Atauro is an island off the Timorese North Coast near Dili in Timor-Leste. Atauro is one of East Timor's undiscovered diving paradises. Besides tropical beaches, it also offers many hiking opportunities and relaxed eco-lodges along the east-coast village of Beloi.

Understand

Atauro is primarily visited for snorkelling and scuba diving. The main village area is Beloi, with accommodation clustered near the beach.

Mass tourism is still a long way off in Atauro, just as it is in the rest of East Timor. However, a small infrastructure has slowly developed here, gently opening the island to visitors. The tourism association ATKOMA offers excellent assistance in organizing excursions and visits to the sights.

As a nature and ecotourism destination, it received 1st place at the Green Destinations Story Awards 2022.

Get in

Ferry services and day-trip boats operate between Dili and Atauro (seasonal; check locally). Missionary Aviation Fellowship has scheduled flights from Dili on Monday & Wednesday mornings and Friday afternoons.

Get around

Distances are walkable around Beloi; boats and motorbikes are used for travel farther along the coast.

Most roads are unpaved; often there are only footpaths. Walking is often the best way to get from one place to another. Bicycles can also be rented.

The island's main road runs along the east coast and is paved. You can hire off-road vehicles and small trucks with a driver, or try hitching a ride on one of the trucks. Especially when venturing off the main road, you'll be glad to have a driver with experience behind the wheel.

The three-wheeled motorcycle taxis (locally called tuk-tuks as in Thailand) form the backbone of public transport on the island. They can reach virtually every village, but like regular bus services, each driver is limited to a single route between two villages. They can be booked 24 hours a day, but with 30 minutes' notice. To book, contact the ATKOMA reception at Barry's Place, Atauro Dive Resort, Compass Diving, or Beloi Beach Hotel, or the manager at +670 7515 3278. Each vehicle can accommodate a maximum of six to eight people.

Fitun Galileia is a private, local company that offers transportation services, among other things. It operates local boats, trucks, and pickups, which are also available for booking. The drivers are knowledgeable and reliable.

Boats, both pirogues and more modern motorboats, are an alternative way to reach coastal towns.

