Health risks include malaria, dengue and japanese encephalitis. It is strongly recommended that you visit a travel health clinic for the necessary vacinnations and health advice at least a month before departure and that you take a comprehensive travel insurance which covers emergency medical evacuation. Visit the following information for more guidance:
Drink bottled water only. Avoid ice and wipe off any water from the tops of beverage cans before drinking. Pay attention to non-cooked food, especially when eating at street vendors; salads should also be avoided if washed with tap water. Fruit should be peeled. Be wary of non-cooked food; antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are easily bought in Dili, but are hard to find elsewhere.
Avoid contact with animals as they are generally not vaccinated and can transmit diseases. Seek immediate attention if you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal. Malaria is a problem in some districts of Timor Leste so make sure you use insect repellent, especially at dawn and dusk and sleep with a mosquito net.
Although criminal rates are very low in Dili and almost non-existent elsewhere, it is wise not to carry jewellery or other valuables and to take a copy of your documents (e.g. your passport should be kept in a safe place). Theft most frequently occurs from cars, with mobile phones a prime target.
The driving in East Timor is generally passive and traffic is far from dense; however, vehicles and roads are generally in poor condition, and are made more hazardous by wandering livestock.
The US Dollar is Timor-Leste’s official paper note currency. However, Timor-Leste does have her own national coins in denominations of Five, Ten Twenty-Five and Fifty Centavos (cents). ATMs are now relatively accessible around Dili, located at the ANZ bank, Tiger Fuel Station, the three major Supermarkets (Leader, Landmark and Lita), and a few other locations around town. These all accept Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus credit cards. EFTPOS facilities are available in major hotels and some of the more expensive restaurants, but travellers should carry enough cash for all activities planned that day. The country has three banks (the Australian ANZ, the Portuguese CGD-BNU and the Indonesian Mandiri) as well as Western Union offices. There are 3 banks in Dili; all of them have ATM services available for Visa, Maestro & Cirrus.
Be aware of limitations to exports of artefacts and other souvenirs made of organic and local products. The acquisition and export of corals, birds and turtle shelves are punished by law. Remember that Timor-Leste is a new country with little experience with tourism and foreigners. Respect their traditions and ways and be patient. Everybody will do their best to welcome you.
The handshake is the most common form of greeting in East Timor. Men shake hands when meeting a woman from a foreign culture but rarely when greeting a Timorese woman. Timor-Leste is a conservative, religious country and Timorese traditions of dress are modest. Garments above the knee (for both men and woman) are rarely acceptable in a professional or traditional social occasion. A relaxed dress code applies with short-sleeved shirt/pants appropriate for most business meetings. More formal attire is suggested if visiting senior East Timorese business and political leaders, however, men don’t need to wear coats/jackets and ties. Women should cover their shoulders and wear a one-piece in preference to a bikini, particularly outside of Dili. Pre-arranged appointments are highly recommended as contacts frequently move around East Timor and to and from Australia, often at short notice. It’s a good idea to confirm meetings a day before the scheduled time and be prepared to reschedule at the last minute. It is polite to wait until your host invites you to sit down, or to eat and drink.
Timor-Leste is a very new tourist destination, and visitors need to be mindful that their behaviour can have a significant impact in this fragile environment.
Formal protection for areas and species is relatively new, low profile and under-resourced, therefore you need to consciously keep environmental impact as a priority as you travel through the country. Unlike developed national parks elsewhere in the world, there will be no park rangers or signboards to remind you to protect the environment.
Please consider the following advices when you travel through Timor-Leste:
