Vila to Cave of Our Lady Mary

Start: Vila town sign
Finish: Vila town sign
Distance: 1.4 km/0.9 mi
Walking Time: 1-1.5 hours
Difficulty: Medium – short but steep
Highlights: The Cave of Our Lady Mary is a man-made religious structure erected by the Protestant and Catholic believers of the island. It is well-worth taking the 30-minute trek up from Vila to see. This is an excellent hike to do at sunrise, with a spectacular view over the Ataúro coastline illuminated by the rising sun.
Trail Description: You will start by taking a right when you come to the end of the road in Vila, after passing Manukoko Rek and Boneca (be sure to stop in on your way back!). Take another left when the road ends again, then right once more--the road will begin sloping upwards towards the hill on your left, and you will follow the road for 30 minutes or more until you reach your destination. Road is steep and it is uphill all the way. Enjoy views north across Vila to the Indonesian Islands, west up towards Manukoko, and east towards the mainland. Then retrace your steps back to Vila.
Equipment: Good walking shoes; walking pole recommended as road is steep (mind loose stones coming down).
Guide: Recommended but not required. You will learn and see more with guide; recommended to not walk alone in case of accidents. Most of the path does not have cell service.
Variants: N/A
Map Link:

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