On Atauro Island, local fishing and outrigger boats can sometimes be hired with their crews. They are not a scheduled service or a single business: you arrange a trip directly with a boat owner, usually through your accommodation.
What they are used for
- Reaching villages and beaches on the west and north coasts, which are often easier to get to by boat or on foot than by road
- Getting to snorkelling spots on the reefs around the island
- Occasionally crossing to or from Dili, although this is not recommended (see below)
Safety
- Boats usually leave very early, when the sea is calmer.
- Many carry no radio or lifejackets, and passengers are exposed to sun and spray.
- For the crossing between Dili and Atauro, take the APORTIL ferry, the Beloi Beach Hotel water taxi or an MAF flight instead, unless you know the boat and the conditions. See the Dili to Atauro guide.
- Check there is a lifejacket for everyone, don’t board an overloaded boat, and don’t go out in rough weather.
How to arrange a boat
- Ask your accommodation in Beloi or Vila; hosts know which boat owners are working.
- Agree the destination, return time and price before you set off, and pay in US dollars cash. Prices are not published.
- Bring water, sun protection and a dry bag for your phone.