vanuatu tour itinerary

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The best things to do in vanuatu: itinerary for your first visit.

• Post published: 13 June 2018
• Post category: Oceania/South Pacific / Vanuatu

There are 83 islands in the archipelago of Vanuatu. Unless you plan to spend months travelling in Vanuatu, you won’t be able to experience all the best things to do in Vanuatu in one trip.

The first step of making your Vanuatu itinerary will be to select a few islands to visit. This Vanuatu travel guide will make it easier for you to pick the best islands and the best places to visit in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu holidays can please anyone, from the adventurer to the resort lover.

The tourism offer is varied with outstanding natural landscapes. From pristine beaches to lush forests, transparent rivers and blue holes, Vanuatu is full of beautiful gems. It also provides fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities.

Last, but not least, a visit to Vanuatu is also a chance to experience with locals a fascinating culture. We felt very safe in Vanuatu at any time. It’s always a good idea to read your government information about the country before going (like the  Australian Government’s Smart Traveller website , for example).

For our first visit, we kept it simple and went to the most visited islands in Vanuatu:

• Efate (where the capital Port Vila is located)
• Espiritu Santo

If we had the budget and the time, we would have added Pentecost, Malekula, Epi or Ambrym to our Vanuatu itinerary. But as you plan your trip, you will realise Vanuatu is not a cheap destination. Many islands are quite easy to access by plane or by boat. However, the costs quickly add up, and the time quickly flies away with the transfers. We decided to keep the less-visited islands for another trip. It will indeed be easier to organise now that we had a first taste of the country.

I have listed below the best things to do in each of the Vanuatu islands we visited. 

I will write articles about each island later on the blog to provide more detailed information on what to do in Vanuatu. This list is an overview of the best activities and points of interest to start creating your Vanuatu itinerary.

Are you covered for adventurous activities by your  travel insurance ? I recommend double-checking to avoid bad surprises if an incident happens. Adventurous activities are often extra. Some travel insurance like  WorldNomads * and Covermore * make it easy to include adventurous activities.

The best things to do in Vanuatu: Efate Island

You are likely to visit Efate during your Vanuatu trip as it is the island of the capital Port Vila. Most flights arrive or leave from there.

We weren’t very impressed by Port Vila itself. But  a couple of days on Efate Island are a great way to start a trip to Vanuatu . It is a great transition to get introduced to the ni-Van culture without a strong culture shock.

Port Vila is a popular stop on cruises around the South Pacific from Australia. Hence, they are used to receiving foreign tourists, and it is easy to get around the island. Still, there are important things to know before visiting Efate or when you plan a day trip from Port Vila. These activities in Efate made it to my list of the best things to do in Vanuatu:

Port Vila markets

I love going to the local markets in Vanuatu. Wandering around Port Vila market was a great way to discover new fruits and veggies. People were lovely and even often offered us to try before buying when we didn’t know a product. I also ate the best bananas ever. They serve local dishes, such as lap-lap or tuluk if you are there at the right time and ask for it.

Not far from the primary market, the handicraft market is a great place to shop for local souvenirs. It guarantees that your purchase will benefit local communities. You can have a lovely experience with the stallholders who are happy to chat about their country, their culture, and their products.

Mele Cascades

The fee to enter Mele Cascades is excessive (2,000 VT per person!), and, regrettably, the profit does not seem to benefit the local communities. Still, the cascades and the waterfalls look fantastic. We chose Mele Cascades over Rarru Cascades (1,000 VT) as they looked more impressive.

Eton Blue Lagoon

If you don’t plan to visit the island of Espiritu Santo , you should make the trip to Eton Blue lagoon while you are on Efate. I recommend renting a car from Port Vila to go there. It will cost you almost the same as hiring a taxi or bus driver to go there and back from Port Vila (10,000 VT) and you will then be able to explore other parts of the island. If you are travelling by yourself, you may opt to join a tour *.

Hideaway Island

The marine reserve park is a short trip away from Port Vila. It is a great destination for snorkelling with good facilities nearby as it belongs to a resort. You will need to pay a fee of 1,250 VT per person to access the island.

Lelepa Island

Located in the north of Efate, Lelepa Island is a bit further away from Port Vila than Hideaway Island and a bit more expensive. It is locally owned and gives the opportunity to visit a local village while enjoying great snorkelling and even caves. We decided to skip it as the weather wasn’t good when we were in Efate.

Tanna Coffee Factory

The factory is a short drive away from Port Vila, on the way to Hideaway Island and Mele Cascades ( read more information here ). It is an interesting short visit to learn more about how they locally make coffee, try the local products and buy souvenirs. They also have an art gallery and essential oil products on site. The factory is a short drive away from Port Vila, on the way to Hideaway Island and Mele Cascades.

Aelan Chocolate Factory

Chocolate tastes better when it is produced by a non-profit organisation in a beautiful natural environment. The Aelan Chocolate Factory is located 15-minutes away from Port Vila in the Activ Association Centre. You will find there many local handicraft products and discover Vanuatu’s chocolate makers.

L’Houstalet Restaurant

Dinner at the L’Houstalet restaurant is not for the budget traveller but is a great opportunity to try some interesting local ingredients cooked with a French touch. The Chef Specialities – a flying fox, marinated in red wine or an imperial goliath pigeon with a creamy sauce – will cost you 2,700 VT.

Drive around the island

You can rent a car to drive around the island. This road trip will lead you to beautiful places and stunning views. We did not have time to do it this time, but we met fellow travellers who recommended doing it as an overnight trip.

Nguna Island

It is one of the few islands in the north of Efate that you can access via a short boat trip. We did not spend enough time in Efate to add it to our Vanuatu itinerary. With two extinct volcano craters to hike and great diving spots in a protected marine area, it is on my must-see list for the next time we go there. I believe a minimum of three days is needed to get there and enjoy the activities.

Responsible travel tip : If you choose to eat a bat – or flying fox – during your trip to Vanuatu, ask for the Pacific flying fox . This species is widespread in the Pacific. Unfortunately, most other species of flying foxes are endangered. Flying foxes are very important for the ecosystem as they pollinate many plants and disperse seeds.

If you have heard of Turtle Bay or Naiwe Beach or the Turtle Sanctuary or Crystal Blue Lagoon and want to go there, please reconsider your choice. If you like animals, you want to avoid this place.

When looking for the best things to do in Vanuatu, we were told at the tourist office there was a beach where we could snorkel with turtles. We love marine life, so we were excited. On arrival, we had to pay a “conservation fee” to enter a sanctuary. I don’t mind helping protect marine life, so it didn’t bother me until I entered the place. I felt sick when I   realised it was a prison and not at all a sanctuary . They keep sharks and turtles in tiny enclosures for tourists to touch, take photos and feed them food they would not find in the wild. A dark place that should not exist.

Most visitors seemed to have a great time, probably not realising how bad it is for the animals to be kept in such terrible conditions.

Responsible travel tip : This lousy experience at the fake turtle sanctuary near Port Vila was an excellent reminder of how important it is to research the activities we join to be responsible travellers . This is especially true when animals are involved as they may be treated poorly just to attract and please visitors. I wish tourism actors (P&O Cruise and tourism offices, if you read me…) would all participate in educating tourists about why these places are wrong. They would not exist if no one wanted to visit them.

Vanuatu itinerary tip | How long to stay on Efate?

We spent three days on Efate. If you can add a few more days on Efate in your Vanuatu itinerary, I recommend it. It will give you the opportunity to leave Port Vila behind you to explore the north of the island and even some of the other islands in this area.

Unfortunately, it rained most of the time when we were in Efate, so we decided not to visit some of the must-see places. We hope to go again with better luck weather-wise.

The best things to do in Vanuatu: Tanna Island

Many people spend a short time on Tanna just to see the volcano. Some even travel to Vanuatu just for it. But if you have time to stay longer, there are many other things to do on this beautiful Ni-van island:

Yasur volcano

A trip to the Yasur volcano can be made during an overnight stay on Tanna. However, spending a few days in the east of the island will give you more opportunities to experience the majestic volcano. We loved our walk along the river in the ash plain. You can even try ash-boarding on one side of the volcano. Read more about Tanna volcano here.

There are two blue holes on the east side of the island, only five minutes away from the airport. These blue holes are in the sea and make fantastic spots for snorkelling and scuba diving. Diving is expensive in Vanuatu, and we could not check out all the exciting sites. When the conditions are right, the Blue Cave sounds like a great experience too.

Kastom villages

The kastom culture is dominant on Tanna and spending time in traditional communities was fascinating. We learnt a lot about the culture, the way of life and the surrounding environment.

Port Resolution

The road to the volcano end a few kilometres further down, on the coast, at Port Resolution. The lovely village offers an ocean beach on one side, and a magnificent bay on the other side. There, you can watch local fishermen and small hot springs.

Black Magic Show

Although it is staged, the Black Magic Show on Tanna was described as a fun experience by fellow travellers. We could not attend it as prices for transfers from the east coast were out of our budget. If you travel to this area, you may want to push all the way to Louniel Beach with its beautiful black sand.

Sulphur Bay

Freshwater thermally heated by the volcano flows into the sea in Sulphur Bay. Because of transfer costs and time, we did not manage to check it out.

Have you heard of the John Frum Movement or the Cargo Cult? Check this out . If you are in the east of Tanna on a Friday night, you can go to Lamakara village to listen to songs and local music.

Vanuatu itinerary tip | How long to stay on Tanna?

Tanna is worth visiting even for just one day. But I recommend planning a more extended stay. If you go there for only a short visit, you will need to allow a big budget for transfers. We spent five days there (two in the west and three in the east). And we would have needed about two or three extra days to do everything we wanted – especially as we walked a lot to avoid the expensive transport costs.

We stayed at Rocky Ridge Bungalows *, Tanna Tree Top Lodge * and Island of Fire Bungalows *.

The best things to do in Vanuatu: Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo is an excellent mix of a ni-Van city and more traditional villages. It is a popular destination with direct international flights from Australia. Whether you are looking for a thrilling adventure or a relaxing holiday, you will find things to do on Vanuatu’s biggest island.

SS Coolidge wreck

Some people travel to Vanuatu just to scuba dive this famous wreck from WWII. If you can include a night dive in your program, it is worth it. Read more on the SS Coolidge dive here .

Million Dollar Point

Beautiful corals and many fish now live on the rest of what the Americans dumped in the ocean after WWII.

Millenium Cave

Although they improved a lot the trek to make it accessible to most tourists, it remains a challenging day hike. The adventure took us to cross a fantastic cave and swim along a stunning canyon. It is another expensive activity in Vanuatu (7,500 VT per person). But the profit made from the tour is used to provide education to more than 125 children. If you have time, you can spend the night in the village for an authentic experience (3,500 VT per person). Read more on all the things to know about Millenium cave hike here .

Champagne Beach

Access to Champagne Beach is expensive (2,000 VT per vehicle), but it indeed is one of the most beautiful beaches in the South Pacific. And there’s a trick to avoid paying the entrance fee !

There are at least four freshwater blue holes in Espiritu Santo. We visited Riri, Matevulu, and Nanda blue holes (budget around 500 VT per person for each blue hole). They all looked different and had their own charms.

Vanuatu’s second-biggest village is in one of the most beautiful locations you can dream of.

Vanuatu itinerary tip | How long to stay on Espiritu Santo?

As much as you can! I could live there without being bored. We spent nine days on Espiritu Santo and it was great. You could fit all we did in a week. But it felt good not to rush and embrace the “island time” spirit.

Find out more about our accommodation in Santo here . We stayed at Aore Eco-Retreat * on Aore Island,  Serenity Beach Bungalows * in Port Olry, and Towoc Beach Bungalows * at Champagne Beach but visited many other places.

Other top things to do in Vanuatu

Try the local food.

Food is a big part of a culture. So when travelling, I find it essential to try the local dishes. Most meals you will be served at the restaurant are made with local ingredients. But it does not mean they are local meals. Unfortunately, very few restaurants serve local meals. They believe visitors don’t like them. We managed to try local dishes at the markets and by asking our hosts if they could prepare it. We found most of them delicious, so I highly recommend the experience!

