Cristo Rei of Dili

Cristo Rei stands on a globe at the tip of Cape Fatucama, arms open above the sea east of Dili, reached by a stairway of around five hundred steps that climbs past the stations of the cross. From the top the view opens both ways - Areia Branca beach on one side, the quieter Jesus Backside Beach on the other, with Dili spread west and mountains rising behind. It is the capital's fixed exercise route, busy at dawn and dusk with people climbing for fitness as much as devotion, and the sunrise from the top is the standard first morning in Timor-Leste.

What you'll find

• The stairway climb - five hundred steps past the stations of the cross.
• The summit view - two bays, the city and the mountains behind.
• Jesus Backside Beach - the quiet sand on the far side of the headland.
• Areia Branca - the swimming beach at the foot of the climb.

When to go

The dry season from May to November is the comfortable window. Dawn and late afternoon are the climbing hours - midday on the exposed steps is punishing. The wet season brings heavy afternoon rain and slippery steps.

What to expect

Five hundred steps in tropical heat is a real climb; carry water and go early. There is no shade for most of it. The beaches below are pleasant but water quality near Dili varies. Dili has limited public transport, so a taxi or microlet is needed to reach the base. Facilities at the top are nonexistent.

Nearby

Dili's waterfront, the Resistance Museum and Atauro island by ferry.

Key facts