See

• 1 Vila Maumeta. Vila is the island's main town, located on the southeast coast. It's home to government offices and NGOs. Around 1,800 people live in this idyllic village with its unpaved streets lined with vibrant red flowers. Cars? A rare sight. Many of the numerous cooperatives sell their products here. Boneca sells unique dolls, and Biojoia sells jewelry. The women earn their living with their handcrafted goods. You can stroll through the town, hike to a viewpoint, or attend a lively church service. There are the remains of an Indonesian-era dungeon, the Catholic parish church of Nossa Senhora do Rosario , and a larger Protestant church. From Beloi, Vila can be reached in 10 minutes by motorbike taxi or 60 minutes on foot. 
• 2 Beloi. Beloi is the port where most visitors arrive by ferry to the island. The arrival of the ships is used as an opportunity to operate a small market. With its lively atmosphere, it is somewhat vying with the sleepy Vila for the title of capital. Beloi is developing into the island's tourist center, offering accommodations, restaurants, and entertainment. While in Beloi, you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to go hiking, for example to Adara or Akrema. Souvenirs can be purchased at Empreza Di'ak . 
• 3 Maquili. This fishing village lies about an hour's walk south of Vila, along a beautiful path along the rugged coastline. Maquili is known for its woodwork. Boats are built here (half-finished ones, still under construction, can be found here and there along the coast), and dance masks, as well as figures of men and women, are carved. There were also carvings of mermaids and eels, which are said to allude to an island creation myth. Even today, masks can be found on Atauro hanging from trees, believed to protect gardens from thieves. Warriors and dancers also used these masks. The coastal path is exciting, but it's best to walk it at low tide, as waves can easily sweep you off your feet. At least the spray provides a deafening refreshment. Depending on the time of day, you might encounter dozens of schoolchildren in uniform. The one-hour walk between Maquili and Vila is their daily route to school, which they cover in flip-flops. However, sturdy footwear is recommended for tourists, as the rocks can be slippery. 
• 4 Acrema. It is a quiet village, known primarily for its white sand beach. In addition, there are reefs with excellent diving opportunities. A two-hour walk from Biqueli, it's ideal for a day trip. The coastal road extends to this point in the far north of the east coast, so it's also possible to reach it by car. Maun Elias, the village chief (+670-7801-2661), is happy to give a tour of the village, including the Cave of the Dead , where villagers venerate ancestors and spirits of the past. A nearby rock is shaped like an eagle's head, where a mythical eagle is said to sleep. 
• 5 Adara. Adara lies on the west coast. Life in this village of fewer than 200 inhabitants is much quieter than on the east coast. A hammock overlooking the white sand beach is the perfect place to relax. The coral reef, perfect for snorkeling, is 50 meters from the beach. Adara is home to the Wawata Topu (meaning "female divers"): women who dive with simple swimming goggles and harpoons to fish and contribute to their families' livelihoods. From Adara, you can hike along the coast to Atecru, Iliana, Douro, or Vatuo. 
• 6 Anartutu. It lies in Suco Macadade, in the southwest of the island, and is one of the more remote villages. As the highest settlement on the island, it already offers a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape below, and Mano Côco, Atauro's highest mountain, is not far from here. Few villages on Atauro are not located on the coast, and the inhabitants of Anartutu must make do with what they earn on the mountain slopes. A market is held every Wednesday, where fish, goats, vegetables, and chickens are sold. During the rainy season, there is a waterfall nearby. Rapin Hirik, a fabric made from palm leaf fibers traditionally used for clothing by the inhabitants of Atauro, is produced only in Macadade. 
• 7 Arlo. Arlo lies a little way from the coast in the mountains northwest of Atauro. The village has a population of just under 500. It's located on the road from the east coast to Adara and is worth a short stop for a fresh coconut. The route should be hiked in the early morning or late afternoon, not in the dark or during the heat of the day. While the route to Adara is lined with rocks, the path to Beloi is forested. The blue church in Arlo is a lovely sight. Traces of pottery up to 3200 years old were found in the Lepu Kina cave, along with other artifacts such as obsidian shards, shell and glass beads, and more recent metal fragments. 
• 8 Atecru. It takes about an hour to walk here from Adara, making it ideal for a day trip or as a stopover on a multi-day trek. It's one of the most beautiful spots on the island. Towards evening, the inhabitants search for marine life in the shallow tide pools. They have rediscovered their own culture, reviving old dances and games and speaking the local dialect. The village chiefs can tell ancient legends and stories unique to Atecru. West of Atecru lies the limestone cave Aleti Tunu Bibi, which contains simple rock paintings dating back 8,000 years. Archaeological finds prove that humans were present in this cave as far back as 18,000 years ago. 
• 9 Berau. Berau is a small village on the island's south coast. It is home to the island's only freshwater spring, which also supplies drinking water to Maquili, Vila, Beloi, and Biquili. With advance planning, you can rent a boat to reach various spots in the area or explore the small cliffs. The small marine reserve is highly valued by divers for its rich biodiversity. The village has both a small Protestant and a Catholic church. 
• 10 Biqueli. Biqueli (Pala, Bikeli-Pala) is on the east coast. You can either hike there from Beloi in one to two hours, or hire a truck or motorcycle taxi to travel north on the island's main road. Hitchhiking is also an option, as virtually every passing truck will inevitably pass through Biqueli. The village has a hot spring, but it's not warm enough for bathing. It's fine for dipping your toe in the 40°C water, though. 
• 11 Douro. Doro is in the northwest of Atauro. Ocean currents from the west and north converge off its coast. According to locals, one of the island's most biodiverse reefs is one of the best places to observe blacktip reef sharks. 
• 12 Iliana. It lies in the western hill country. From Biqueli, it can be reached on foot in three to four hours, or by motorcycle taxi. A road also leads here from Beloi. Away from the main village, inland, a few small huts lie on the beach where fishermen store their equipment. 
• 13 Uaro-Ana. It's a quiet village in the north of the east coast. It's definitely a good place to stop for a coconut on the way, an overnight stay with a host family, or some souvenirs from the small shop run by the local women 's cooperative. Hats, baskets, and wood carvings are cheaper here than in the main shop in Beloi. There's also a small Protestant church in the village. 
• 14 Vatuo. Vatuo is in the far north of Atauro's west coast. To reach it, you one either travel around the northern tip of the island or cross the island's interior and then head north. Approximately 200 people live here, most of whom are Protestant and not Catholic. The local initiative is particularly proud of the turtle nesting sites they protect. The village has no electricity, and water is a scarce resource, so tourists should use it sparingly. 

Do

• Diving on Atauro. Operators arrange dives around Atauro’s coral reefs, plus snorkeling trips and courses. 

Sleep

• Atauro Dive Resort. Dive-focused accommodation and trips (bookable via Rezerva). 
• Barry's Place Eco-Lodge. Beachside eco-lodge with simple bungalows (bookable via Rezerva). 
• Compass Atauro Lodge. Eco-lodge near Beloi with sea views (bookable via Rezerva). 
• Beloi Beach Hotel. Beachfront hotel in Beloi (bookable via Rezerva). 

Through the tourist information offices, you can find accommodation with local host families; there are also small hotels.

Beloi offers the most accommodations. Local families offer room and board for those on a budget or seeking direct contact with the locals.

In Vila you will find the Manucoco Rek Guesthouse & Restaurant and the Vila Gracia Guesthouse .

In Anartuto, the village chief, offers accommodation for an afternoon or even several nights. For $20 per person per night, guests also receive a comfortable bed and a meal. In addition, the chief and his wife offer wood carvings and woven baskets.

Pinorana Homestay in Biqueli is only open when the owner opens it. Therefore, you must contact him in advance if you wish to stay there.

Mario's Place (Adara Eco-Resort) is the only accommodation option in Adara. Mario is a local from Adara who opened the first accommodation in his village in 2016 and was instrumental in establishing the Tara Bandu marine conservation systems around the island.

The Afonsu Ecolodge on the west coast can be reached by boat from Beloi and Adara. Nearby is the Moises Ecolodge, which can also be used for overnight stays from Atekru.

The Guesthouse Padre Luis is located in the Fatulela district of Maquili.

It is indeed possible to rent a holiday apartment, but these are sometimes rather remote, so you should make sure you have the name and mobile phone number of a motorcycle taxi driver. Providers include Iti Muran House and Uma Ba Futuru.

In Akrema you can camp on the beach for a small fee, provided you have brought your own camping equipment.