Amazing small island, a coralline island, in the East of Timor-Leste. Next to Tutuala, and at 242 Km from Dili city. It can take you close to 8 hours to reach it by car. We visited the area a couple of times when living there from 2008 to 2012. The whole experience was super and a must to do. I missed not being in Jaco for a few more times. However the roads were too difficult and it take quite a preparation to go there. We never went alone, always in "convoys": several 4x4, at least a minimum of three, and always prepared to put everybody of one truck into the other 2, left the 4x4 there and come back later to pick up. Luckily it never happened but Timor-Leste roads were the type that you have to think any contingency and have double spares for the most potential things to happen, and back up plans also: I loved preparing and making those trips. As you can imagine, you do not prepare them every week-end!
Anything that follows is up to 2010, last time we went there. So if you plan to go, for your logistics, please get updated and new advise!
My recommendation? If you are in Dili and have at least 4 days off, plan the trip and go to Tutuala and visit Jaco! Amazing place! Pictures just make a pale honor to this amazing area, beach and island.
You cannot stay in Jaco, so you have to stay in the Pousada or Bed and Breakfast in the mainland or do camping there. Mainland here is the main island! Other option is to stay someplace in Tutuala village, however we never tried it.
Also the road from Tutuala village to the beach is wonderful but only doable by 4x4 and very careful, and make sure that you do it during the dry season. The road serpents down the hill and sometimes is very steep. Maybe you will be able to get to the sea level, but the way up, including for 4x4 will be difficult, near to impossible.
In the beach there is also a fishermen village, and they will ferry you to Jaco island, of course for a small fee: support the flourishing ecotourism of Timor-Leste! The cross takes just few minutes, maybe it is 500 meters shore to shore. The channel between Jaco island and the mainland, kind of an interior lagoon of a coral reef is host to a vibrant marine life. If there is some place in Timor-Leste that you could spot sharks from the surface, snorkeling and diving, is it just there. Also turtles, and the rest of the typical fauna of a healthy coral reef. Dive or snorkeling? My buddies went a couple of times diving, and it is not for beginners: the currents in the channel are very strong and you have to plan your dives at the peaks of the tides, so less water is flowing. Outside these small windows, the current is strong and you risk being washed away in the middle of the sea further away from any cell tower, radio, maritime routes: lucky you if some fishermen spot you and pick you from the sea...
Snorkeling and keeping yourself in the fringe reef and close to the shore is as peaceful and relaxing as swimming in a pool, however the views are stunning. And yes, I spotted not only turtles but also sharks! You need to swim almost to the line were looking down the bottom is difficult to spot or just blue water (remember the currents and check often you are not being washed into the open sea). There you can do your dives to 3/4 or 6 meters (or more if you can do it), and if you are lucky you could spot a white tip reef shark exploring the not so deep reef bottom (at least for them).
The sandy beaches, the crystal clear water, the dawns every morning, the nature around you it is just amazing. If you are lucky you can have a clear night skies and in place where there is no light contamination at all, have a wonderful view. Full star view, the Milky Way, satellites and the occasional planes (not many). In the horizon few times you can spot a light: fishermen? some freighter line? My few experiences there nights are...
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