Updated 2019: New, updated information on the schedule change of Dragon Star Speed Boats.
Atauro Island is, by far, one of my favorite places to go in Timor-Leste. Located north off the coast of Dili, the island is one of the most beautiful places to go snorkeling and diving in the country. With only a few ways to get to the island, Atauro is still able to maintain its remoteness, allowing the marine life and the local communities to flourish. Atauro Island is not to be missed!
Due to the lack of information, I had the hardest time finding a way to get there from Dili without breaking the bank. After doing some research, this is what I found. Here are all the ways to get to Atauro Island.
Note: Most transportation options will take you to Beloi beach, where the main town is located.
1. Dragon Star Fast Boats (Recommended)
1. Thursday - Monday Saturday - Sunday | 18 USD/one way
Dragon Star Fast Boat is by far one of the most reliable, affordable, and frequently operating boats from Dili Port to Beloi Beach, Atauro Island. The trip takes one hour and 15 minutes and departs at 8:00 AM from Dili Port (location is shown below). The return journey from Beloi Beach to Dili is at 3:30 PM.
Tickets can be bought for 18 USD at their office on the opposite side of Dili port, near Gloria Jean's Cafe and next to Rolls N Bowls restaurant. You might be able to get a local ticket if you buy it at the gate on the day of your departure, but I would recommend getting one the day before via their office for reassurance. The location of the office is shown below:
I personally took this one when I was traveling there on Friday and took one back on Monday (Updated 2019: This no longer applies as they now only run on the weekends).
2. Nakroma Ferry
1. Saturday Only | 4 USD/one way
If you have time to spare, another great option for cheap transport is getting the local Nakroma ferry that departs once a week on a Saturday. The ferry leaves at 8:30 AM, and it will take around 2.5 - 3 hours to get to Beloi beach. It comes back on the same day at 3:00 PM. The ticket can be bought directly at the port for $4 per person one way.
Note: I was at the port on a Saturday, and they said that the ferry will not be running this week as it is still docked in Indonesia. So, don't count on it being available. Ask the people at the port the day before to make sure that the ferry is available.
3. Laju Laju Ferry
1. Thursday Only | 3 USD/one way
This is the cheapest way to travel to Atauro Island, but it is as unreliable as the Nakroma Ferry option mentioned above and pretty much the same in all other aspects. The ferry departs from Dili seaport at 8 AM and returns from Beloi beach at 3 PM. It costs 3 USD per person and takes around 3 hours one way.
4. Compass Charters Water Taxi
1. On Demand | 45 USD/one way
This is the what most chartered water taxi boat looks like. Don't let the size fool you, they are fast!
Updated 2019: I have heard a report that Compass Charters Water Taxi is no longer operational.
This used to be the only way you could travel to Atauro outside of Saturdays, but with the availability of the Dragon Star speed boat, this option is no longer the only way, unless you want to charter your own boat and travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The boat leaves at the Dili waterfront, located just to the east of the Palácio do Governo building, at 7:30 AM daily and returns from Atauro at 9:30 AM on weekdays and at 3:00 PM on weekends. The ticket will cost you 45 USD per person one way.
Contact Info:
Email: compasstimorleste@gmail.com
Phone: +670 7723 0965 (office), +670 7723 0964 (Rob, the boss)
Website: Compass Diving
5. Local Boats
1. On Demand | Depends on the negotiated price
Don't worry, the local fisherman boat is a little bigger than this. 😀
If you are a little adventurous, you can go around the Dili waterfront and ask a local fisherman to take you there on their small fishing boat. You will have to negotiate the price yourself and make sure that the weather is good and the tide is not too strong. You don't want to be stuck on a small boat during a storm.
6. MV Atauro boat
1. On Demand | 35 - 45 USD/one way
MV Atauro boat, or as it is known, Kevin's boat, is owned by Kevin, who runs a whale-watching company on the island. He also frequently does the Dili - Atauro trip for 35 - 45 USD per person, one way. To obtain the schedule and the latest price, I recommend contacting him directly.
