As I traveled around Timor Leste, going from city to city, beach to beach, I realized one thing was missing from my trip: the mountains. With my trip almost coming to an end, I decided to hop on another bus adventure, riding the open-roof truck up the mountains and into the beautiful and quiet mountain region of Timor Leste.
Maubisse is a cool and quiet town not too far from Dili. With its cooler weather, surrounded by mountains, and friendly people, it makes for a great destination among local travelers seeking a place to cool down from the heat of Dili, relax, and enjoy quiet time in nature. If you are looking for a hidden gem in Timor-Leste, this is the place to be.
The best thing to do in Maubisse is to do nothing and just be with nature, surrounded by friendly locals. So, here is a guide on how not to do anything in Maubisse.
Things to Do Map
8 Best Things to Do in Maubisse
1. Visit the Pousada de Maubisse
- 📍 Location: Pousada de Maubisse [Map Link]
- 💰 Entry Fees: $45 - $75 USD
The Pousada de Maubisse, another building constructed by the Portuguese during colonial times, is currently undergoing transformation into a guesthouse. Regardless of whether you intend to stay, a visit to the guesthouse is essential due to its location atop Maubisse's highest hill. From there, you can enjoy a splendid view of the town and the surrounding mountains.
I would recommend your coming in the morning to watch the sunrise if the weather permits. It is one of the best sunrises you can experience in the country.
The location of this place is so perfect that you will be able to get a 360-degree view of the surroundings, seeing all kinds of things you wouldn't see from the ground.
- Icons of Dili: A Private Walking Tour (3 hours)
- Cultural Connection: A Couple’s Walking Tour of Dili (3 hours)
You can also choose to stay here if you have $45 - $75 USD per night to spare.
2. Walk around the Maubisse Market in the Morning
- 📍 Location: Traditional Market Maubisse [Map Link]
This is where you will meet the friendly people of Maubisse, who will smile at you, talk a bit with you, and sometimes take a photo with you. It is also a place to buy anything cheap, from coffee sachets to instant noodles, if you are trying to save some money.
The market is best experienced in the morning when hundreds of people descend from their nearby villages to come together and trade. You won't be able to see anything more authentic than this. This is the real mountain life of Timor Leste.
3. Eat cheaply at Sara Restaurant
There aren't a lot of restaurants in Maubisse, but thankfully when you arrive, the truck should drop you off here at Sara Restaurant, and here you can get a nice Bakso or Nasi Goreng for around 2.5 USD.
4. Or Eat at Amizade Restaurant with a View
Another nice restaurant, which is located a little further up north, is the Amizade restaurant. It is situated on the side of a cliff, providing a stunning view of the mountain range surrounding it. They also serve local food. So, if you are looking for a place to eat and relax for a while, this is the perfect place to be. You can get here either by Microlet heading north or walk along the road for 45 minutes.
5. Appreciate the effort of the Green School's plantation
- 📍 Location: Green School [Map Link]
The Green School is surrounded by coffee farms and local vegetation that they educate the local community to grow themselves. The place is built on the side of a mountain, and their terrace garden, filled with flowers and strawberries, makes quite a sight to behold.
Getting here is a little tricky as the roads are not mapped on Google Maps yet, but if you follow the trail I made in the map below, you should be able to get there with no problem. From the market, simply head southwest, up to a ramp and stick to the left at the first intersection, then walk into the forest until you see a sign that says "Eskola Verde", which means "Green School."
If you have trouble finding the place, you can ask any locals around there, and they will lead you to it. It's only a 3-minute walk from the Maubisse market.
6. Do Nothing inside your Green School Bungalow
- 📍 Location: Green School Bungalow [Map Link]
If you are staying at the Green School, you are already at one of the best places in town, and you will have access to a private balcony overlooking the Green School vegetation and the mountains behind it. Spend some time doing nothing here. Just enjoy a good book, listen to relaxing music, and unwind while watching the sunset behind the mountain range. You will appreciate this quiet time you give to yourself.
7. Visit the Hakmatek Waterfall
If you want to do something more than just being in Maubisse, you can take a microlet heading south around 2-3 km from the Maubisse market and get off at the Hakmatek waterfall. There is also accommodation nearby that you can use as a base before hiking the Ramelau peak instead of staying at Hato Builico.
8. Get Yourself to Hato Builico and Hike the Ramelau Peak
Photo by Kate Dixon
If you have more time and your own 4WD vehicle, I would recommend driving up to Hato Builico and staying overnight at the village. Then, start going for the Ramelau Peak summit at 2 AM for the sunrise. You will need to be quite fit to tackle the peak in the early hours as it will be dark and very steep.
