Jaco Island
One of the top destinations in East Timor has got to be Jaco Island just off the east end of Timor.
It is about an 8 hour drive from Dili. A trail bike or 4×4 would be the best transport out there.
A regular car could make it up to Tutuala but you would have to leave it in town and walk the rest of the way because the trail kind of falls apart the closer you get. It is even a challenge for 4×4’s.
Local transport could be taken to Tutuala but there are few vehicles going that way and the trip would only be for people with a lot of patience and endurance. Then you would have to walk the last 8 km or so to the beach.
There are no facilities there but some fishermen hang out there selling fish and coconuts and they don’t mind having visitors.
Some people bring tents and others sleep in their vehicles.
Another option is to sleep in the undercuts that are in the rock walls along the beach. The fishermen have some bamboo benches that they will let you use, but it is a good idea to help them out a little and buy some fish and coconuts or whatever to help out their economy a bit.
There doesn’t seem to be any mosquitoes down there so you can sleep in peace but watch out for when the rains come!
These guys will transport you across to the island and back for 5 dollars. Jaco has no permanent settlement but some fishermen hang out there from time to time. If you decide to stay there be sure to bring drinking water or coconuts.
Big schools of dolphins pass through the channel and it is loaded with fish. This is the only place where I’ve seen snorkelrs spear tunas. Before the rains come the water is clear and the vis almost unlimited.
I have yet to dive the channel but judging by the variety of fish these guys bring in the marine life must be astounding.
The beach on Jaco is superb. There are clean wide stretches of white sand and plenty of shade trees further inland.
It is good in a way that it is not that easy to get to or it could be ruined fairly quickly because Jaco is just not that big and probably couldn’t take heavy tourist pressure.
If you make it to East Timor be sure to try to squeeze in a trip to Jaco!
Mega Tours in Dili East Timor does expeditions to the island if you don’t have the desire to go there on your own.
Jaco Island - East Timor
Maybe you can give some solution how to promove the local economic in the valu beach about marketing of the fish.
Thanks for your opinion
Hello Egidio,
It would be really nice to see an eco friendly park set up in Jaco.
The island itself has cultural and ancestral significance so it would probably have to be preserved in it’s present state. The locals do not even want anyone camping on the island overnight, but they use it as a base for spear fishing during the day.
As far as commercial exploitation - there is a very established Chinese, Taiwanese, or Thai fishing operation based out of Com. They are top operators and have virtually no oversight over what they take.
They also fish with lobster traps which is not legal, but as you probably know, the law really doesn’t mean anything in East Timor.
My view, challenged by “experts” in East Timor - is that the government gave away the resources (fish and lobsters) for a pittance. As usual the people of East Timor get no benefit but a few officials drive new Toyota 4×4″s.
Most of these “experts” have not ever spent one day on the water, much less fishing.
These operators were very cagey when I stopped in to have a look at their gear. They use the Com harbor to rework their gear and store their lobster pots. There is no shore based activity. The fish are processed at sea and shipped directly to Asian destinations.
These vessels do use some local deckhands, but there is very little benefit to the Timorese, aside from the money government officials get for selling the birthright of the Timorese people.
This is my view only - but I hope that someone brings this situation up for review by Ramos Horta - the only one in East Timor that doesn’t seem to have his hand in the cookie jar.
dp
*observations about fishing gear based on my years of fishing crab, halibut and salmon in Alaska
Island of Jaco and its surroundings (it) is true have [in] opening as national park by government of leste timor because with various life which still experience of and culture which still strength . Previous [of] jaco represent labor place place and look for fish even can spend the night until 2 - 5 day by society of tutuala but after that regulation there [is] all that [do] not be enabled and have to [in] looking after.
Many entrepreneur of and china of thaiwan which will buy marine product but by then there is no permit of ministry of commerce and fishery so that they may not ship beroperasi.
Lack of valid regulation represent especial constraint to government to limit and opportunity to to foreign entrepreneur to operate [in] east timor. Expenditure of state sometime just for functioner and less the existence of attention [at] people economics [in] rural like searching marketing to result of farmer of small society [in] area which [is] have potency. Factor cause of maybe less the existence of ability of government and possible have to with existence of trainings of courses outside to be able to compare and also study experience which more than other state.
Thanks Egidio.
Properly managed fisheries are a sustainable recource.
It takes cooperation by the government and the fishermen and the buyers to keep everything in balance.
cheers
dp
MALUK TIMOR OAN SIRA HOTU …….
KETA HALUHA BA COLEGA TIMOR OAN SIRA ATU VOTE ( JACO ISLAND ) TIMOR LESTE
TAMA NOMINASI IHA NEW 7 SEVEN WONDERS
PARA HODI MUNDO KONYESE TIMOR LESTE LIU TAN
ATU VOTE BA JACO ISLAND TAMA DIT
http://www.new7wonder.com
OBRIGADO KETA HALUHA !!!
regards
ZELAGIO RANGEL