Location: 25 km North of Dili Map
Atauro Island is an island located 25 km North of Dili in East Timor. Atauro Island is a small piece of land in the middle of the Pacific covers an area of 105 km². It is 25 km long at its longest point. The remoteness of the island makes it a perfect getaway for eco tourism. Civilization had little influence on the development of the island. It was used by the Portuguese and Indonesian governments as an island for prisoners or anyone who was unwanted. This low density population allowed to keep the pristine ecosystem of the jungles and coral reefs that encircle Atauro. Snorkeling trips and boat rentals usually start from around $15 a person.
The name of the island from the local language can
be translated as "goat"; the Indonesian name of the island is Pulau
Kambing (kambing means "goat" in Indonesian). The island was so
named, probably because of the large number of goats that were kept
there.
Geography
Atauro is critically short of fresh water. The sources and
reservoirs available on the island are not able to fully solve this
problem. In 2004, Portugal funded a project to improve water quality
and its distribution infrastructure. The island has two distinct
seasons: wet and dry. The vegetation is represented by eucalyptus
forests; on the open hillsides, often exposed limestone rocks.
Tropical rainforests are characteristic of valleys. A ferryboat runs
from the capital Dili to the island, and it takes about two hours.