Baucau

East Timor's second-largest city. An old Portuguese quarter sits below the cliffs, and a spring pool overlooks the coast. Visitors can swim at the beaches or climb Mount Matebian, and it is an overnight stop on the eastern route.

Baucau is East Timor's second-largest city and the capital of Baucau Municipality. It lies on the north coast, about 130 km east of Dili. The city has two parts. The Cidade Velha (old town) below the cliffs preserves Portuguese colonial remnants, including the 1934 market building, the pink Baucau Hotel, and the spring channels. Kota Baru (the new town) on the cliff top holds the bus station, the market, and everyday neighborhoods. Water is plentiful in town, and the spring pool is the most popular place to cool off. Following the stream downhill for about 7 km brings you to Vatabo white-sand beach. Nearby, you can head south to the cool mountain town of Venilale to see World War II Japanese caves, or east to hike Mount Matebian, visit Baguia Fort, or explore the Laga coast. Baucau is also an overnight stop for continuing on to Los Palos and Jaco Island.

The dry season runs from May to November, with clear skies and little rain, making it the best time to visit. December–April is the rainy season, when landslides may cut roads.

Getting there: Minibuses from Dili take about 3–4 hours and cost about US$4. You can also rent a car in Dili and drive the scenic coastal road. The airport currently has no scheduled flights.

Plan 1–2 days. The US dollar is the common currency, and ATMs are scarce, so bring cash. Tourist facilities are basic, and malaria and dengue risk is high in some areas, so protect yourself against mosquitoes.

Top sights

• Municipal Market of Baucau – A Portuguese-style arcaded market building completed in 1934, with a curved façade and red-tiled roofs. It is Baucau's most representative…
• Watabo Beach (Coconut Beach) – A white-sand beach lined with coconut palms about 7 km below the old town, with clear, gentle waves, simple wooden huts and beachside resta…
• Baucau Old Town (Cidade Velha) – A Portuguese colonial old town at the foot of a cliff, with the market building, an inn and springs lining its streets. Ruins bear witness…
• Pousada de Baucau – A pink Portuguese-style inn built in the 1950s, with balconies overlooking the old town. It served as a prison during the Indonesian occupa…
• Piscina de Baucau – A natural spring pool built in the colonial era, constantly fed by clear water and shaded by trees. It is a cool retreat in the old town.
• St. Anthony Cathedral, Baucau – The cathedral of the Baucau diocese, its white twin-towered façade beside the old town. Sunday Mass offers a taste of Timor-Leste's Catholi…
• Venilale Japanese Caves – A network of tunnels dug into a hillside by Japanese forces during World War II, in the cool mountain town of Venilale. The 1933 Kingdom Sc…
• Mount Matebian – Timor-Leste's second-highest peak, a limestone mountain known as the 'Mountain of the Dead', with a statue of Christ at the summit. It is a…
• Baguia Fort – A Portuguese colonial stone fort on the eastern foothills of Mount Matebian, with well-preserved corner bastions. It pairs easily with a mo…
• Laga – A seaside town about 20 km east of Baucau, with an old Portuguese administrative post and a parish church. The coastal road makes it a must…

Where to eat

• Pousada de Baucau Restaurant – A restaurant inside a pink colonial-era Portuguese guesthouse, combining garden and sea views. It is Baucau's best-know…
• Amalia Restaurant – The most popular small restaurant in Baucau's old town. Its simple, fresh Portuguese and Timorese dishes are cheaper th…