Maubisse

Maubisse sits at around 1,400 metres in the central highlands of Timor-Leste, high enough that the mornings are cold and mist fills the valleys below, and the drive up from Dili climbs through hairpins with the coast falling away behind. The town is a market centre for the surrounding coffee-growing villages, and the slopes around it are terraced with arabica that ripens in the cool air. On a hill above the town stands a former Portuguese administrator's residence, the Pousada de Maubisse, now a simple guesthouse with one of the best views in the country, out over the ridges to the higher peaks. The Sunday market draws people in traditional dress from the mountain villages, and the whole area is a window into highland Timorese life away from the capital.

What you actually see

• The Pousada hilltop - the former Portuguese residence and its panoramic view.
• Coffee terraces - the arabica slopes around the town, harvested from around May.
• The Sunday market - highland villagers and produce, many in traditional dress.
• The mountain drive - the hairpin road up from Dili through the ridges.

When to go

May to November is the dry season and the most reliable for the road and the views. Mornings are genuinely cold at this altitude, which surprises people arriving from the coast. The coffee harvest runs through the middle of the year.

Honest expectations

The road from Dili is winding, slow and rough in places, and can be difficult after rain; a sturdy vehicle helps. Accommodation is basic, and the Pousada is simple rather than luxurious despite the view. Facilities and food options are limited, and it is genuinely cold at night with little heating, so warm layers matter.

Nearby

Mount Ramelau, the country's highest peak, is reached from Hatobuilico further south; Dili is three hours north.