When to go & weather

Weather

East Timor has two seasons: wet (December to April) and dry (May to November). In the dry season the north coast sees little rain (although climate change is altering this); the cooler central mountains and south coast have an occasional shower. When the rains come, they cause floods and landslides, cutting off access to roads.

Day temperatures are around 30°C to 35°C (85°F to 95°F) year-round in the lowland areas, dropping to the low 20s overnight. In the mountain areas, warm-to-hot daytime temperatures drop to a chillier 15°C (60°F) at night, less at altitude. At the end of the dry season in parts of the north coast the mercury hovers over 35°C.

A good time to visit is after the wet season, from late April to July.