Trying these foods is one of the best things to do in Vanuatu:

• Tuluk : Our favourite ni-van dish – and it is even better when it is hot! They wrap a mix of beef and onions in a manioc roll. It reminds of a kind of meat pie. We found tuluks by asking around in the market or stopping on the side of the road.
• Lap-lap: A visit to Vanuatu is not complete without trying their national dish. The name of the dish comes from the lap-lap leaves that are used for cooking. Although they all look quite similar, there are many different kinds of lap-laps. I was not fond of the banana lap-lap and also found the manioc lap-lap quite average. But the yam lap-lap served with coconut milk was delicious.
• Simboro: Like lap-lap, simboros can be very different from one to another. They all look like a nem with local roots or bananas wrapped inside cabbage leaves. The manioc simboro we found on the market was delicious. But the banana simboro that our host cooked for us in Port Olry was the best one ever.
• Fruits : Fresh fruits in Vanuatu are delicious and sweet. We had the opportunity to try many fruits for the first time. And the bananas and grapefruits were so much better than anywhere else in the world!
• Coconuts : Make sure you try the three different stages of coconut during your trip. It was my favourite snack. The fresh coconut is close to jelly, whereas the dry one is hard like a biscuit and the germinated one like a cake. If you get a chance to try the fried coconut and the coconut jam, don’t miss it!
• Fish : You may have heard of the ciguatera – a food intoxication due to harmful algae that fish eat. Do not let this stop you from eating fish in Vanuatu. Only reef fish are at risk of making you sick. I loved trying their favourite local deep-sea fish: the poulet fish and the wahoo.
• Coconut crabs : These crabs live in the forest and eat coconuts. It sometimes made them taste a bit like coconut. We tried it before during our trip to New Caledonia , and it is delicious!
• Flying fox : We heard about it a lot in New Caledonia, but they do not serve it to tourists there. Locals always say it is the best meat. So we were thrilled to find it in a restaurant in Efate!

Talk to locals

When you travel to a country like Vanuatu, it feels important to take time to learn about people’s way of life and culture. Their stories are fascinating, and their knowledge of surrounding nature is breathtaking. Try to visit at least once a garden. A bit outside the village, the garden provides all the necessary food, including many fruits and vegetables you may not know.

Ni-vans are great people to exchange with. We were touched by their kindness and felt welcome everywhere we went. We mainly chose Vanuatu as a holiday destination for its beautiful natural resources. It was a pleasant surprise to be able to take the time to connect easily with the locals. Despite a low GDP, short life expectancy and recurrent natural disasters, Vanuatu people are among the happiest in the world. They always rank high on the Happy People Index , and you can also feel it when you spend time with the locals during your holidays. I hope to stay in touch with a few of the locals we spent time with and see how their projects evolve.

You may have heard of kava in other Pacific Islands like Fiji. But Vanuatu is the home of kava.  It is the place with the most potent kava in the world and the highest number of species.

Kava is an integral part of the Ni-van culture. It is a drink made from roots used during rituals that have now become part of everyday life. Local men often gather at the end of the day to enjoy its relaxing effects. Although sharing kava with a local is among the best things to do in Vanuatu, you may not get this opportunity and simply choose to stop at a kava bar. Kava is mostly a drink for men in the Ni-van culture as someone (women!) must take care of the kids. But foreign women were welcome to drink kava at the kava bars on the islands we visited (Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo).

If you have been there, what do you think are the best things to do in Vanuatu? Share your experience in the comments below!

The best time to visit vanuatu.

I recommend avoiding the Australian school holidays when planning your Vanuatu itinerary. Unless you are a solo traveller hoping to meet fellow tourists, you will have a better experience during the off-peak season. It removes December and January from the best time to visit Vanuatu. I heard February is a very slow month and some resorts even close. Plus, the cyclone risk is higher from January to April. And if you are not used to the tropical climate, you may struggle with the heat and humidity during the summer months.

It appears the best time to visit Vanuatu is from May to November.

The tropical climate does not mean you should absolutely avoid the wet season (November to March) as showers are generally brief. We travelled during the wet season to the neighbouring country New Caledonia and had perfect weather. And we ended up having rain almost every day in June in Vanuatu… You never know!

Temperatures average at 23°C during winter, and you can swim all year round. In June, the ocean was still around 26-28°C. Tanna is 500 kilometres south of Espiritu Santo, and we felt a significant difference in the temperatures at night. Make sure you pack a jumper!

Map of our Vanuatu itinerary

The places in green indicate the must-see places we visited in our Vanuatu itinerary. The blue icons are the best places of interest in Vanuatu we didn’t have time to check out. This is for Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo only.

Vanuatu is located in the South Pacific, very close to New Caledonia and not far away from Australia’s East Coast  and the north of New Zealand . There are direct flights from Australia’s major city to Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu on Efate Island. There are also direct flights from Brisbane to Espiritu Santo island.

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This Post Has 4 Comments

Hi Eloise! Lovely post. I am planning a trip to Vanuatu in feb but unfortunately for very less days. 4 to be precise. Do you think I can pull off the below itinerary – just put together few places I do want to visit: 1. Day 1 – reach Port Vila and see the local markets/drink/eat 2. Day 2 – rent a car and go around the island – go to Mele Cascade, Hideaway island, blue lagoon, Coffee & Choc Factory etc 3. Day 3 – Either go to tanna or do one of the island cruises 4. Day 4 – Come back from tanna. 5. Fly back to Sydney What do you think? I am happy to hear your feedback/suggestions!

Hi Sonam, Thanks for your nice words. Day 2 looks like a big day as you may need half a day just for the Blue Lagoon itself. You may have to choose between Mele Cascade and Hideaway Island that day. According to the time when you’ll be back from Tanna, you might be able to move it to day 4. If you have the budget, I highly recommend a trip to Tanna even for a short stay; it’s a very unique experience. A lot more unique than what you’ll get on Efate in my opinion. Enjoy your trip! 🙂

We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teenagers). We wanted to go to Tanna but its closed due to covid for now. We’re going over early October to Efate for a week. Would you recommend we stay on this island the whole time or we can go to the other island Espirito Santo which will be open too? And best things to do with teens? Thanks. Found your information really useful thanks.

Hi Christine, It’s so exciting that you’re going to Vanuatu! I preferred Espiritu Santo to Efate when we visited. There’s a lot to do in Santo for visitors (incl. teenagers) who like outdoor activities: swimming and jumping in blue holes , kayaking, snorkelling and even a bit of hiking/canyoning to Millenium Cave … We stayed in Port Olry and it looked stunning. Enjoy your trip to Vanuatu 🙂

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Ultimate Vanuatu itinerary: How to Spend 12 Days in Vanuatu

Table of Contents

Are you searching for how to spend 12 days in Vanuatu ? What to do in Vanuatu? Where to stay in Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo? I am here to help! I used this Vanuatu itinerary when celebrating my birthday and backpacking Vanuatu in April , during the time, known as the land diving ritual . By spending almost two weeks on the South Pacific Island I saw all the must-do things of the Happiest Place in the World . Find out how in my Vanuatu itinerary below.

BEST PLACES TO STAY in VANUATU: • South Pacific Memories (cute bungalows close to Port Vila) • Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila  (beachfront resort with a private beach on Efate) • White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa (on West coast of Tanna) • Castle Tree House (basic accommodation with a view to Mt. Yasur) • Deco Stop Lodge (I steyed here with a beautiful view over Luganville) • The Espiritu (great stay on Espiritu Santo) TOP EXPERIENCES in and around VANUATU: • Efate island tour (nice intro to Vanuatu) • Hideaway Island (send a postcard from underwater post office) • Nagol Land diving on Pentecost (AMAZING!) • Mt. Yasur hike (A MUST DO!) • Yakel tribe and Mt. Yasur combo tour (it’s like stepping back in time) • Millenium Cave tour (amazing experience!) • Blue Cave and Champagne Beach (one of the best beaches in the world!) Page Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

In a bit more than 1 week in Vanuatu , you will see all the major sites . From Efate to Tanna, to Pentecost and Espiritu Santo. You will hike an active volcano , dance in th e Yakel Kastom tribe, and admire the land diving ritual . This blog will help you plan your entire Vanuatu trip . You will find a perfect blend of culture and nature, sleep in tree houses, try tons of delicious food, swim in Champagne beach and blue holes, hike Mount Yasur, dive among the shipwrecks, and see where bungee jumping comes from. Inside this Vanuatu travel guide , I included a detailed travel plan, with places to sleep, recommendations on where to eat, and things to do, to make your trip memorable. I also suggest itinerary modification and a map .  Now, let’s start planning your Vanuatu itinerary , to make your trip memorable and cross off some bucket list items.

for ITINERARY idea: • Vanuatu itinerary: How to Spend 12 Days in Vanuatu for Vanuatu TRAVEL TIPS: • Vanuatu Cost of Travel and Detailed Budget Breakdown • Ultimate traveler safety guide: What to do during an earthquake • Epic Nagol Land Diving Pentecost Island Tour: Vanuatu Bungee Jumping for ACCOMMODATION suggestions: • for CAPTION IDEAS: • 101+ Beautiful Vanuatu Captions For Instagram

for HALF DAY in … ITINERARY ideas: • Grand Canyon in half day: How to spend half day at Grand Canyon South Rim for 1 DAY or 24h in … ITINERARY ideas: • 1 Day in Amman Itinerary: How To Spend 24h in Amman • How to get from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car – One day road trip itinerary for multiple days ITINERARY ideas: • Dubai itinerary: How to spend 5 days in Dubai • Barbados itinerary: How to spend 7 days in Barbados • Seychelles itinerary: How to spend 10 days in Seychelles • Vanuatu itinerary: How to Spend 12 Days in Vanuatu • Zanzibar itinerary: How to spend 12 days in Zanzibar • Japan itinerary: How to spend 17 days in Japan

Vanuatu travel itinerary

KEY TAKEAWAYS

● Plan to spend at least a week in Vanuatu, but if time permits, reserve 10 days in Vanuatu to have enough time to include different islands in your Vanuatu itinerary. ● Visit and feel the difference between islands Efate – more developed, touristic, and ‘Western’, Tanna – adventurous and cultural, Espiritu Santo – laid back, beach and tropical vibes. ● Include must-do things; such as visiting the market in Port Vila, Mount Yasur volcano hike and kastom village visit on Tanna, swimming in Blue Holes, and snorkeling on Million Dollar Point on Santo. ● Indulge in delicious food, a mixture of local produce and French cuisine. ● If traveling to Vanuatu between April and June, don’t miss the opportunity to go on a Nagol or Land diving tour on Pentecost Island and witness the centuries-old tradition that inspired modern bungee jumping.

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Vanuatu itinerary overview

This is the original itinerary for Vanuatu that I was supposed to follow when I celebrated my birthday in Vanuatu. Due to some tour rescheduling and flight cancellations, my actual itinerary was modified accordingly. It could be roughly divided into three main parts ; Efate itinerary , Tanna itinerary , and Espiritu Santo itinerary as you will be visiting all three main islands of Vanuatu. You will spend the first 4 days on the main island Efate and go on a day tour to Pentecost Island . Then fly to Tanna Island for 3 days and spend the last 5 days on Espiritu Santo. The itinerary below will highlight the best things to do on each of them.

How many days do you need in Vanuatu? For your first visit to Vanuatu , I would recommend doing a similar route as described in my Vanuatu blog below. You will see all the major Vanuatu bucket list items . You will get enough time to learn about Vanuatu’s history, experience its culture, swim on different beaches, climb a volcano, and enjoy delicious food. Trust me, there’s so much to see that you should learn some interesting facts about Vanuatu before your trip. Since this is a semi-relaxed itinerary for Vanuatu you can do the suggested itinerary even if you are only spending 10 days in Vanuatu . But for more adventurous souls, you could add some more islands, like Ambrym , to your Vanuatu trip. So let’s waste no more time and let’s get you ready for an epic trip to Vanuatu !

SHORT VANUATU ITINERARY OVERVIEW: Day 1: Efate Island – Arrival in Vanuatu and transfer to Port Vila Day 2:  Efate Island – Port Villa, Mele Cascades, and underwater Post office Day 3: Efate Island – Day tour to Pentecost Island Day 4: Efate Island – Tour around Efate island Day 5: Tanna Island – Fly to Tanna and transfer to Yasur volcano Day 6: Tanna Island Kastom village Day 7: Tanna Island Mount Yasur volcano tour Day 8: Espiritu Santo Island – Fly to Espiritu Santo and transfer to Luganville Day 9: Espiritu Santo Island – Luganville and Millenium cave Day 10: Espiritu Santo Island – Million dollar point and Blue holes Day 11: Espiritu Santo Island – Port Orly and Champagne Beach Day 12: Espiritu Santo Island – Espiritu Santo and departure

Detailed 12 days in Vanuatu itinerary

Day 1: efate itinerary – arrival in vanuatu and transfer to port vila.

