East Timor is a beautiful island paradise and is the ultimate getaway if you wish to enjoy a relaxing vacation. Located in between the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, this tiny island offers a diverse range of places to visit and things to do. With a mixture of Portuguese and Indonesian influences, East Timor is the perfect vacation destination for those who want some fun in the sun or to enjoy a relaxing day at the beach.
Dili
The capitol of East Timor, Dili is a quiet, laidback kind of town that was rebuilt after being badly damaged in 1999 during the post-referendum violence. With many of the homes and business now reconstructed, this town is bustling with energy and vitality. You can still see many Portuguese influences such as villa lined beach roads, a former colonial garrison and a lovely cathedral on the waterfront. The Dili harbor is the center of activity in the city from dawn to dusk. There is a beautiful park that separates the beach from the road and is an excellent retreat during the day from the heat of the sun. At the harbor, fishermen can be seen unloading their catch.
From lobsters to shrimp, all kinds of the freshest seafood can be found here which is why Dili has some of the best seafood restaurants in the country.With most of the population in East Timor being Roman Catholic, Dili has plenty of churches. There is a 27 meter (89 ft) statue of Christ on the Fatucama Cape, which provides fantastic views of the city and the coastline. There are some great beaches just a few miles outside of Dili. You can find all kinds of beach activities including swimming, snorkeling and diving. The most popular beach area is the cove of Areia Branca, also known as Pasir Putih. After touring the city you can catch a ferry from Dili to nearby Atauro Island.
Baucau/ Viqueque
The second largest town in East Timor, Baucau is a 3 hour drive from Dili along the coast via Manatuto. It is an amazing ride with beautiful scenery to enjoy along the way. This town has a cool climate and some outstanding beaches. the country’s international airport is located here, as well as one of the best hotels, the Hotel Baucau which has excellent accommodations services and facilities.
From Baucau travelers can then head to Viqueque which has some of the most beautiful thick, lush and dense forests in the country. Viqueque was once an important source for sandalwood and teak. During the rainy season, however, traveling to Viqueque can be quite difficult as there are no proper roads in the area.
Maubisse & Ermera
Maubisse and Ermera are two old hill towns just south of Dili. This area is mainly known for its excellent coffee plantations. If you go between June and September you can watch how coffee is harvested and processed. Maubisse offers some of the best scenery in East Timor with stunning 360 degree views of the surrounding areas. From Maubisse, visitors can take a trek up Mt. Ramelau, which is a 45 minute drive to Hatobuilico, at the base of the mountain. The views from atop this mountain are some of the best in the country.
Los Palos
In the east of East Timor the Los Palos area is completely natural and unspoiled. This area has fantastic beaches, beautiful coral reefs and the National Park of Jaco Island. The perfect destination for beach lovers, Los Palos also has a lot of other interesting places to visit such as the cave paintings found near Lautem, stone sarcophagi and many animist shrines. This area is also a refuge for the island’s 25 protected species of birds including eagles and ospreys. The rural communities that live here are friendly and accommodating.
Oecussi
In the midst of Indonesian West Timor is Oecussi, also known as Ambeno. Part of East Timor under the new constitution, Oecussi is isolated from main East Timor and the only way to get there is by ferry service. This region is very important to the East Timorese because its capital Pante Makassar is where the first Portuguese settlers arrived in Timor. To commemorate the place where the first Portuguese landed a monument was built to mark the spot. This monument is at Lifau, 5 kilometers (3 miles) west of Pante Makassar. The hilltop of Fatusuba, 1.5 km (1 mile) from the capital, has great views of the surrounding areas, with many of the local religious festivals held at a shrine.
Atauro
Atauro is a small island just a short ferry ride from Dili. Travelers have the option of choosing a ferry ride, sailing charter, diving charter or fishing charter. Visible from Dili, Atauro is a great retreat with its unspoiled and tranquil surroundings. This island is being developed as eco-tourism site. It is possible to stay on the island but accommodations are very basic.
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