From the top of Cristo rei.

Cristo Rei

Timor-Leste is located at the end of the Indonesian archipelago, north of Darwin, Australia and at the base of the Coral Triangle, which hosts the highest diversity of coral and reef fish species on earth.

 Timor-Leste offers a rich cultural heritage spun from tens of thousands of years of human habitation, the Portuguese and Indonesian colonial periods, and from the depths of a society which has cultural traditions as the fabric of that bonds society together.

 Timor-Leste is well positioned for Community-based Ecotourism, which has been written into the nation’s tourism strategic plan. The Nino Konis National Park (situated in the eastern part of the country) is a well protected area and considered as some of the last surviving zones of tropical lowland rainforest in the world with rich coastal environment. The national park accommodates bird-watching, diving, trekking and pre-historic archeological sites.

Atauro Island and Jaco Island in Tutuala attract divers, snorkelers and green tourism enthusiasts. Both destinations provide eco-lodge facilities with some support from local NGOs in the region. A must-see attraction is the local divers and fishermen in Atauro, who fish using only traditionally made goggles and spear guns. Atauro is also well known for its distinctive

wooden sculptures and is an excellent place to buy variety handicrafts.

For more adventurous tourists, Timor-Leste offers what is simply world class trekking, which can be experienced near places such as Mount Ramelau (± 3000 above sea level), Ainaro, Mt. Matebian (Baucau) and Mt. Kablaki (in Same district), to name a few. 

While trekking  Timor-Leste , you can keep  busy by looking  for some of the 260 species of birds  on offer  ( the entire  Continent of Austrália  has some 650 resident  species ),  32 of which are endemic and 8 of which are exclusive  to the island  of Timor and found nowhere  else in the world.

 For example, the Timor Bush Warbler was recognized as a distinct species as recently as 2001 & it is ikely   that the elusive montane species can be found in the hills of Timor-leste  nos dias de hoje . The Bush Warbler is one of the many endemic birds that will be the focus for intrepid birdswatchers coming to TL.

When the blue waters of Timor-Leste start to tempt you, you can try exploring Timor’s scuba diving assets.  Diving in Timor-Leste is simply fantastic, and is currently one of Timor’s biggest attractions for foreign visitors. Great visibility in the dry season and warm tropical waters the whole year round are guaranteed here. Endless stretches of untouched fringing reefs and a marine trench with a depth of more then 3,000 meters offer a range diving, which is sure to impress. (http://www.discoverdili.com/diving.html).

Portuguese fortresses, churches and other monuments are scattered throughout the nation. For history enthusiasts, Timor Leste’s resistance tourism which worth exploring are the Xanana Gusmao’s (current Prime Minister of Timor Leste) hiding place, Balibo (known for the killing of 5 journalists by the Indonesian soldiers), Santa Cruz (known for massacre in 1991), Japanese caves in Baucau and many more.

Besides having large coffee plantations in Same and Ermera, Timor-Leste also produces various types of weaved textiles and products for export and unique souvenir. High end and expensive Tais (Timorese traditional hand-weaved textile) are made from nature-produced colors, while more economical textiles use chemical dye. 13 districts in the nation produce distinct design and colors to another. Tais markets are available in Dili, however for antique collections, one must visit the districts.

Timorese traditional cuisines and delicacies are unexplored. Various hotels and restaurants in larger districts, i.e. Dili (the Capital City) and Baucau, offer both western and traditional food and beverages. Fusions of modern and traditional dining in exotic restaurants are available in Metiaut area (15 minutes from Dili) where romantic dining accompanied by sunset and wine on white - sandy beach can be experienced.