If you fly to Vanuatu , you will likely land at the Bauerfield International Airport on Efate Island. The airport is close to the capital Port Vila and easily accessible by public transport. After clearing any formalities, take a moment to exchange some currency to Vanuatu Vatu or withdraw cash from the ATMs available . Just a small amount to have it ready for the bus or taxi. You can exchange the rest of it in a bank in Port Vila .

PRO TIP If you plan to visit the outer islands and areas outside the main city, always carry some local currency on hand. They might not have ATMs or won’t accept Credit Cards.

My flight from Brisbane , Australia, to Port Vila, Vanuatu, should have arrived in the afternoon but was delayed several times. Luckily I booked a private driver to pick me up before I landed. To be safe and stress-free which turned out to be an amazing decision. Later on, I found out that one of the Vanuatu leaders passed away and was transported back to the country on the same plane I was on. So there were no taxi drivers, busses or other transport options at the airport. Because of the repatriation ceremony, the usual 15-20 minute ride from the airport to Port Vila , took me more than an hour. Technically this should not even count as a day in Vanuatu itinerary. But if your plane arrives early, you will have more time to explore Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila.

Where to stay in Port Vila, Efate Island: The place where I stayed (Raynold’s Board and Lodge), close to Vanuatu National Museum, stopped renting rooms. Instead, look at some other accommodation options in Port Vila . • South Pacific Memories has cute bungalows, breakfast, free bikes and private parking. • In Breakas Beach Resort you can swim in their infinity pool or on a private beach, indulge in great food, and stay only 5 min drive away from Port Vila; • By booking Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila you will sleep in a beachfront resort with a private beach and outdoor swimming pool.

WANT MORE OPTIONS? Visit this page to see all available Port Vila accommodations to book online.

DAY 2: Efate Itinerary – Port Villa, Mele Cascades, and underwater Post office

Start your first official day in Vanuatu exploring the capital Port Vila and its surroundings. I started my morning nowhere else than at the Port Vila Central Market . This is the largest market in Vanuatu, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, snacks, and traditional handicrafts. The market is open every day . All day during weekdays and in the morning on Sundays. If your accommodation is not serving breakfast, this is a great place to fill up your stomach . I do not exaggerate telling you that I saw papayas bigger than my hand and had the most delicious avocados for breakfast. I love markets because they are a perfect place to engage with friendly locals, sample fresh tropical fruits, and get a boost of dopamine from scents, smells, and sounds.

After the market catch a transport from Port Vila to Mele Cascades (or don’t). The cost of the ride is acceptable 300 VUV ($4 AU | 2,3€ | $2,5 US), for a 10 km ride. But the entrance fee to the evergreen Cascades Waterfall is a tourist rip-off . I’m more than happy to support local communities but 2000 VUV ($25 AU | 15€ | $16 US) is a bit too much. I was really excited to see the 35-meter Evergreen Cascades Waterfall . I mean, I came all the way to see it. But locals at my guesthouse were saying the price was too high, and not worth it. And I heard the same from tourists coming out from the Mele Cascades.  So, I had the full intent to go inside, was there, but didn’t visit the site. It just didn’t feel right. I also didn’t have water shoes, and the place was crowded. Since there were people on organized tours to the Mele Cascades . I’m not regretting it since we have plenty of waterfalls in Slovenia.

After your Mele Cascades adventure, head to Hideaway Island , one of the top things to do in Vanuatu. Close to the shore of the island, you will find the only underwater post office in the world . The entrance fee is 1500 VUV ($18 AU | 11,5€ | $12.5 US) and you can send a postcard from it for 400 VUV ($5 AU | 3€ | $3,5 US). Since I didn’t visit the Mele Cascades, I returned to Port Vila just in time to visit the Vanuatu National Museum. There is a 1000 VUV ($13 AU | 8€ | $8,5 US) entrance fee for an educational visit where you learn all about traditional Vanuatu sand drawings and instruments. After your sightseeing day, have dinner in one of the resorts on the beachfront, or go to Iririki Island . I had a homecooked dinner at the guesthouse , where the lady prepared a traditional Vanuatu dinner with pork, yam, and taro. It was delicious.

ALSO READ: • Vanuatu Cost of Travel and Detailed Budget Breakdown

DAY 3: Efate Itinerary – Day tour to Pentecost Island

If you want to experience something adventurous, historical, jaw-dropping, and traditional, go on Nagol Land diving tour . I can GUARANTEE you, you will not regret it! Seeing Nagol (Nahgol, N’gol, Nangol, Nanggol) or land diving ritual was one of my travel bucket list activities and the main reason why I came to Vanuatu. My day tour to Pentecost was supposed to be later in my Vanuatu itinerary. But the weather did its thing. At first tour was canceled and later I got a spot to do it a few days earlier. 

DON’T FORGET Pentecost Island day tours run from Port Vila . If this is also on your travel bucket list, be flexible with the rest of your Vanuatu itinerary. They run on Wednesdays and Saturdays (check beforehand) so plan accordingly.

I went to Pentecost with Air Taxi Vanuatu . The tour lasts for 8 hours and it starts with a pick-up from your Port Vila hotel. From Port Vila airport, you fly in a small aircraft 200 km north to Pentecost Island. They run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from April to June . On Pentecost, the transfer is waiting to take you to one of the villages on the south of the island. There you are free to walk in the village. The highlight of the tour is seeing young men jumping off the wooden tower with only lianas attached to their ankles, as part of the Naghol or Land diving ritual . Before you return to Port Vila on a scenic flight, you are served lunch in a village. The tour is not the cheapest, 53,000 VUV ($640 AU | 390€ | $420 US) but it is worth every Dollar, Euro, or Vanuatu vatu . An unforgettable lifetime experience and one of the things in Vanuatu, I would do again in a heartbeat. When back in Port Vila, if you still have the energy to explore, go to Iririki Island . There are nice beaches to swim or just relax under the palm trees. I was having dinner with other tourists from the Pentecost Island tour. You can read my Nagol Land diving tour review here or have a look what it was like .

DAY 4: Efate Itinerary – Tour around Efate island

Explore the main island of Vanuatu, Efate. If you are traveling to Vanuatu with a group or as a couple, you might consider renting a car . I didn’t want to spend another day in Port Vila or rent a car on my own, so I joined an Island tour with BBQ lunch . We visited the Blue Lagoon and Eden on the River , the cultural village , and the Turtle sanctuary . There were 4 people on the tour so it didn’t feel too crowded for my taste. The guide was speaking English and French. Tour starts in Port Vila and from there you visit a cultural village , where you learn about the history, life, and customs of Ni-Van people . I was most shocked hearing stories about cannibalism, how they use spider webbing for fishing, hunting, knowing which fish are poisonous and more.

Then we went to the Blue Lagoon where we had time to swim in crystal clear water. The day of the tour was a no-cruise ship day, so it was a bit quieter. After we went to Eden on the River. Our final stop before going back was a small turtle sanctuary . Some people got to feed them and swim with them but I saw turtles in other places so was not participating in this activity. Island tour is a good half-day tour to break up your day, and perfect if you don’t want to spend the whole day on the beach. Blue Lagoon was the highlight for me.

The tour was fine but I wasn’t that impressed, I would rate it 3.8 out of 5. Probably because I was still under a strong impression from the land diving tour the day before, which was a dream come true and one of my best days in Vanuatu.

DAY 5: Tanna Itinerary – Fly to Tanna and transfer to Yasur volcano

Today you are going to visit another island in the Vanuatu archipelago . Visiting Tanna and its main attraction Mount Yasur volcano was a second bucket list item on my Vanuatu itinerary. The first one was Naghol land diving , the second one was the Yasur volcano tour and the third one was celebrating my birthday on Champagne beach. Plan to spend here at least 2-3 days on Tanna . Mount Yasur is one of the world’s most accessible active volcanos on the World. If the volcano is too active, or if the weather is bad the tour might get canceled. This happened to me but I was able to do a Volcano hike on my last day on Tanna Island.

DOMESTIC DEPARTURE TAX If you are flying between the islands, there is a 200 VUV departure tax that must be paid in cash at the airport before boarding your domestic flight.

Also, make sure you have enough cash with you since ATMs are very limited. Plus if you are staying in some of the bungalows overlooking Mt. Yasur, cash is the way to go and there might not have electricity or accept card payments. Bring snacks, water and warm clothes . Direct flight from Port Vila to Tanna with Air Vanuatu only takes 40 minutes and offers amazing views. I’ve had a mid-day flight to Tanna Island White Grass Airport. I took a bus from Port Vila VT 150 VUV ($1,8 AU | 1,2€ | $1,3 US) to the airport.

Now, the next part of your Tanna itinerary will depend on where you will stay on the island. Basically, Tanna is a small island and accommodation options are limited. If possible, book yours in advance ! I haven’t and was struggling to book one last minute. You will find resorts on the West side of the island, closer to the airport, and bungalows and tree houses on the East side of the island, around the Mount Yasur area. I was staying in the Mount Yasur area. If you are staying in nicer and more modern accommodations on the West side , you can spend your afternoon snorkeling or visiting one of the blue holes. Great accommodation in that area is White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa offering complimentary Airport Transfers. As mentioned earlier, I stayed in an accommodation with Mt. Yasur view . First, because it was easier to get on a tour, and second because I always wanted to stay in a treehouse and have a front-row view of the volcano. Service is basic , with limited WiFi and electricity. But the experience is genuine and one of a kind.

I have had my transport from the airport to the accommodation arranged with my hotel. I paid VT 4000 VUV ($48 AU | 31€ | $34 US) from White Grass Airport on Tanna Island to my Mt. Yasur view accommodation. The drive took us around two hours . It was raining heavily and the ‘roads’ were non-existent. It was only me in the car and the driver/accommodation owner stopped at the store so I could buy snacks and water . Trust me, you will need both of those things so stack up! The drive was first through the forest and a bit uphill, but then we started to descend. Along the way, we stopped many times to see the ash plains of Mount Yasur and Tanna coastline. Seeing the black ash-filled landscape, the grounds shaking every now and then was surreal. It felt like landing on Mars.

The closer we were driving to the volcano, the scarier it looked. In some parts, we were able to see the smoke coming out of the ground . The smell of rotten eggs was getting stronger. I was really impatient and too excited to go up. But the volcano was too active that day, and the weather was not nice, so all the tours were canceled . Hopefully tomorrow! After I arrived at the Castle Tree House And Bungalow I got my very own tree house , with a view of the volcano. It was basic but super nice . The view was worth it. I also ordered some dinner and that was it for the night. The night was cold, windy and it rained. I didn’t sleep very well, since I was admiring red lava at every volcano eruption . Magnificent to watch! And frightening. At every eruption, there was a ground shake that was felt even more high up on the tree. Where to stay in Tanna: • White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa on the West Coast of Tanna is close to the airport and offers complimentary airport transfers. They have a private beach, free Wifi, a pool, a spa, and dining options. • Castle Tree House And Bungalow is where I stayed on the East Coast. It is surrounded by lush vegetation and has a homey, traditional feel with a free breakfast. They can help with organizing tours.

WANT MORE OPTIONS? Visit this page to see all available Tanna accommodations to book online.

DAY 6: Tanna Itinerary – Kastom village

Full day for activities on Tanna Island . Choose between hot springs, going to the beach, ash boarding, visiting a kastom village, volcano tour … It was pouring down with rain, so I was stuck at my accommodation. I was not the happiest since I was planning to do all sorts of activities. But, there was nothing I could do. You can’t fight Mother Nature. The owner of the bungalows said that the tours to the volcano will (again) not operate today. Bad weather and high volcano activity level. Fingers crossed, I might do it tomorrow. Luckily, it cleared up by midday so I could visit a kastom Latapo village close by for 1500 VUV ($18 AU | 12€ | $13 US). Bring cash!