However, I heard that on a clear day, you can see all the high peaks of Timor Leste and the Indonesian part of Timor. Some even claim they were able to see Darwin, Australia from the peak. I didn't do it myself as I ran out of time, but if you have the time and love hiking, the Ramelau Peak is a must.
How to Get Here?
It is not easy to find information on how to get to Maubisse with public transport, so here is how I got there.
I took a taxi from my hostel in Dili and asked him to drop me off at the Taibessi bus stop, which is located at a roundabout in the southern part of Dili for 3 USD. The location of the bus stop is shown below:
Stand at the roundabout until you see an open roof truck with people sitting at the back passing by. Flag it down and ask the driver if he is dropping off people at "Maubisse." If he nods, then hop on the truck and wait until the truck is full. Then, you are off to Maubisse. The trip should take you no more than 4 hours and will only cost you 3 USD.
I highly recommend traveling on an overcast day or, if you do not have a choice, putting on some sunscreen since these trucks have no roof, and you will be under the sun for 3 hours straight. Thankfully, the weather becomes much cooler on the way into the mountain region, making the trip quite enjoyable. Plus, the scenery along the way is just stunning.
The other option is to rent a motorbike or car from Dili, which may cost you from $35 USD to $145 USD per day, excluding insurance and gas.
If you are interested, I would recommend asking Rentlo, one of the few rental companies in Dili that actually reply to your email.
Rentlo Contact Info:
Phone: +670 7741 6982 – 7741 6983
Email: info@rentlocarhire.com
Website: www.rentlocarhire.com
To find a cheap flight to Dili, Timor Leste, you can browse Skyscanner or Expedia to find the cheapest deal for your trip.
Timor Leste Travel Video
Where to Stay?
Mid-Range Hotel - Green School - $35/Night (Double room)
Green School is a place where they educate the local community on how to grow plants in this area, and they do offer a restaurant and 2 bungalows in traditional mountain huts that come equipped with western furniture and facilities inside. It is run by the same people as the Pousada de Maubisse, a more high-end guesthouse on top of a nearby hill, so you can go there and ask for information as well.
This place was so quiet and peaceful that staying here itself was a tourist attraction. You are surrounded by plants that were grown by the locals, and your bungalow comes with a balcony on a cliffside overlooking the mountain range – a perfect place to read books and enjoy the sunset. I highly recommend you stay here.
It is not easy to book anything in this town as the internet is still scarce, but before you arrive, head over to Leublora Green Village Facebook page and write to Bella, one of the team members listed on that page, and book a room through her. She is the manager at the Pousada de Maubisse, and she should be able to organize everything for you.
Top Range Hotel - Pousada de Maubisse - $45-$75 per night (Double room).
If you are looking for a top-range experience, you can't go wrong with the colonial-style guesthouse, Pousada de Maubisse. The room is a new, clean, spacious place and extremely well-located. You will get a 360-degree view of the mountain range from the guest house. It is fully booked on weekends, though, so be sure to text Bella and ask her to book one for you.
When to Go?
The weather is comfortably cooler in Maubisse than in Dili, even in the dry season, so June - September is a great time to visit the town. Please bring a jacket and long trousers, even in the summer, because it can get chilly at night, with the temperature dropping down to 16 degrees Celsius.
How to Get Around?
Everything is mostly within walking distance, so it should not be too difficult to get around Maubisse.
If you are planning to go to Hakmatek waterfall and to Hato Builico to attempt the highest peak of Timor Leste, the Ramelau peak, you will need a 4WD to get there as the road is horrible. A friend of mine tried going up with a regular car, and he gave up immediately.
Daily Budget
This location leans a little towards the expensive side, where I find myself spending approximately $40 - $60 USD per day per person. Despite this, it remains fairly affordable.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Timor Leste?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Maubisse, Timor Leste without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Maubisse, Timor Leste:
No internet access anywhere here, so I would recommend getting a SIM card from Telkomsel either at the airport in Dili or Dili's city center before your trip. You can learn more about the available price plans here: Timor-Leste Prepaid SIM card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
2 Comments
Hi Pete! Really like your blog, especially on the "real adventure" in Baucau. ;)
I live in Dili, planning to go to Maubisse for first time for christmas. Do you remember how the roads were from Dili to Maubisse? i.e. do I need a 4WD to get there? Everyone I ask here gives different answers haha locals (or long-time expats) have very different standards....
The road from Dili to Maubisse was actually much better than to Baucau. it was mostly paved and the higher altitude cooled down the weather making the trip on one of their open air pick up truck a little more bearable haha. You do not need a 4wd to get to Maubisse.
From what I remember, there were around 10 - 15% unpaved road (just straight forward gravel road) and you should be able to drive there without a 4wd car. :)