Warm pools
Stone-walled.
Sallybolton — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sallybolton — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sallybolton — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sallybolton — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Sallybolton — CC BY-SA 3.0
Marobo is a set of hot springs in a mountain valley in western Timor-Leste. Turquoise-blue pools are walled with old stone, a sharp peak rises over the valley, dry hills and trees surround it, and steam sometimes lifts off the water. Travel guides say the pools were built in the Portuguese era with a small resort around them, fell into neglect and have been rebuilt in recent years. Ruins of old buildings stand on the slopes above. A 2005 study measured about 47 °C at one of the main springs. The pools lie below the small village of Marobo. You go down into the valley and sit in the warm water between the stone walls, with the mountains all around. The springs are about 10 km in a straight line east of Maliana. You reach them by motorbike or four-wheel drive from Maliana or Balibo, and the last stretch is a steep rocky road. Bring modest clothes for bathing and drinking water, as there are few services in the valley.
Stone-walled.
Over the valley.
Over the water.
Near Marobo village, Bobonaro municipality, western Timor-Leste
By motorbike or 4WD from Maliana.
Modest swimwear.