Tatamailau — Local services in Ermera

Hiking the Ramelau for sunrise was absolutely special and beautiful. Few useful info for who’s thinking to go there without hiring a car like we did.

There are trucks going to Hato Bulico (where the hike starts) from Taibesi Market. Make sure they can take you to Ramelau. After Maubisse the road condition is very bad. We left Dili at 3 PM and got to the guest house around 8:30 PM. I would recommend leaving earlier as that road in the darkness was quite scary as some parts collapsed and it’s mostly next to cliffs. The trip costed us 10$ each which was fair considering the last part.

We stayed at Pousada Guest house for 30$ a night x 2pax and 5$ x meal. Once we arrived there the guy said he could be our guide for hiking the Ramelau. He charged us 20$ to take us up.

We started hiking the following morning at 3 AM and got to the summit after three hours at 6AM. if you have a car you can get to the start of the hike and avoid the first hour of steep road. The path is very well maintain, but steep. We were gifted with an almost full moon so we didn’t need to use head torches for most of the track but I’ll definitely recommend bringing one, as well as warm clothes because it’s freezing up there while you are waiting for the sun to come up. The view from the top was absolutely insane, you can see both side of Timor. We were lucky cause the sky was totally clear.

There was no other tourist when we were hiking, just couple of Timorese people getting up to pray, which made it very special. Getting back to the guest house took us maybe around 2 hours. And we had breakfast ready for us (coffee and potatoes which was interesting but filling!).

Getting back to Dili after the hike was definitely more challenging than gettin there. Apparently there is one truck going back to Maubisse in the morning. But it’s not very clear when is going and if there’s any room. The owner of the guesthouse wasn’t super helpful in helping us. Fortunately we met a very smart girl with a pretty good English. She helped us finishing two guys that drove us back to the main road with motorbikes for 15$ each. We had to keep our backpacks on our shoulders for more than an hour on that horrible road. So I would suggest maybe leaving most of your stuff in a hostel in Dili and get to Hato Bulico light. From the main road we hitched and found a family with a truck. We payed them 15$ to take us...

It's easy to find trucks heading to Maubisse in Taibesi however, it's quite hard to find trucks heading to Hato bulico. Be aware because even though it's written Hato bulico, the destination varies by the autonomy of the driver.

Maubisse to Hato Bulico: about 10km is a well paved road, and subsequently you should expect an extreme offroad about 20kms. In my case I walked 10kms and also took 5 consecutive hitchhikes which I don't recommend. (took about 5 hours)

Accomodation: the well known accommodation Posada(there are actually 3 posada in timor, baucau, maubisse, ramelau) is actually closed(not updated in google maps), so there are 2 options. One is Ovalido Garden which offered $40 per room, no meals included, and I remember for the Sherpa about $20~30. I stayed in a place called metchy Homestay which cost me about $20 for room and both meals, and Sherpa for $25. However rooms are limited, and frankly speaking it's a local house, so no much to expect.

Wonderful Mountain, combined with lack of accessibility makes the adventure more charming. No regrets, however not confident to...

Mount Ramelau, the highest mountain in East Timor, sits about 70 km south of the capital, Dili. During East Timor's period as a Portuguese colony, it was referred to as the highest mountain of Portugal. This geological prominence not only offers breathtaking panoramic views but also holds historical significance. The juxtaposition of its natural beauty against its colonial nomenclature adds a layer of cultural and historical intrigue. Mount Ramelau, also known as Tatamailau, stands as a symbol of East Timor's geographical grandeur and the echoes of its colonial past, making it a destination that intertwines nature, history, and...