10 Best Things to do in Baucau, Timor Leste
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A very cool thing about Timor Leste is that the more you go into the countryside, the more it grows on you. Those people who visit Dili for 2 days and then return to Bali or whatever are missing out. Big time!
Take for example Baucau – the second largest city in Timor Leste. It’s on the north coast, just 130 km from the capital Dili. I don’t think anything other than “charming” describes it well.
It’s not big, and it doesn’t have a lot going on but it’s pleasantly and delightfully compact. Baucau is your gateway to rural Timor Leste!
Let me show you the awesome little things you can do there and the best places to visit!
1. Drink Coffee in front of Pousada De Baucau
Located right in the middle of the Old Town of Baucau (Kota Tua), this pinkish-orange building was once where the Portuguese colonial administrators and other big shots stayed.
Today it’s a lavish hotel (as much as luxury goes in Baucau, of course) and the most recognizable building in town.
Rooms start at 75$ per night and it’s the only place in town with wifi.
If your budget doesn’t allow you to splurge on a Portuguese-Empire-inspired stay in the Pousada, then buy a Timorese coffee from the coffee shop in front (1-3$) and relax on the stairs.
Chances are some locals will also be there and you can strike up a conversation about the latest news in the country and make some friends.
2. Splash into Piscina de Baucau (Baucau Swimming Pool)
Located just 3 minutes on foot from the Pousada is the swimming pool.
I cannot confirm, but I have a strong feeling that this is the only swimming pool outside of Dili.
It costs only 1$ to enter and offers beautiful surroundings – palm trees, coconuts, and lush vegetation.
Do note that they only fill it up on the weekends.
3. Refresh in the Waiusuu Natural Springs
If you want a more Mowgli-style bathing experience, then head to the Waiusuu Springs, about 10 minutes walking from the Pousada.
The spring empties into a pool of crystal-clear water and kids usually play inside or around it. Makes for a great afternoon retreat from the heat.
4. Collect Corals at Uatabo Beach
Not live corals of course!
I’m talking about the millions of washed-up pieces of corals on the beach. They come in countless shapes and sizes and make for a nice small souvenir to take back home. No, it’s not illegal, but don’t go overboard.
You can get to Uatabo Beach by following the road down from Baucau. It’s 5.2 km from the Pousada. The road starts from this point.
A microlet runs between Uatabo Beach and Baucau every couple of hours. It costs 0.25$ and you can catch it from the roundabout in front of the Pousada. Hitchhiking is an option too.
Uatabo Beach is usually empty, although when I went there, two new hotels were being built. Perhaps in the near future, the tourism industry in the region will experience a boom.
5. Discover Portuguese Ruins
All along the road from Baucau to Uatabo Beach, you will see remnants of the Portuguese era in varying degrees of dilapidation.
Don’t miss the Portuguese Fort just 700 m down the road from Baucau, it’s marked on Maps.me.
6. Visit St. Anthony Cathedral
In the heart of the Old Town of Baucau is its Cathedral – Catedral de Santo Antonio de Baucau, or in English – St. Anthony Cathedral
Timor Leste is a Christian country with 96% of the population adhering to Catholicism. Given its small size, you might think it’s a single diocese, but it isn’t. There are 3 dioceses in East Timor – Maliana, Dili, and Baucau.
St. Anthony Cathedral is the headquarters of the Diocese of Baucau.
It follows the Portuguese style of religious architecture with two white and blue tiles on both sides of the entrance displaying St. Anthony on the right and the Virgin Mary on the left.
Next to the Cathedral is the Camara Eclesiástica Baucau – the offices of the priests and whatnot of the diocese.
7. Buy fruit and fish at the local market
Across from the Pousada, on the other side of the road is the local market in the Old Town of Baucau. Here you can mostly find fresh fruit and vegetables and fish. It’s a great place to people-watch.
Alternatively, every morning there’s an even bigger market near the bus station in the New Town (Kota Baru).
People from all smaller villages and hamlets around Baucau flock to do their daily shopping or sell their produce. The streets are dusty, but the spirit is alive.
8. Shop at the Old Market
When I visited in April 2023 this monumental building and a landmark for Baucau was being renovated both outside and inside. It has since been restored and now looks fresh with the new paint, although some may prefer the old mossy look!
Supposedly, it will operate as a bigger market for food, clothes, souvenirs, tais, and everything in between when it finally reopens for both locals and tourists alike.
9. Play sports with the local students at the school
One of my best moments in all of Timor Leste was at the school in Baucau. In the afternoons dozens of teenagers and young adults gather at the playing fields to socialize and compete in different sports: volleyball, basketball, and football.
Remember that in Timor Leste half of the population is under the age of 20. Kids are practically a majority in this country and you will feel their presence everywhere.
There are four playing fields for football, basketball, and volleyball and one of them is always reserved just for girls. Yes, that’s right, women in Timor Leste practice sports just as much as men!
You can join them for a game, but the level is high – they aren’t messing around!
You can find the school 50 meters up the road from the Pousada.
10. Search for traditional houses
The distance between the Old Town and the New Town in Baucau is around 3km. The New Town is situated on a cliff above, so it’s a bit of a struggle to go up.
There’s a frequent microlet #1 that goes up and down every 15 or so minutes and costs 0.25$.
If you decide to walk though, you may be rewarded with some bizarre sights – abandoned cars, monkeys in cages, pigs in mud, intriguing graffiti, and of course – traditional houses.
Look for roofs made of dried sticks. This is the style in this part of Timor Leste.
How to get to Baucau
Getting to Baucau used to be an arduous journey.
The road from Dili was horrible, but since 2022, brand new asphalt makes it a pleasant 2.5-hour drive from the capital.
There are multiple public buses per day from Dili’s Becora Bus Station that cost 5$.
Baucau is a perfect stop on your way to Lospalos, Viqueque, Com, or the fabled Jaco Island.
My full guide for traveling to Timor Leste will be a helpful resource if you plan to venture outside of Dili and spend more time in the country.
Where to Sleep in Baucau
Don’t try booking online – none of the properties are listed on Booking.com. Not even the fancy Pousada de Baucau.
For a budget stay, I can recommend the two places I stayed at.
First, I stayed 2 nights at Melita Guesthouse. It’s run by a lovely family who will help you with anything and everything. Breakfast is included in the price and it is filling and tasty. The rooms come with a fan (15$) or AC (25$).
There are warm showers and mandi-style showers in the bathrooms. The patio has an awesome view of the sea.
I also stayed 1 night in the newly refurbished Mar-Bel Guesthouse. The rooms are better there – very, very new.
The owner said that the prime minister stays in his guesthouse when he comes to visit Baucau, but I don’t believe him. Nevertheless, it’s a very good place to stay. Breakfast is included in the 15$ per night.