Most people visit the Yakel Tribe’s village on the other side of the island. Yakel is also the tribe showcased in the Tanna movie , which I highly recommend watching. It displays kastom traditions on the island, there is (of course) a love story and Mount Yasur Volcano. You can say this is Vanuatu’s version of Romeo and Juliet. Visiting Melanesian Kastom village in Vanuatu will be like stepping back in time . You will be greeted by men, women, and kids wearing traditional clothes, lavalava skirts, nambas, and leaves. Then they will show you their custom and traditions. How to dance, use various leaves, how to make a lavalava skirt from hibiscus plants, how to make fire with sticks and dry wood. Have a look at the women chanting and dancing in the Kastom village.

You will also see them dancing and singing . Women and men individually and then together. A beautiful site, especially with the Mount Yasur volcano in the background. If you are lucky, they will invite you to come and dance with them. Later they will show you plants they use for food (taro, yam, sweet potato), herbal medicines on-site, and trees surrounding them, including a huge banyan tree. The Kastom village visit lasted for a couple of hours and it was well worth the visit . Back in my accommodation I ordered some dinner and went to bed hoping I will be lucky enough to do the Mount Yasur hike tomorrow.

DAY 7: Tanna Itinerary – Mount Yasur volcano hike

Another day reserved for different activities on Tanna . Visiting hot springs, going to the beach, ash boarding, visiting a kastom village, volcano tour, black magic tour … This was my last day on Tanna Island. It was drizzling but I was still happy when I found out that the volcano tours would operate today . Yes! After a lovely lunch, I took a scenic walk through the jungle to get to the entrance of Mount Yasur Volcano Safari . Going through the jungle on ‘local paths’ it would be 15-20 minutes. I took the safer approach and chose the road. It took me around 50 minutes (15 minutes drive). 

Hiking Mount Yasur volcano is a fantastic, frightening, and unforgettable experience . I was at the entrance just in time for the sunset Mount Yasur tour . The tour lasted from 2 to 3 hours and I paid 8000 VUV ($96 AU | 62€ | $68 US) entrance fee. I joined other people who came from the West side or Tanna or walked to the entrance.   Volcano tour starts with a special ceremony from a local tribe. Then it is followed by a 4WD drive to the top and a short hike to the volcano crater. On the way, you will pass by the Vanuatu volcano post office . Standing on the volcano’s edge, with LOUD eruptions, HORRIBLE smell, ash everywhere you look, and flying lava … I am not sure how safe this actually is. It is scary. It is exciting. It is raw. Filled with adrenaline. Adventure at its finest. Below is one of the eruptions . You can see the sound (ash) wave before the ‘bam’.

First, you SEE bright yellow-red light, then flying lava and the explosion, after you can actually see the sound wave and HEAR the buumm, then you FEEL ground shaking and warm air full of sand and ash around you. After you can SMELL the sulphur. Dopamine travel at its finest. Visiting the world’s most accessible active volcano is impossible to forget but it is far from being 100% safe . It is nature. It is wild and people have died here. I wrote another, more detailed, article about my Mount Yasur hike experience with tips you should follow . Before the tour, I arranged with my accommodation to pick me up after the end. It was pitch black and I didn’t want to get lost walking. I paid 1500 VUV ($18 AU | 11.5€ | $12.5 US) for the tide from the volcano to the accommodation. Was the Mount Yasur volcano tour worth it? Absolutely! No doubt about it! It is a scary but unforgettable experience ! An absolute must-do in Vanuatu.

DAY 8: Santo Itinerary – Fly to Espiritu Santo and transfer to Luganville

Leave Tanna and fly to Espirito Santo , or Santo, the biggest island in Vanuatu. This will be the last leg of your Vanuatu itinerary island hopping . Depending on the day, you might get a direct flight with Air Vanuatu from Tanna to Santo. If not, you will have to switch planes in Port Vila. I started my day bright and early. First, for the transfer from Mt. Yasur to Tanna Airport. I paid 2500 VUV ($30 AU | 20€ | $21,5 US). My direct flight to Santo was changed, so I had to fly to Efate first and then to Santo. All good, but that meant I had to pay departure tax twice . In Luganville, I got a taxi from the airport to my accommodation and had dinner in a local restaurant. Where to stay on Espiritu Santo Island: • I stayed at Deco Stop Lodge . At the time they had a dorm room, but since I was the only one there, it was like having a private room. They have a pool, and are a short 10-minute walk from Luganville. They also help you book tours and have bikes for rent available. • Two other great places to stay in Luganville are The Espiritu and Hotel Santo Vanuatu .

WANT MORE OPTIONS? Visit this page to see all available Santo accommodations to book online.

DAY 9: Santo Itinerary – Luganville and Millenium Cave adventure

Sign up for the Millennium cave tour . You will get wet but your day will be full of adventure and this might as well be the best thing to do in Santo. If you can, add it to your Vanuatu itinerary. Money from the tour, 7500 VUV ($90 AU | 57€ | $62 US), goes back to the local villages you will see on the tour. So by going on it, you will actually help the local community . I was hesitant to sign up for the tour at first. But contrary to what people were saying about the Mele Cascades, all the tourists and locals were raving about this one. So I decided to go. It is fun, exciting, and adventurous. You need to be in a good physical condition to do it as it is not a moderate hike. You will be walking on slippery surfaces, ascending, descending, walking in a cave, and more. Harder and more exciting than the Narrows in Zion. Wear shoes and clothes that can get wet (because they will). If you choose to bring a phone, wear a waterproof bag to protect it (or you will have no photos from it, like me).

DAY 10: Santo Itinerary – Million dollar point and Blue holes

Espiritu Santo is a mecca for divers , famous for diving the SS President Coolidge . If you are a diver, including Santo in your Vanuatu itinerary is a must. Spend your day checking some must-do things in Santo. Like diving or snorkeling on Million Dollar Point and visiting Blue holes in the afternoon if you have some time and energy left. I rented a bike for the day. My first stop was Million Dollar Point , which is a must-visit in Santo. The entrance fee is 500 VUV or $5 AU (3€ | $3.5 US) if you pay in Australian dollars. I don’t dive but I do snorkel. At Million Dollar Point, you can see where Americans dumped millions of dollars worth of equipment at the end of World War II. All the ‘equipment’ is right off the shore. You can see tanks, tops, and wheels … I didn’t feel comfortable looking at all of it, so I left rather quickly.

I spend the afternoon cycling exploring and swimming in the Blue Holes. Blue holes are inland natural freshwater springs . They are blue oases in the middle of the tropical jungle, that get their color from the minerals , depth of the blue hole, and water purity. I visited three blue holes in Santo : Riri blue hole , Matevulu blue hole , and Nanda blue hole or Jackie’s blue hole . There is a 500 VUV ($6 AU | 4€ | $4 US) entrance fee for Riri and Matevulu and a 1000 VUV ($12 AU | 6€ | $8 US) entrance fee for Nanda Blue Hole.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL TIP The colors of the holes are insanely pure and the water is super clean. Let’s keep it that way! At some blue holes, there are showers to wash yourself BEFORE entering the blue hole. Make sure, you don’t use sunscreen, or repellent before jumping in! And if you absolutely have to, try to use natural brands.

My cycling day ended at Nanda Blue hole. I was just too exhausted getting lost twice and biking all the way back to Luganville. I paid a local to drive me and a bike back to my accommodation.

DAY 11: Santo Itinerary – Port Olry and Champagne Beach

Today you are going to spend a day relaxing on the north of Santo Island . Spend a day on a beach in Port Olry Beach and visit one of the best beaches in the world, Champagne Beach . Champagne Beach got its name from the volcanic gasses coming through the sand , so it looks like the beach is bubbling. You can also feel the bubbles when walking on the sand. The scenery is just perfect for some stunning Vanuatu photos . As with many beaches on other South Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa), there is a fee to enter . Champagne Beach is privately owned and the fee is VT2000 VUV ($19 AU | 15€ | $16 US) per vehicle, or 500 VUV ($6 AU | 4€ | $4 US) for walk-ins. If you stay in one of the accommodations on Champagne beach , the entrance is free. With two other travelers, we rented a taxi for a day and paid 4000 VUV ($48 AU | 31€ | $33.5 US) each. It took us to all the sites on the East Coast, Blue Holes (the ones I visited yesterday), all the way up to Port Olry and Champagne Beach. We spent the whole day on the beach. Snorkeled, swam in the blue ocean, played with local kids, and had lobster lunch at one of the local restaurants.

DAY 12: Santo Itinerary – Espiritu Santo and departure

Time to say goodbye to Santo and Vanuatu . Depending on your International flight, you might have to take a flight to Port Vila first, so plan accordingly. Richer with memories, adventures, and experiences, say goodbye to paradise (until next time). My flight to Port Vila was in the morning and my outbound flight from Port Vila to Fiji was in the evening. So I had a whole day to spend in Port Vila. I visited Port Vila Market again, where I bought souvenirs and grabbed another delicious burger. All before my flight to another Island archipelago in the South Pacific where I spent the next 2 months, filming a reality TV show Australian Survivor.

Map of an itinerary for Vanuatu

Possible Vanuatu travel itinerary alternations

Shared  12 days in Vanuatu itinerary  is great for a first-time visitor to Vanuatu . It is more on the  active side  and offers a perfect combination of beaches, adventure, sightseeing, nature, and history. You will have enough time to explore what different islands in the Vanuatu archipelago have to offer. I understand that not anyone wants the same from their Vanuatu vacation. You might be traveling at different times of the year, and spend more or less time in this not to touristy Melanesian country. Therefore  flexibility is key . Below I offer some  more Vanuatu itinerary ideas  on how you can adjust and customize itinerary for your needs.

Travel itinerary ideas for less than 12 days in Vanuatu

If you don’t have 12 days for Vanuatu and are wondering “How many days in Vanuatu is enough?” I would say, to have at least 1 week in Vanuatu, but if possible 10 days in Vanuatu would be perfect. In that time you can still visit all three main islands, Efate, Tanna and Santo. What to do in Vanuatu for a week? If you want to explore Vanuatu in 7 days , I would suggest visiting only two islands . Efate and eather Tanna or Santo. If you feel adventurous, you can perhaps book a Tanna volcano day tour. If you still decide to visit all three, then on Santo go to Million Dollar Point and visit Blue Holes.

Travel itinerary ideas for more than 12 days in Vanuatu

It is always nice to have extra days in your travel itinerary. You can include more beach time ,  more diving time , or  more adventure . For  2 weeks in Vanuatu itinerary , spend more time on Santo if you are diving. Make sure to do the dives at least 1 day before your flight . Same if you are planning your Vanuatu honeymoon itinerary. For more adventurous, I would suggest adding an overnight tour to Ambrym Island (another volcano) to your itinerary. Now that you have a better idea on your Vanuatu itinerary, have a look at other  Vanuatu travel guides  and find out how to get to Vanuatu,  cost of travel to Vanuatu , learn about my hiking Mout Yasur volcano experience, read about Naghol land diving on Pentecost , find things to do in Vanuatu, where to stay and how Vanuatu compare to Fiji and Samoa.

FAQ about travel itinerary for Vanuatu

The name “Vanuatu” is believed to have two possible origins. One interpretation is that it’s derived from the Austronesian word “vanua,” which means “land” or “home.” The addition of the suffix “-tu” emphasizes the collective nature, making it “Our Land” or “Land of the People.” Another interpretation suggests that “Vanuatu” could be a combination of two local Melanesian words, “vanua” and “tu,” which together convey the idea of “many islands.” Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific, and the name reflects its diverse archipelago made up of numerous islands.

The ideal duration for a visit to Vanuatu can vary but in general I would recommend spending at least 1 week in Vanuatu. If you want to explore Vanuatu in 7 days, I would suggest visiting only two islands. Efate and eather Tanna or Santo. If you feel adventurous, you can perhaps book a Tanna volcano day tour. If you have time, spend 10 days in Vanuatu to fully experience the diverse culture, natural beauty, and adventure opportunities on different islands. By spending 10 days in Vanuatu you can visit 3 or even four islands or opt for a day tour to Pentecost Island.

Yes, Vanuatu is an often overlooked Melanesian destination in the South Pacific Ocean and often considered a bucket list destination for its stunning natural beauty, diverse landscapes, diving sites, kastom cultural experiences, vibrant coral reefs, pristine beaches, active volcanoes, and lush rainforests. It is also worth mentioning that it is the 4th happiest nation in the world.

The best time to visit is between April to September. This is Vanuatu’s dry season, with sunny days and less humidity. For diving, the best month are July-August. If you want to see a Land diving ritual, you should come from mid-April to mid-June. 

