is a 45-minute boat ride from Komodo Island, with its namesake reptiles, and is close to three of the best dive spots in Komodo National Park: Batu Bolong, Mawan, and Makassar Reef.