Contact Info: Phone: +670 7733 6612 (Kevin)
7. Beloi Beach Hotel Boat
1. On Demand | 45 USD/one way
Another on-demand charter option is available to travel from Dili to Atauro Island. If you are staying at the Beloi Beach Hotel (which is not on the beach as the name suggests), you can get a package deal that includes roundtrip transportation, 2 nights at the hotel including all 3 meals for $240 per person. The boat leaves from Dili at 8 AM within the Marine Police Compound (UPM) at the Dili foreshore, next to the Largo Lecidere. For more information, please contact them directly or visit their website shown below.
Contact Info:
Email: BeloiBeachHotel@outlook.com
Phone: +670 7558 3421, +670 7729 2222
Website: Beloi Beach Hotel's website
8. MAF Airplane
1. By Availanle Schedule | ~600 USD/one way
Last but not least, you can fly with the NGO plane from Dili International Airport for around 600 USD per flight. You may be subject to rescheduling depending on the emergency situation they have to deal with at the moment. For more information, please contact them directly using the information I have gathered below:
Contact Info:
Email: MAF-TimorLeste@maf.org
Phone: +670 7732 7771 (English)
Website: MAF Airline
How I did it?
The local kids really do love seeing tourists walking around their island and enjoying the beauty of their home.
Updated 2019: Dragon Star no longer runs on Thursdays and Mondays, only on weekends. With these schedule changes, I would recommend either visiting Atauro Island on the weekend and staying only one night on the island, or you can take the Laju Laju ferry on Thursday and return to Dili with the Dragon Star Speed Boat on Sunday.
My initial plan was to combine a trip with the Nakroma ferry (3 USD) on a Saturday and to come back with the Dragon Star speed boat (18 USD) on Monday to minimize the cost. However, unfortunately, the Nakorma ferry was not available on the Saturday I was there. So, I decided to take the Dragon Star speedboat both ways.
There was a slight delay in the morning when I left, but all in all, it was more reliable, comfortable, and safer than I thought. The boat also left on time from Atauro to Dili on Monday, and it cost me $36 for a round trip instead of $90 if I went the chartered water taxi route, which I thought was the only way to do it.
If luck is on your side and you are in Dili from Thursday to Monday, I would recommend that you take a ferry to the island and then return with the Dragon Star speedboat to minimize costs and maximize your time on the island.
The beautiful untouched coral reefs and crystal clear water are waiting for you at the Beloi beach on the Atauro island!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Timor Leste
I hope you found this travel guide useful. If you are looking for more articles about Timor Leste, here are a selection of articles to help you plan your trip:
- Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Timor Leste? 10-Day Itinerary to Timor Leste.
- What do you know about Timor Leste? Not much, I assume. If you are interested in the history of Timor Leste, here is a brief history of Timor Leste.
- Dili is the capital city where you will probably begin your journey into one of the least traveled countries in Asia. To help you get acquainted with Timor Leste, check out our one day travel guide on things to do in Dili.
- Once you get to Atauro island, be sure to check out our travel guide on things to do on Atauro Island.
- Looking to go off the beaten path in Timor Leste? Baucau is a great place to break your trip towards Jaco Island. Here's a quick guide on things to do in Baucau.
- Done with the beaches in Timor Leste? Why not explore the untouched mountain region of Timor Leste? Here’s a complete travel guide on things to do, where to stay, and how to get to Maubisse.
- Timor Leste is not the easiest country to travel in. I struggled to stay calm as I made my way to Baucau on a public bus in mid-summer. Here’s my story on real adventure and whether it was worth it.
- For all articles about Timor Leste, visit the Timor Leste Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for Southeast Asia? You can find more on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
6 Comments
great work! we will be going there in july :)
Wich hotel or accomodation would you recommend on atauro / on timor leste, for small/mid-size budget ?
Cheers
david
Hey David,
That's great! If you can afford it and book them in advanced, Barry's Place is the best place to be on the island. If it is full, the Atauro Dive Resort is also a great option. Both are right by the beach, full of colorful coral reefs for you to snorkel around. :)
I hope this helps!
Updated info: Dragon Star now only runs at weekends and Compass no longer do water taxi transfers, so options for getting there are very limited now. (I've just been to both of their offices.)
Hey Simon,
Oh that's a shame with the Dragon Star schedule! :( I wonder what changed. It was almost full when I took it last year. Anyhow, I'll update the post accordingly. Thank you for the latest report!
I enjoy reading your blog.
please visit Ermera also next time.
Hi Devia,
Thank you for the suggestion. I'll certainly check it out next time I'm around Timor Leste. :)