Vanuatu is an archipelago consisting of 83 islands. Here are some recommended bigger islands you should consider visiting. Efate (capital Port Vila), Tanna (Mount Yasur volcano, traditional villages, and Yakel Tribe), Espiritu Santo (Blue Holes, white-sand beaches, and World War II relics), Pentecost (land diving ceremonies), Ambrym.

Yes! Enjoy peace of mind on your travels with a plan from SafetyWing . You can choose between monthly coverage or insurance for specific travel dates . They are one of the biggest names in the travel insurance world, and also give you the option to get insured while already abroad! Stay and be safe!

No, but it is recommended. Accommodation in Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila and on the outer islands is limited. To avoid any unwanted stress, I would recommend booking places to stay in advance or before you arrive . Booking.com has a great feature on some stays, where you can reserve your room and cancel it for free if your plans change.

Maybe! It depends on your mobile provider and the plan you are on. There is WiFi in some hotels, but some basic accommodations do not have it. You can buy a local Sim card once there or travel carefree and buy an Airalo eSim before your travels.

Yes! Renting a car in Vanuatu is safe with some precautions. Do note that they drive on the right handside of the road. Check the rates at Discover Cars to make sure renting pays off. You will potentially only need a car on Efate and Espiritu Santo, to avoid paying for a taxi and have more freedom to explore.

Some of them. You can explore areas in Vanuatu without a tour, like Port Vila and Efate Island. You can also go snorkeling at Million Dollars Point and swim in Blue Holes on your own. For others, like Pentecost land diving tour , and Mount Yasur volcano hike, I would book a tour in advance. Viator offers more tours in Vanuatu than GetYourGuide (which I used to book airport transfer).

➤ Read more Vanuatu travel guides

• Epic Vanuatu Bungee Jumping tour on Pentecost • Vanuatu Cost of Travel and Detailed Budget Breakdown • 101+ Vanuatu Captions, Quotes, Puns and Jokes For Instagram (+ Hashtags)

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About the author: Anja

A first-time guide to Vanuatu

May 30, 2024 • 7 min read

Champagne Beach in Vanuatu, said to be one of the South Pacific's finest © Peter Unger / Getty Images

Jungle-cloaked islands, rich kastom (traditional) cultures, blockbuster scuba diving and a remarkably accessible active volcano are just a small part of the allure of  Vanuatu , an 80-plus island archipelago made for adventure.

With only a fraction of visitors to Vanuatu venturing beyond the cruise ship port and family-friendly resorts of the capital  Port Vila ("Vila" to locals), this sparsely developed South Pacific nation offers more intrepid travelers the now-rare opportunity to experience natural attractions and cultural experiences untouched by mass tourism. Slip on your swimwear and dive in.

When should I go to Vanuatu?

Vanuatu’s dry season, from late April to September, is the most popular time to visit, but with just 45,000 tourist arrivals per year, even the main island of Efate doesn’t feel crowded during the high season. Budget travelers may uncover more accommodation deals in the October-to-March low (wet) season, with trade-offs including higher humidity and an increased risk of tropical storms and cyclones. Increased rainfall during the wet season can also impact underwater visibility in some destinations, yet diving is generally good year-round across the archipelago.

Most of Vanuatu’s festivals are held during the dry season. Visit Pentecost Island on a Saturday between April and June to take in the ancient naghol (land diving) ritual that inspired modern bungee jumping; the Maskelyne Islands in July for the two-day Maskelyne Canoe Race and Arts Festival; and Ambrym Island, also in July, for the Lylywy Cultural Festival showcasing Vanuatu’s unique Rom dance.

How much time should I spend in Vanuatu?

For travelers seeking an easy family holiday or budget-friendly getaway, a week away (including flights) at a Port Vila area resort should fit the bill. For travelers keen to venture beyond Efate, allow around nine days plus international flights for a relaxed two-island itinerary, especially if you plan on doing some diving, or two-to-three weeks to visit additional islands.

Is it easy to get in and around Vanuatu?

The main international gateway to Vanuatu is Bauerfield International Airport on Efate, 5km (0.6 miles) outside of Port Vila. The domestic terminal is adjacent to the international terminal. Airlines with direct flights to Vanuatu include Aircalin , Fiji Airways , Solomon Airlines and Virgin Australia .

Taxis service the airport route, and minibuses operate in Port Vila. There’s no fixed schedule or routes – tell the driver where you want to go and they’ll let you know when you get there. Buses also run in Luganville on Espiritu Santo island , on northeast Malekula Island , and on Tanna Island. Central Port Vila and central Luganville are also easy to get around on foot.

It’s possible to travel between some of Vanuatu’s larger islands by ferry, but the journeys can be long and rough, and services can be unreliable, prompting most visitors to take domestic flights instead.

Top things to do in Vanuatu

• Strap on a dive tank and explore the reefs and wrecks of Efate, Espiritu Santo, Tanna and beyond. The immense wreck of the SS President Coolidge off Espiritu Santo is widely considered to be one of the world’s best wreck dives, while Tanna’s twin set of blue holes and ethereal Blue Cave are also accessible to snorkelers.
• Perch on the rim of Tanna’s Yasur volcano at sunset as lava spews up from the crater below.
• Spend a day exploring Efate’s collection of dreamy natural pools and waterfalls including the Blue Lagoon, Mele Cascades and Lololima Falls, or dive into the handful of idyllic blue holes of Espiritu Santo.
• Travel to Pentecost Island to watch "land divers" jump off wooden towers up to 30m (100ft) high, with tree vines wrapped around their ankles. 
• Experience the thrill of swimming alongside wild dugongs in Gapsard Bay on south Malekula Island.
• Be mesmerized by the UNESCO-listed tradition of sand-drawing, which can be observed at the National Museum of Vanuatu in Port Vila.

My favorite thing to do in Vanuatu

As an adventurous traveler and a keen scuba diver, Tanna Island ticks all the boxes for me. I love that you can spend a morning exploring the beautiful and blissfully crowd-free reefs on this remote island with Volcano Island Divers (attached to White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa, it’s Tanna’s only dive center), then head out on a bumpy afternoon road trip to the Yasur volcano to feel it rumble beneath your feet before it belches fountains of lava. There’s also a fun hike to a serene waterfall, kastom villages to visit, and some of Vanuatu’s best sunsets to savor. 

How much money do I need for Vanuatu?

You can buy a cup of kava for as little as VT100 (less than US$1), but expect prices for accommodation, restaurant meals and scuba diving to be similar to those in more developed Oceania nations such as Australia. Factor in domestic flight costs for multi-island itineraries.

Cash remains king throughout Vanuatu, especially beyond the resorts of Port Vila, so be sure to stock up with plenty of vatu at the airport or in Port Vila before traveling to outer islands where ATMs and currency exchange services are harder to find. For domestic flights, a provincial departure tax of VT200 is not included in tickets and must be paid at the airport prior to departure. Tipping is not customary.

Average costs include:

• Basic room for two: VT5000–8000
• Double room at a resort: VT17,000–24,000
• Lunch at a local market: VT500–600
• Main meal at a restaurant: VT3000–4500
• Bottle of beer at a bar: VT500
• Scuba dive: VT10,000
• Bus ride in Port Vila: VT150
• Taxi ride in Port Vila: VT500
• Taxi from international airport to Port Vila: VT2000

Pack a well-stocked first aid kit

You’ll find pharmacies, a hospital and Vanuatu’s only hyperbaric chamber (to treat scuba divers with decompression sickness) in Port Vila, but with medical services in much shorter supply beyond the capital, it pays to be prepared to treat minor travel health issues. A stash of adhesive bandages, wound dressings, antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment is useful for stemming infections from cuts and scrapes. Consult a travel health doctor about other medications worth bringing – they may recommend a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics to help fight off a bout of traveler's diarrhea or an unexpected urinary tract infection.

Embrace local cuisine

Revolving around fish and root vegetables, traditional ni-Vanuatu cuisine is simple and wholesome. And tucking in at local markets is a lot cheaper than dining at international restaurants, where flavors and cooking techniques from around the world are fused with local produce including seafood, tropical fruits and Vanuatu beef.

Go easy on the kava

Known for its muscle relaxing and sedative effects, kava, a beverage made from the root of the kava (Piper methysticum) plant, is widely consumed for ceremonial purposes and recreational use across the Pacific. Many believe that Vanuatu kava is the strongest, so if you’re planning to imbibe, keep in mind that one coconut-shell cup can be enough to prompt a nap.

Pick up a local SIM at the airport

Wi-fi can be unreliable or non-existent beyond the resorts of Efate. If you’re going to need regular internet access during your trip, pick up a SIM at the kiosk in the arrivals hall of the international airport; the Vodafone network generally offers better coverage in the outer islands. Limited digital SIM options can be found online.

Choose souvenirs wisely

Seashell jewelry and other products are a common sight at Vanuatu’s markets, but with a crucial role to play in marine ecosystems, the best types of seashells are seashells left in their natural habitat. Similarly, it’s worth reading up on Vanuatu’s endangered tree species before purchasing wood carvings. Check kava import rules in your onward destination, where there may be restrictions.

Lean into island time

Nothing happens in a (huge) hurry in Vanuatu. Keep smiling, go with the flow, and discover how relaxing it can be.

Avoid eating big fish

Ciguatera fish poisoning, a foodborne illness caused by eating reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxins, is a small risk in Vanuatu. The best way to avoid it is to avoid eating large fish (over 2.7 kg/6lbs) – check with your server when ordering.

Pack lightweight clothing

While it can be useful to have a sweater on-hand for breezy evenings, as well as long pants to protect against bugs and prickly plants on walking trails, Vanuatu’s warm year-round climate calls for light, comfortable clothing.

Is Vanuatu safe?

Crimes against travelers in Vanuatu are rare, and locals are generally very welcoming and hospitable.

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• DESTINATIONS
• EXPERIENCES

5 Best Things To Do in Vanuatu (7-Day Travel Itinerary)

Are you looking for epic things to do in Vanuatu for your one week itinerary? We recently came back from a 10 day visit to Vanuatu and can’t recommend this island paradise enough.

We have a special connection with the Pacific Islands as we had our wedding in the Cook Islands. So when our friend suggested a trip overseas and found some return flights for a great price to Vanuatu we didn’t need any extra encouragement!

We are Jamie and Camille. A young(ish) (late 20’s) couple from Australia. Camille’s family moved from Denver, Colorado in the USA to Australia when she was 7 years old and she caught the travel bug at a young age.

Some of her fondest childhood memories are from her time spent in France with her grandparents. She went on to become a travel consultant enabling her to travel around the world on work trips.

Jamie was born and raised in Adelaide in a small surf suburb. He grew up looking forward to the next camping or surf trip away with friends and family. Once he met Camille (just after graduating high school) his passion for overseas travel started to grow.

As mentioned above, we celebrated our wedding in the beautiful Cook Islands a few years ago and have spent the last 3 years travelling our own country (Australia) doing the ‘big lap’ in our self converted Mercedes van.

Why Vanuatu should be on your Travel Bucket List

Vanuatu is made up of 84 islands , each offering endless things to do. Beautiful sandy beaches, colourful coral reefs, crystal clear blue water holes, volcanic landscapes and alluring sea caves all wait to be explored.

We loved the friendliness of the local people and the untouched beauty in the landscapes. The best thing about Vanuatu is that the people are so, so friendly. We have never seen such wide smiles.

The Ni-Vanuatu are very welcoming and accommodating. The children were always outside playing and having fun and they really seemed connected to the ocean.

We met a wonderful woman called Pamela who showed us around her local waterfall. The owners of the Blue Cave, Daniel and his wife were the most warm and generous hosts too! The Ni-Vanuatu people only gained independence in the 80’s and they are peaceful and happy people.

Our Epic Itinerary in Vanuatu: 10 Days in Paradise

We booked for 10 days in Vanuatu and visited 3 of the islands. Espiritu Santo was our first stop where we discovered several blue holes. These fresh water, spring fed swimming holes were fairy tale perfect and the ideal place to laze the day away.

We hired a car and drove through fields of coconut palms to Champagne beach, famous for the white sand that effervesces as you wade in the crystal clear water.

Our next island called Tanna is more remote and home to the world’s most accessible active volcano. There we snorkelled large natural aquariums full of anemone fish, sea snakes and beautifully colored hard corals.

Tanna is also home to the incredible Blue Cave, a hidden sea cave on the untouched Northern coastline of this small island.

