Country Information

• Along with a Portuguese castle dating from 1627, discover abundant colonial architecture in Dili, the capital. Another attraction is the State Museum of East Timor, founded in 1995, with one-tenth of its collection still surviving. The collection includes religious woodcarvings, wood figures, traditional crafts, musical instruments and paintings. Most of the city was destroyed in 1999, with any surviving buildings bearing considerable war wounds. UNTAET led restoration works by rebuilding the most important government and official buildings. There are many catholic churches in Dili and a famous, large statue of Christ on a hilltop near Cape Fatucama.

• Despite the devastation it has incurred, visitors can enjoy the charm of Baucau, the second-largest city in East Timor. The city boasts Portuguese colonial architecture and caves used by the Japanese during the occupation in WWII.

• Relax on the beach. Outside Dili, there are numerous beautiful beaches, the most popular being Areia Branca (‘white sand’). Due to its location, Baucau is always comfortably cool and the beaches 5km (3 miles) from the city are breathtaking. The four-hour journey between Dili and Baucau is well worth taking, offering some of the finest coastal views.

• Oecussi province belongs to East Timor politically, yet is a part of Indonesian West Timor culturally and geographically; it was 95% destroyed during the fighting and the remaining inhabitants mostly live in small hamlets and villages. Its capital, Pantemakassar, was the first Portuguese settlement and, as such, has special meaning for the East Timorese. A sleepy little town, it lies between the coast and the mountains. Coral reefs off the nearby coast offer the opportunity for diving and snorkelling. Mountain biking and hiking are possible in the interior or in the mountains.

• Head for Com, a beautiful fishing village, popular for weekend getaways. The main activities are fishing and snorkelling. The 20 sublime rooms of the Com Beach Resort, are a sign of things to come, with talk of a real five-star resort being developed in the future.

• Fatsuba is a notable reminder of the Portuguese period, with an old garrison that overlooks the town of Pantemakassar from a hill. In front of the mountain, in a courtyard, is a little coral grotto which houses a statue of the Virgin Mary.

• In Maubara, visit the 17th-century fort. The fort, once a prison, has a substantial coastal wall with cannons pointing out.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.