Dili Trips of Two to Four Nights
These plans are built around what the transport allows. The ferry to Atauro runs only on set days, and the road east is slow. Wet-season flooding from November to April can upset any of them, so leave slack.
Two nights on Atauro
Night 1. Take the Berlin Nakroma from Porto Dili at 08:00 on a Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. The fare is US$4 each way, and the crossing is about 2 hours 15 minutes. Check in at a homestay or dive resort in Beloi and snorkel the shore reefs in the afternoon.
Night 2. Spend the day on a boat dive or a community snorkel trip, then eat at your lodging. Atauro Dive Resort, Beloi Beach Hotel Dive Resort, Compass Diving, Beni-Marine, Mysaffy and ATKOMA are the names on the official tourism site. A 2016 survey found an average of 253 reef fish species per site.
Return. The boat leaves Atauro at 15:00. The Success, at US$5 and about 3 hours, runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from Kolmera, and there is no regular Monday ferry. Buy tickets in cash at the port office on the day, arrive 60 minutes early and phone APORTIL on +670 331 7264 to confirm. The official ferry page lists sailings, and Atauro stays on Booking.com help you compare beds.
Three nights east: Lautem and Jaco Island
Tutuala is about 231 km from Dili by road. A planner suggests 4 hours 20 minutes in the best case, and travellers describe 6 to 8 hours as normal. Treat the first day as a travel day and sleep in the east. The second day goes to Valu Beach and the short boat crossing to Jaco Island, and Lake Ira Lalaro, also in Lautem, can fill the third. Hire a driver who knows the roads and carry small US dollar notes for food and lodging, since cards are limited.
One night at Mount Ramelau
Mount Ramelau is approached through the village of Hatobuilico. It works as one overnight, but road and guide arrangements change, so ask your Dili lodging for current advice before booking.
Four nights: island and city
Combine 2 nights on Atauro with 2 in Dili. Sequence it so the ferry days fit: a Wednesday sailing out and a Friday sailing home leaves Saturday and Sunday for Cristo Rei and the Tais Market. Reserve museum visits for Tuesday to Saturday, when the Resistance Archive and Museum is open.
Entry and cash
A visa on arrival costs US$30 in cash and gives one entry of up to 30 days. It can be extended once, by 30 days, if you apply 15 days ahead. The UK government requires a passport valid for 6 months with 2 blank pages. See the UK entry page .
Read more: Day trips from Dili and the 5-day Timor-Leste itinerary .