Lastly we relaxed on Efate, wandered along Mele creek to get to the towering 35m cascades. Make sure to try and find the small cave behind the waterfall, it gives a great different perspective.

Next we hopped on a ferry to Hideaway island and even went inside the world’s only underwater post office!

Highlight of our Trip: The Blue Cave on Tanna Island

Vanuatu has so many things to do for the avid adventurer. The standout for us would have to be the impressive  Blue Cave located on Tanna Island. This incredible clear-water sea cave is next level.

Standing inside the large cave and witnessing the streak of light rays coming through the natural hole in the ceiling and touching the sparkling azure water is simply amazing. Best of all, we had it to ourselves for 2 days.

Diving underwater and surfacing inside the Blue Cave was such an awesome feeling. A bit scary but so worth it! It is like opening the wardrobe door into Narnia and we sort of felt like real life mer-people!

Epic Things To Do in Vanuatu: 5 Must-Do Experiences

There are endless things to do in Vanuatu for those who love adventures and getting immersed in nature. Below are our top 5 must-do experiences:

1) Kayak or swim in one of the Blue Holes on Espiritu Santo . The water is filter fed through limestone and is not only crystal clear but has an uncanny aquamarine colour that’s surrounded by lush rainforest.

2) Climb to the top of the world’s most accessible active Volcano on Tanna Island . You can even sandbox down the ashy side of the volcano!

3) Dive the SS Coolidge wreck from Luganville, Espiritu Santo. If you are into diving it is worth doing more than 1 dive and it is said that it is the best night dive in the world!

4) Visit the Blue Cave on Tanna Island . Just getting out to the cave by boat is an adventure and gives you the opportunity to see dolphins playing along your bow. We will never forget arriving at the side of a cliff by boat and climbing up a vertical ladder to get to our accommodation.

5) Go waterfall chasing on Efate Island. You can easily spend a day at Mele Cascades . Walking up stream you discover so many little pools and small waterfalls before arriving at the towering falls at the end.

Lush rainforest surrounds you the entire way and although it can be a busy spot, you should always be able to find a secluded pool to have to yourself.

Suggested 1 Week Itinerary in Vanuatu

We would definitely recommend doing a few islands. For a week we would suggest starting with 2 nights in Efate. This island is the busiest as the capital Port Vila is here.

You can explore the Mele Cascades, then take a ferry to Hideaway Island for some great snorkelling. Follow this by wandering the markets and then try Kava at any number of Kava bars.

Catch a flight to Tanna for the next 2 nights. A day tour can take you to the Volcano, then some hot springs on a black sand beach and to a beautiful local waterfall.

Snorkel in the blue holes dotting the reef on the eastern side of the island. There are even treehouse accommodations you can try out for something really unique.

Finish out the adventure with 3 nights on Santo to explore several of the Blue holes, dive the Coolidge or snorkel million dollar point. Then head up north to Champagne beach or Lonnoc beach.

A self drive gives you great flexibility to explore all over this island, but keep in mind they drive on the right side of the road.

What is the Food like in Vanuatu?

The food is fairly basic, consisting mainly of rice or Kumara chips (sweet potato) with beef, chicken or fish. Our favourite part was being able to pick mangoes, papaya or bananas straight from the trees. They grow wild everywhere and provide a delicious snack for everyone.

We also loved the markets. Each island offers something different at their markets. We found the local restaurants in the bigger towns to be the best value for money when eating out.

What you Need to Know before you Go

Vanuatu is not as cheap as we would have thought. You can expect prices similar to Australia particularly for going out to eat. You will also be charged an entry fee at every point of interest, including the Blue holes on Santo, any waterfall and climbing Mt Yasur the volcano.

The good news is that the majority of these fees go straight back to the small villages and communities surrounding these attractions.

Getting around on Santo is best by car as there are bigger distances to cover. In Tanna however, you really need to hire a driver as the roads can be very rough in areas and there aren’t any official car hire outlets.

In Efate you can take the public buses which are quite cheap and a great way to get everywhere. It is also perfectly legal to hitchhike and ride in the back of a Ute tray. In fact, it’s kind of a must in order to feel like a local.

It is a good idea to have cash in the local currency (Vatu). Many places take cards as well, but we found the best way was to change our money into Vatu at a currency exchange outlet in one of the main towns. Tipping is not customary in Vanuatu and can even be considered an insult.

Be aware if you are booking basic/cheap accommodation that you may not always have hot water, air-conditioning or some of the greater comforts we are used to. Almost every resort will have a restaurant but the more remote accommodations aren’t always well stocked with food.

To get a great price on our trip to Vanuatu we travelled in shoulder season (late November – early December). We experienced mainly good weather, but did have a cyclone scare towards the end of our trip.

It did mean there were hardly any other tourists around. The season you choose to travel is definitely something to keep in mind when booking a holiday to Vanuatu.

Thanks for reading our guide on epic things to do in Vanuatu for a one week itinerary. We hope you enjoy this friendly island paradise as much as we did!

BY JAMIE & CAMILLE IG: @ALL.ABOUT.ADVENTURE

Author:  Jamie & Camille

We are an adventure loving couple, recently married in The Cook Islands. Redefining the meaning of work-life balance by focusing on a more adventurous way of life.

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Why go to Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 kms east of Australia. It's near the other Pacific island nations of New Caledonia and Fiji, making it an ideal destination for those exploring Oceania and island hopping between countries. Vanuatu has over 80 islands to explore. About 65 of them are inhabited, with the biggest populations and towns located on Efate and Espiritu Santo. There are beautiful beaches, stunning swimming holes and waterfalls, active volcanoes and lush rainforests awaiting visitors. You can choose to have a resort-style holiday or do what we did and travel between the islands while staying in local-style bungalows.

People in Vanuatu are some of the happiest people on the planet. Since the end of colonisation in 1980, all land is owned by local people and cannot be bought by foreigners. Most people live in rural areas where they have access to their own land to live and grow their own food and crops such as kava. They are able to sell or exchange what they grow to support their families. Ni-Vanuatu people (or 'ni-Vans') have a strong connection to their land and traditions passed down generations. Vanuatu actually translates to 'our land forever' in many of the local languages. It's possible to see villages that still practise traditional ways of life (known as 'kastom') on some of the outer islands, such as Tanna.

This happiness transfers to their welcoming of visitors to their country. They are proud of what nature provides them and they take pleasure in sharing their knowledge with you. You will often have people stop to check that you're OK and if you need any help. Of course this is sometimes out of self-interest (e.g., taxi drivers), but more often we found local people genuinely want to ensure you're having a good experience in Vanuatu.

English and French along with the national language of Bislama are the official languages of Vanuatu. There are also over 100 local languages spoken around the islands. We found English more prevalent on certain islands (e.g., Efate) and French on others (e.g., Espiritu Santo). Generally everyone working at accommodations, tourist attractions, major shops etc. could understand and help us when needed. Bislama is a creole language combining Melanesian grammar with English vocabulary, so it's possible to understand some of the language. For example, 'tankyu tumas' ('thank you too much') is the Bislama version of 'thank you very much'. Definitely an easy and polite phrase to use while travelling in Vanuatu.

When should I go to Vanuatu?

There is a cyclone season in Vanuatu from November to March. This is also their 'wet season', when the weather is hot, wet and humid. You may find fewer tourists and potentially more availability for booking accommodation and attractions at this time. We did find the time around Christmas and New Year to be an exception to this rule.

Nevertheless, we travelled to Vanuatu from mid-December to mid-January. It was definitely hot and humid, although there was hardly any rain for the first two weeks and it didn't interrupt any of our plans. More rain does fall in the northernmost islands than those in the middle and south. We experienced heavy rain for nearly a week in the new year, which meant we missed out on some planned activities in Gaua. February is the hottest month and March is the wettest, so we recommend avoiding those two months if possible.

For the best weather, we recommend travelling to Vanuatu from April to October. The weather will be drier and more temperate, but still warm enough to enjoy water-based activities. Even in August, the coldest month of the year, the minimum average is 17 degrees celsius and the maximum average is 27 degrees celsius on Efate. It's slightly warmer in the northern islands and slightly cooler in the southern islands.

Do I need a visa?

European Union citizens (except Ireland) and some other non-EU European citizens (e.g., Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Lichtenstein) do not require a visa for any 90-day stay within a 180-day period. Citizens from 89 other countries including Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, China and Japan may visit for up to 30 days without a visa. You must show evidence of a return or onward trip and have sufficient funds for your stay. You must also provide information on the purpose of your stay and your accommodation on arrival. Your passport must also be valid for at least another six months and have at least one blank page.

Transport in Vanuatu

Around the islands.

Efate has a good amount of local buses that you can catch to get around the island. Espiriru Santo also has local buses, although not as many or as frequently. These buses are actually mini vans operated by individuals. Look for a red 'B' on the registration plates to identify them. The main bus exchanges are at the market places in Port Vila in Efate and Luganville in Espiritu Santo. Generally there aren't any other bus stops as such - simply keep an eye out for them when standing on the side of the road and flag them down. If they have space, they will stop and you can check with the driver that they are heading where you need to go. They will generally drop you off right in front of your destination or at least at the entrance from the main road. You will be charged the same price as locals. It's the cheapest way to get around.

The second option is to catch a taxi. They cost more than local buses but are more convenient and faster. They are also a lot easier to use if you're carrying a lot of luggage as the local buses may not always have room for it. There are more taxis in Espiritu Santo than on Efate and this competition means they are a bit cheaper. Look for a red 'T' on the registration plate to confirm they're a licensed taxi.

The final option is to catch a ride with a local. It's a common practice in Vanuatu and is safe, with the usual warning to still be aware of your surroundings and that there's always the risk of choosing someone who is not a good driver (or worse). You'll see a lot of people in the back of utes (pick-up trucks) or trucks. You might notice a red 'C' on the registration plate that indicates they are cargo operators. This cargo often includes humans! Usually some payment would still be expected for taking you. But you never know your luck - we had a lovely family take us for a short trip in the back of their ute when we were staying in Luganville without any payment required.

Between the islands

Air Vanuatu operates routes between all the major islands of Vanuatu. Depending on the route, services may be multiple times a week (e.g., Efate to Espiritu Santo) or just once a week (e.g., Espiritu Santo to Gaua). Prices are reasonable and have been fixed due to the locals relying on their services. It must be said that they aren't the most reliable operators. We had multiple flights cancelled on us and are still waiting for refunds (as of writing this, it's been nearly two months). Although they blamed the weather, we discovered that they had major operational issues with their planes and pilots quitting the company. Our strong recommendation is to allow additional time when travelling with Air Vanuatu to allow for possible delays.

Another option to travel between the major islands is to go on a copra freighter. Copra is the dried-out white flesh of coconuts from which coconut oil is derived. If you go to the main wharves of each island, you can speak to the harbour master to check what freighters are travelling to your destination. You can then speak to the captain(s) to see if they're willing to have you on board. The copra freighters normally travel slowly along the coast of the islands, so would be more suitable to backpackers who are flexible with their schedules. It won't be the most comfortable journey and we'd recommend going with a partner for safety reasons. We tried to catch one to travel to Gaua when our Air Vanuatu flight was cancelled, but they were staying in port due to an approaching low system.

Smaller islands are reachable by boats operated by locals or in some cases by the resorts. For example, you can reach Nguna Island and Pele Island from Efate by banana boats operated by locals on those islands. You can also reach Aore Island by using a free boat service operated by Aore Island Resort.

Money and connectivity

Local currency.

The local currency is the vatu (VT). It's still very much a cash society in Vanuatu and you need to ensure you are always carrying some with you for shopping and paying for attractions. ATM access is good in the bigger cities of Port Vila in Efate and Luganville in Espiritu Santo. ATMs may be available in some of the bigger villages at markets or shops, but can't be guaranteed.

We found an ATM from ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) bank to withdraw some money when arriving at the airport in Port Vila. After staying in Vanuatu for longer, we discovered that either National Bank of Vanuatu or BSP (Bank South Pacific) have lower fees and higher withdrawal limits.

Wi-fi is a luxury in Vanuatu. Some of the resorts and restaurants may offer it, but it's the exception rather than the rule. The couple of times we did find it, the quality was OK. We highly recommend that you have access to a local 4G mobile network if you need to be online during your trip.

