Around Dili

Yes, Dili has beaches

The beach in Dili just below the Jesus statue

There was a NY Times article a few years ago that said that Dili has beaches like Bali. While it would be great to be so positive about Dili’s beaches, they aren’t quite on a par with Bali’s, but they’re pretty close. Dili isn’t your typical beach destination. Unlike in Bali, you won’t be hassled by people selling coconuts and peanuts and henna tattoos and massages – not yet anyway. A trip to a beach in Dili is a quiet, reserved affair.

East of Dili Harbor, the beaches start off uninspiring and rocky. The further out toward the Jesus statue you go, the more serene the setting becomes and you can start to see where the comparisons with Bali come from. As you make your way round to in front of Caz Bar, you come to a stretch that’s popular on weekends and evenings.

Go out even further toward Cape Fatucama and you have white sand, lapping waves and no people. It’s so refreshing to be in such a seaside spot and not have dozens of other beachgoers vying for the same spot of sand. For people who enjoy lazing about on a golden beach, Dili has a few notable stretches.

Even better is the area on the other side of the Jesus statue, which requires some tricky traversing along the road up the hill and back down again, or else you can walk up the steps to the Jesus statue and then sneak through to the beach on the other side. The swimming isn’t great, though, because there are so many rocks.

West of Dili Harbor out to Dili Club and beyond the beach is reasonable, getting better the further you go. Try going all the way out past the airport up to Tasitolu where the Pope statue is located. There are some great beaches out there and you will only have birds and fish for company. You can take a mikrolet most of the way or else catch a cab.