White sand
Turquoise water.
JosepMGracia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · JosepMGracia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Josep M. Gracia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Josep M. Gracia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · JosepMGracia — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Natália Carrascalão Antunes — CC BY-SA 3.0
Jaco is a small uninhabited island off the eastern tip of Timor, covered in dense forest and ringed by limestone cliffs, coral reefs, soft white sand and clear turquoise water. Many call it one of the loveliest places in the country. The island is part of Nino Konis Santana National Park, Timor-Leste's first national park, and is separated from the mainland by a 600 m channel in front of Valu Beach. Local people regard it as sacred, as tradition says the men's sea meets the women's sea there. For that reason no one stays overnight, and entering it and fishing around it were once forbidden. You cross the channel in a small fishing boat from Valu Beach, then walk the white sand and snorkel over the coral reefs. You see dark coral rock on the shore with forest behind. The park shelters rare birds, including the yellow-crested cockatoo. The island is about 37 km in a straight line east of Lospalos and 195 km from Dili, on a long road. Visits are by day only, with no overnight stays. Respect the place, bring your own water and food and leave no rubbish.
Turquoise water.
Snorkelling.
A small fishing boat.
Off Valu Beach, Tutuala, Lautém Municipality, far east of Timor
No, day visits only.
By boat from Valu Beach.