We bought a SIM card on arrival at the airport in Port Vila. The two providers are Digicel and Vodafane. They have small kiosks at the airport in the arrivals hall as soon as you get through customs. They both offer a tourist SIM on the 4G network to get started. They only have physical SIMs - we didn't notice the option for e-SIMs anywhere in Vanuatu. You can top up your balance at both bigger stores in the main towns and in small stores in villages across Vanuatu. The reception can be problematic on the smaller outer islands. In hindsight, we probably should have gone with a SIM card from Vodafone as their 4G coverage seemed better than Digicel's.

Our itinerary for travelling in Vanuatu for two weeks

Day one - arrival.

We flew into Port Vila from Melbourne, Australia. Most international flights arrive in Port Vila although there are also some now that go to Luganville in Espiritu Santo. We arrived at Port Vila after the plane was delayed by a couple of hours, which meant it was quite late at night. After grabbing our luggage, we got stuck in a logjam of luggage trolleys with locals waiting for what we assumed was the line for customs. It turns out they were actually queueing up to exchange money. Luckily a customs officer realised what was happening and asked the locals to move aside for us.

There were more locals than tourists going through customs. It looked like a lot of them had completed a working visa in Australia as they were loaded up with sneakers, speakers, and other Western goods not easily available in Vanuatu.

Accommodation

For unique accommodation near Port Vila, we'd recommend Hideaway Island Resort . They have bungalows and villas catering to different budget levels. There is a ferry that you can catch for free to get to the resort from Port Vila. (If you decide just to visit for the day, you will need to pay a 1,500 VT fee to the resort.) Snorkelling and diving are great at Hideaway Island as they have a marine sanctuary. They also offer various PADI courses for those who want to learn how to dive.

Hideaway Island is also known for 'the world's only underwater post office'. Vanuatu Post has opened an offical post office three metres under water in the marine sanctuary. You can purchase special waterproof postcards to post them at the post office. Vanuatu Post guarantees that the post card will be sent to the local or international destination you've written on the post card.

We had decided to travel further out from Port Vila straight away, so we had booked a bungalow in Emua Village located one hour north of Port Vila. We were told it would cost about 8,000 - 10,000 VT depending on the driver to reach Emua Village. We thought finding a local bus already heading that way would be more economical on our budget, so we declined that offer and started asking locals about transport options.

Travel tip: If you arrive at Port Vila earlier in the day, it’s more likely you’d be able to find a local bus to take you where you need to go. You may need to take a short walk towards town to where the local buses stop.

After 15 minutes or so, we found someone who had been organising a bus for several people travelling to the same area. However, they would be heading in the opposite direction to where we needed to go on the main ring road that circles Efate. This means it would take around two and a half hours instead of one hour to arrive at Emua Village. But this would only cost 5,000 VT, and since it was too late to do anything else in the day anyway, we were happy to take this offer.

We booked the bungalow via Airbnb. Search for ‘Coral Sands Beach Bungalows’. Locally, they’re simply known as Kenneth’s bungalow. If you want to try booking with him directly, contact Kenneth on +678 5462052. We booked two nights via Airbnb and then arranged with our host Kenneth directly to stay for another two nights. It cost us about 5,000 VT per night via Airbnb, and about 3,000 VT per night directly.

Kenneth’s bungalow is situated metres from the ocean. You can see the ocean when you wake up in the morning. There is an enclosed porch that serves as an eating area, and a separate outdoor kitchen that you can use to cook your own food if you like. There is also an outdoor shower and toilet block, but we preferred the outdoor shower closer to the beach nestled in a grotto. It even has hot water during the day if needed!

There is great swimming and snorkelling in the ocean in front of the bungalow. There are a number of reefs to explore, with the water being fairly shallow for the most part. We saw several different types of fish and the coral itself was beautiful too. There are apparently a lot of turtles in the area as well, but we didn’t have any luck seeing any ourselves. The nearby islands of Nguna and Pele form beautiful background scenery.

There is a store located in the village where you can buy fresh bread in the morning and basic packaged and canned goods. There is also a roadside market where women from the village sell their fruits and vegetables from their gardens, as well as homemade meals. Both locals and those passing by on the main road stop here for a meal, snack or drink.

You can try the local dish lap lap (grated breadfruit, banana, taro, and yam with coconut milk wrapped in banana leaves) at this market. This is a perfect meal for vegans or vegetarians and is available widely. However, it often comes with fish or meat, so make sure to check what is in the lap lap before buying it. You can also purchase coconuts to drink (ask them to cut out the top for you) and stock up on fresh fruit for your breakfast. For a snack, dried taro or banana chips are a treat. You will pay from 20 VT for small fruit up to 250 VT for a meal.

Voyage Green tip: Eating at a local market is a great way to support local communities and experience their culture (as well as helping your budget).

It's also possible for Kenneth and his wife Anita to prepare local food for dinner. We had this option one night and were served rice, noodles, lap lap, cucumber and papaya for dessert. This cost 500 VT per person.

Day two - Nguna Island

There are two extinct volcanoes on the island of Nguna and it is possible to hike up one of them. You have two options to travel there. The easiest way is to book a guided tour here . They will pick you up from your accommodation, transport you to Nguna and guide you up Mount Taputoara to see inside the crater.

Alternatively, you can ask a local to transport you across by boat at Emua Wharf. The wharf is a five-minute walk from the roadside market at Emua Village.

If it’s just you in the boat, the rate can be about 1,500 VT per person one-way (the locals will call this a ‘charter’ rate). If you wait for someone who’s already going across, either with goods or other passengers, the rate can be a lot lower. We managed to find someone willing to take 500 VT per person one-way. So it ended up costing us 2,000 VT instead of 6,000 VT. Please note on Sundays and public holidays, there will be far fewer or perhaps no locals travelling between the islands so you’ll most likely have to pay the ‘charter’ rate.

It takes about 15 minutes to travel across by boat between Emua Wharf and Nguna Island. If you haven't arranged a tour, you can walk from the beach to the base of Mount Garet and then up to the top.

Read this article to learn more about our experience hiking up the extinct volcano of Mount Garet on Nguna Island.

Day three - Pele Island

Another best thing to do while on Efate is to visit Pele Island. It's a very picturesque volcanic island with sandy beaches and turquoise waters. It's a favoured place for snorkelling and diving within and near the Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area. There are only around 200 ni-Vans living on the island in four villages. It's possible to stay on the island or it's easily reached for a day trip.

It may be possible to book a tour if you speak to your accomodation provider, but it will cost you around 10,000 VT per person.

The other option is to again find a local willing to take you by boat from Emua Wharf, as Pele island is located about ten minutes away. We unfortunately timed our visit on a Sunday, and as mentioned above, few locals normally operate their boats on Sundays or public holidays. However, we managed to find someone who was able to take us for 2,000 VT per person return.

Read this article to learn more about our visit to the beautiful Pele Island.

Days four to seven - Tanna Island

Tanna Island can be reached by plane with Air Vanuatu. It's the most populated southern island in Vanuatu. Locals have kept to the traditional way of life more than in other parts of Vanuatu. It's one of the most famous islands in Vanuatu due to Mout Yasur, an active volcano that you can see up close. There are also several unique cultural experiences and natural wonders that we recommend you seek out. We'd recommend three or four days to allow enough time to see all of the attractions. It also gives you flexibility with seeing Mount Yasur in case the tour is cancelled due to bad weather.

Read this article to learn more about our visit to the amazing Tanna Island.

Day eight - Port Vila

We travelled back to Port Vila with a local bus from Emua Village. We visited the Air Vanuatu office to buy tickets to the next islands on our itinerary. The tickets to Espiritu Santo from Port Vila cost us about 35,000 VT for two people. If you have an extra week to travel, we'd recommend to also visit the island of Gaua. The tickets from Espiritu Santo to Gaua cost us about 20,000 VT for two people. It may be possible to get the tickets for cheaper online via the Air Vanuatu website. However, they hadn't released any tickets when we checked and decided to purchase them at the office.

Markets and waterfront

We headed to the Port Vila Market for lunch. Consisting of a large hall with stall holders from the local region, you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, take-away meals, a cafe, and even the odd bat. There is also a restaurant section where you can have meals freshly made. You can check with the cooks what is available. As a vegan or vegetarian, you can request just rice and vegetables. You can request a mix of ‘island food’ to receive some taro or other local foods. We'd recommend grabbing a couple of coconuts from the market to have with your lunch.

Travel tip: There is an information office in Port Vila that can assist with finding you accommodation, booking transport or tours and looking after your luggage while exploring the town.

It's also nice to walk along the waterfront in the evening if you get the chance. There are various cafes and restaurants that you can stop to get something to eat or drink and admire the scenery across the harbour. There is also the Port Vila Handicraft Market with locals selling various hand-made goods. There are over 50 vendors selling goods they hand made themselves or imported from the outer islands for sale.

Rarru Rentapao River Cascades

There are a few natural attractions to explore near Port Vila before flying to Espiritu Santo. The first is Rarru Rentapao River Cascades. They are about a 20-minute drive from Port Vila and a short walk from the main road. There will be buses from the market place at Port Vila or further along the main road heading east towards Enam. You can also catch a local bus back to Port Vila from the main road.

You need to pay an entrance fee of 1,500 VT per adult. Children 6 - 12 years old are 700 VT, while those under 6 years old are free. We’d recommend arriving early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the crowds, especially the day tours from any cruise ships in the area. It’s usually open from 9:30AM until 5:00PM.

We had a small boy act as our guide along the river to the main waterfall. But you can easily make your own way along the path. Just keep going until the end.

There are a change room and restroom just after the entrance. There are also several picnic benches set up along the way along the beginning of the river. Make sure to take your lunch with you, as there aren’t any stores or places to eat there. If you do forget, there is a small store with a limited number of goods on the main road.

Voyage Green tip: Stay hydrated with a reusable bottle that has a strong filter. This way you minimise the use of plastic and other resources, while also saving money (it costs about 150 VT for a 1.5L bottle). We have used our LifeStraw bottle constantly in Vanuatu. We’ll save approximately 9,000 VT by using the LifeStraw bottle during this trip.

You will pass several cascades with beautiful blue pools before reaching the main waterfall. There are four places where you can jump into the water. There is a small platform on the right side that you can use to take a running jump from. There is also a rope swing from a second platform. If you keep walking up, there is an even higher platform just before the waterfall that you can jump from. Finally, you can stand on top of the waterfall itself and jump into the water below. Ask your guide for safety tips before jumping!

You can easily spend half a day here, exploring the different blue pools and jumping from the various platforms. It’s surrounded by jungle on either side of the river, so there’s plenty of shade and cool air. It’s been well maintained and definitely a must-do for anyone visiting Port Vila.

Book one of our recommended sustainable tours in Vanuatu now

Mele cascades.

Another option while in Port Vila is to visit Mele Cascades, perhaps the more popular destination in Efate. They are a series of limestone cascading waterfalls with the tallest one being over 30 metres. They are located about 20 minutes by car north-west of Port Vila. There are change rooms near the car park. Entrance costs 2,000 VT per person. You need to climb a series of relatively steep steps at the start of the trail.

You will then come out to the open rainforest and walk across the limestone paths. Depending on when you visit, water from the stream may be running across the path. After walking for a bit you will come across the pools formed at the lower level of the cascades. The water was very refreshing and it was relaxing to spend time in the pools. You can go further up to see the main waterfall. If you want, you can also climb up the limestone to see the upper levels of the cascades. There are ropes and footholds dug out of the limestone to help your climb up.

Before heading to our hotel in Port Vila, we visited a kava bar. Kava is a crop found across the Pacific. It's prepared for consumption in Vanuatu by grinding the roots of the plant and mixing it with some fresh water before drinking it. Kava bars are very popular and can be identified by red and green lights outside their door. We stopped in to see if they had anything for dinner. We were able to select a few vegetarian dishes, including a very nice banana tart and a coconut sponge cake. The prices were very reasonable - much lower than in a comparable restaurant in town. Usually locals have this food as bar snacks with their kava. So depending on the kava bar, you can find a good feed for a reasonable price. Note that mostly men drink the kava (although women are now starting to drink it too) and they will be rinsing their mouths out, clearing their throats and spitting out the remnants of the kava while you're eating.

Days nine to thirteen - Espiritu Santo

We arrived at Port Vila Airport for our flight to Espiritu Santo. It’s advisable to arrive at least two hours before your flight for check-in. Flights are often late, but if it is on time and you haven’t checked in, they’re not going to wait around for you!

