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Cristo Rei Beach

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Coordinates: 8°31′23″S 125°36′33″E / 8.523121°S 125.60926°E / -8.523121; 125.60926
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  • Cristo Rei Beach
View of the beach from Cape Fatucama
Map showing the location of Cristo Rei Beach Praia de Cristo Rei (Portuguese) Tasi-ibun Cristo Rei (Tetum)
Map showing the location of Cristo Rei Beach Praia de Cristo Rei (Portuguese) Tasi-ibun Cristo Rei (Tetum)
LocationAvenida de Areia Branca, Metiaut [de], Cristo Rei, East Timor
Nearest cityDili
Coordinates8°31′23″S 125°36′33″E / 8.523121°S 125.60926°E / -8.523121; 125.60926
Length0.87 km (0.54 mi)
Named forChrist the King

Cristo Rei Beach (Portuguese: Praia de Cristo Rei, Tetum: Tasi-ibun Cristo Rei) is a public beach facing the Bay of Dili in the suco of Metiaut [de], East Timor.

Etymology

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The beach takes its name from the colossal Cristo Rei of Dili statue immediately to its north.[1]

Geography

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The beach with Cristo Rei of Dili in the background at right
The beach with Cristo Rei of Dili in the background at right

Cristo Rei Beach is composed of clean white sand[2][3] and is about 0.87 km (0.54 mi) long.[4] It is located at the north eastern end of the Bay of Dili, about 7 km (4.3 mi) from the centre of Dili, capital city of East Timor.[5][6][7]

On its land side, the beach is surrounded by steep low hills overlaid with Eucalyptus alba savanna woodland, in which small stands of tropical dry forest are developing. The beach and hills are all part of the Areia Branca no Dolok Oan Important Bird Area.[8]

Due to the beach's sheltered position inside the bay, it has only gentle waves. Immediately to the north of the beach are Cape Fatucama and the Cristo Rei of Dili statue at its peak; the statue is visible from the shoreline, and accessible from the beach's car park via a 570-step concrete staircase.[6][7][1]

On the other, eastern, side of Cape Fatucama, and accessible via the same staircase, is Jesus Backside Beach, so named because the Cristo Rei of Dili statue faces in the opposite, western, direction.[1]

At weekends, Cristo Rei Beach is popular with local residents because of its gentle waves and sandy bottom, and food vendors congregate there to hawk packed lunches. On weekdays, the beach is mostly deserted. [1]

Facilities

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The beach is separated from its access road, Avenida de Areia Branca, by a stone wall, with entrances surmounted by sculptures of monkeys.[1] On the other side of the Avenida are a car park and shelters that have been described as perfect for a picnic lunch.[6]

In the early years of the 21st century, particular efforts were made to develop the area into a leisure and tourist destination.[9] During the term of East Timor's IV Constitutional Government (2007–2012), various other facilities were constructed at the beach, including gazebos, bathrooms, and water tanks.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Lakad Pilipinas: EAST TIMOR | The Beaches of Dili". Lakad Pilipinas. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  2. ^ Yunus, Ahmad (24 March 2008). "Di Balik Cristo Rei Timor Leste" [Behind Cristo Rei Timor Leste]. Aceh Feature (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  3. ^ "A Day at the Cristo Rei Beachside". www.hollandamerica.com. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Praia Cristo Rei Beach - 2022 Guide (with Photos) | Best beaches to visit in Avenida de Areia Branca". Beach Nearby.
  5. ^ "Cristo Rei in Timor-Leste". The Elevated Moments. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Gregory, David. "Hike to Cristo Rei of Dili". www.theoutbound.com. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Lakad Pilipinas: EAST TIMOR | Climbing the Cristo Rei of Dili". Lakad Pilipinas. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
  8. ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Areia Branca no Dolok Oan". BirdLife International. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  9. ^ Allis, Thiago; Santos, Maria Helena Mattos Barbosa dos (2016). "Chapter 6: Tourism in East Timor: Post-Conflict Perspectives". In Pappas, Nikolaos; Bregoli, Ilenia (eds.). Global Dynamics in Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality. Advances in Hospitality, Tourism, and the Service Industry (AHTSI) Book Series. Hershey, PA, USA: Business Science Reference. ISBN 9781522502029.
  10. ^ “Goodbye Conflict, Welcome Development” AMP Government Snapshot (2007-2012) (PDF). Government of East Timor. 2012. p. 78. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
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Media related to Cristo Rei beach (Dili) at Wikimedia Commons

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