Travel tip: Domestic flights with Air Vanuatu have a low checked baggage limit of 10kg per person. We repacked our suitcases for the rest of our trip and left one suitcase in Port Vila at our accommodation so that we could have one suitcase weighing 20kg between the two of us. If you exceed this limit, you’ll need to pay around 200 VT per kilogram.

Accommodation in Luganville

There were taxis available at the airport when we arrived in Espiritu Santo. It cost us 2,000 VT to be transported to our hotel in Luganville. We first stayed at Hotel le Hibiscus (or Hibiscus Attraction Centre) while in Luganville. It’s located a short walk from the main street. The hosts Louis and Marie are very welcoming and even provided us with some noodles and tea as we’d arrived too late on the first day to find anything to eat. Their rooms are simple but have everything you need for your stay, with a bathroom, kitchenette, decent wi-fi and a strong fan. At 5,000 VT per night, they are one of the best value-for-money motels in Luganville. They are knowledgable about things to do around town and across Espiritu Santo. They were also kind enough to call different locations to confirm bookings for us. They can be contacted directly on +678 595 0052.

The other place we stayed was at Pui Lodge located in Show Ground, a village on the outskirts of town. You can also find them on Airbnb under the name of Chez Rachel. Our hosts Rachel and Malakai had to arrange a private room for us as the bungalow we had booked originally become unavailable. The bungalow was going to cost 5,000 VT per night via Airbnb. The private room ended up costing us only 3,000 VT directly (although the bathroom is shared). You can contact them directly on +678 7729012 to see what’s available or book via Airbnb. Breakfast is included with whichever room you stay in. You can also ask them to make lunch or dinner for you. If you’d like fish or meat, it costs 1,500 VT per person. For vegetarians/vegans, it costs 1,000 VT per person. They’re also happy to add more ingredients to the meal if you pick up something from the local market.

It’s not the most convenient location if you need to be within walking distance of town (it takes about one hour if you do want to walk). There are local buses that cost 150 VT per person, or you can catch a taxi for 400 VT. However, it is very close to the airport, so it’s a great choice if you have a flight booked. One callout is that we found mobile reception to be very poor (with Digicel). So bear this in mind if you need to be online during your stay. If you’re looking for peace and quiet and a more authentic homestay experience, we can definitely recommend this accommodation. You’re also supporting a local family by choosing to stay here.  

Eating in Luganville

Luganville has a well-established market located at one end of town. You can support the local community by shopping there and buying fresh fruit, vegetables or other goods. We bought some bananas, papaya and cucumber for 150 VT. We also bought a large coconut to drink for 150 VT.

There are also some stalls where you can purchase hot meals. We asked for two vegetarian meals and they provided us with rice and some steamed vegetables mixed with egg. We had to pay the ‘expat or tourist’ price of 500 VT (other non-vegetarian meals are 1,000 VT), which was still very reasonable. It was probably one of the more disappointing meals we’ve had in Vanuatu, particularly compared to the market place in Port Vila. We did notice they made a fish curry that looked pretty good though if you eat fish.

If you prefer, there is also a bakery cafe called Attar that serves decent coffee and Western-style meals. Their pancakes served with fresh fruit were delicious and our recommendation for breakfast or brunch (suitable for octo-lovo vegetarians). There are also several supermarkets in Luganville that you can shop at to stock up for your upcoming travels. The main one in town has a pretty wide selection of imported goods, including some vegan/vegetarian options.

Blue holes of Espiritu Santo

One of the most popular experiences in Espiritu Santo is to explore naturally-formed blue swimming holes. There are three main ones - Matevulu, Riri and Nanda. Matevulu and Riri are near each other, while Nanda is a little further apart and closer to Luganville. But they are all located in the north-east of the island and could be visited in the one day if you like.

Read this article to discover more about the blue holes of Espiritu Santo.

Our next stop was Port Orly further north, and we knew that buses should be heading that way after spending the day in Luganville. So we dragged our luggage to the main road and waited to see who would be coming by. A couple of utes passed us, but they were full of people. In about ten minutes, we got lucky as a bus did come by that had room for us and were happy to take us to Port Orly for 600 VT per person. Talking to a passenger, we discovered the bus is from a village before Port Orly but they didn’t mind taking us further to drop us off first. We ended up paying the driver 1,000 VT each as a gesture of our gratitude.

Travel tip: We didn’t see any ATMs in the area, so make sure you have enough cash with you before traveling up the coast from Luganville.

There are a few options for beachside bungalows in Port Olry. There are even some treetop bungalows, but unfortunately they’d been damaged in a previous cyclone and hadn’t been repaired yet. Covid had also delayed the start of their repairs. This left us with two options remaining - Chez Louis and Sunrise Bungalows.

We stayed at Sunrise for 5,000 VT per night when booked directly. The host Tarcisius can be contacted on +678 5424893 or [email protected] . They are also called ‘Little Paradise’ on Airbnb and Facebook. They are self-contained with their own shower (including hot water if needed) and toilet, with a front porch overlooking a lawned area and trees in front of the beach.

They are also in the middle of repairing their bungalows, so although we had water and electricity, it’s still a basic bungalow. The bed was also short for Jon’s 6’ 3” frame, so something to bear in mind if you’re also tall. The village is very close to the bungalows too, so it can be a bit noisy late at night when there are celebrations in town and also very early in the morning when the roosters are crowing.

Daily breakfast was included in the price. We had fresh fruit, a baguette, spreads, tea and coffee provided on our porch at around 6am. Sunrise also had a restaurant where they can make lunch and dinner for you on request. This included vegan or vegetarian meals. Prices were from 800 VT for vegetarian and 1,500 VT for fish or beef. A more sustainable local Port Olry beef meal is also available for 1,000 VT. We had their vegetarian option a few times, which included rice and various green and root veggies. There is a small store close by that stocks reasonably-priced beer, wine and small food items.

Voyage Green tip: If you visit the local market or one of the stores in the village, you can purchase additional ingredients that they’d be happy to add to your cooked meals for you. This also provides further economic support to the local people in the village.

There is also a restaurant at Chez Louis with various options, although they were pricier. We did try out their vegetarian option for lunch. We paid 3,000 VT for our lunch, which included a coconut to drink and two meals consisting of a small portion of hot chips, one and a half boiled eggs and some non-seasoned grated carrot (we think, not entirely sure what it was). Needless to say, we didn’t go back again…

Sunrise offers a number of cultural activities. There is a nature hike up the nearby mountain for 1,500 VT in which Tarcisius will describe local medicines and edible foods in the jungle. You may also take out a local fishing canoe to explore nearby islands for 500 VT.

We’d planned to take out a canoe to explore Malmas island, but we ended up snorkelling around Malet island instead. This island is to the left of Sunrise in front of Dolphin island. At low tide, there is a sandbar connecting Malet island to the main island. Check with your host when low tide is due to begin. Once you’ve walked across, you can snorkel to the left and around the island to see beautifully formed coral reefs teeming with colourful fish. This was the best snorkelling experience we’ve had in Vanuatu so far and is definitely recommended when staying in Port Olry. We recommended this experience to another guest at the island, and he fully agreed.

The best reefs are a bit further out on the left but then are closer to the island as you swim around it. We ended up swimming right around back to the same side of the island we started on, but you can also stop halfway on the other side and walk back across if you prefer. Just keep an eye on the tides and you should be a strong swimmer to make it all the way around. When high tide is in, the water is around waist or chest height (depending on your height) to walk back across. If you have them, reef shoes would be handy as it’s quite rough with stones and soft coral littering the sandbar and more shallow areas before reaching the reefs.

Voyage Green tips: Use only reef-friendly sunscreens to avoid damaging the reefs with chemicals and use a rashie to reduce the amount of sunscreen required. Also watch that you don’t damage any of the coral with your feet or fins when snorkelling.

Lonnoc Beach

We called Lonnoc Ocean View Bungalows and the owner was able to transport us there from Port Olry for 1,500 VT. The bungalows here also cost 5,000 VT per night. They are fairly large with an indoor shower and toilet. You can see the ocean from your bed and it’s a quick stroll to the beach. The ocean breeze is strong here too, which made the room nice and cool without needing a fan.

We were amazed at how beautiful Lonnoc Beach is. The beach itself is made of white sand which continues in patches into the ocean. It was a nice break from the beaches we’d experienced so far which had been more full of stones and soft coral when entering the ocean. We actually prefer this beach to the one at Port Olry. The area feels more tranquil and is surrounded by denser jungle. It is also located further from the village here than where we stayed at Port Olry, which makes it quieter and easier to sleep at night.

The reefs directly in front of the beach aren’t suitable for snorkelling, but further to the left against the coast there were some better spots. There are also kayaks that you can use free of charge to explore the surrounding waters. We spotted some decent reefs further out in the ocean while using them.

The whole beach area is owned by three brothers from the same family. So there are two other beachfront bungalow options for you to stay at Lonnoc Beach. There are three restaurants in the area to choose from as well, with all having plant-based options. The restaurant at Lonnoc Ocean View Bungalows charge 1,000 VT for vegetarian meals, while there are fish and beef meals for around 1,500 VT.

There is a bigger restaurant at the neighbouring bungalows which charged 1,200 VT for their vegetarian meals and also charge higher amounts for their other fish and meat-based dishes. However, the portions were bigger and we felt we were eating at a nice restaurant with perhaps more care put into creating the meals. We asked for two different vegetarian plates and they were probably the best meals we’ve had to date in Vanuatu.

There is a third restaurant further along the beach that we went to once. They made us a vegetarian plate but honestly it was pretty bland. With the other two restaurants in the area, we didn't bother going back there again.

Champagne Beach

You can use the free kayaks when staying at Lonnoc Ocean View Bungalows to travel to Champagne Beach, which is just around the corner to the right. It takes about 20 minutes to paddle there by kayak. You can also walk there in ten to fifteen minutes if you prefer.

The beach is backdropped by a tall mountain range full of jungle. It makes for an awesome vista if you choose to kayak there. Once you land, make your way to the restaurant in the middle of the beach to pay the landowners for entry, which costs 500 VT per person.

If you're visiting the area, it's about a one-hour drive from Port Vila. You can easily make a day trip out of visiting Port Olry, Lonnoc Beach and Champagne Beach if you prefer. The entrance fee per car is 2000 VT.

The beach is bigger than the one at Lonnoc and has more pure white sand when entering the ocean. It’s also a bigger drop-off when entering, meaning you get into deeper water quicker and can swim more easily. There is a small structure to the right side of the beach which can be used to jump into the water. It was full of local children when we were there and looked like fun, but we only noticed it as we were leaving.

The restaurant has a limited food menu with some drinks. We’d already eaten at our accommodation, so can’t comment on the quality of their meals. There is also a separate bar with the usual drink selection in Vanuatu if you need to quench your thirst further.

Million Dollar Point

The United States had thousands of troops stationed on Espiritu Santo as part of their Pacific forces during WWII. After the Japanese surrendered, they had tonnes of equipment that was no longer needed. They offered to sell it to the French as the colonial power in Vanuatu at the time. The story goes that they offered it for around 10 cents in the dollar, but the French declined the offer. Some of the equipment would have required repairs and maintenance, making it a less attractive offer. The French may have also been thinking that they’d pick out what they wanted once the United States dumped the equipment and left.

But the United States had other ideas. They located a trench about 60 metres deep near Luganville. A number of their forces stayed behind to dump all of the equipment into this trench. It took them around two years to finish the job (from 1945 to 1947). The location’s name comes from the rough value of the equipment (at that time) that was dumped into the trench.

The mineral-rich equipment turned out to be a gift to the coral and sea life in the area over the last 75 years. You can now snorkel or scuba dive to discover some of the equipment the United States disposed of. The highlights include a jeep, a crane, and the wreckage of a large ship. You can also find bits and pieces such as an engine, a cabinet, ropes and pulleys, and various other detritus of war machinery.

The coral itself that has grown around all the equipment is quite stunning. It was some of the best coral we’ve seen in Vanuatu and was teeming with fish. Seeing how it’s grown on and around the equipment is a unique experience. As you swim out further into the trench and see the wreckage of the ship far below you, it becomes quite surreal. Snorkelling was an amazing experience, but if you like scuba diving this would be a fantastic place to do it.

If you decide to go to Million Dollar Point itself, there is a 500 VT entry fee payable at the bar. This does provide the most direct access to view all the dumped equipment. However, there is no restaurant here and is not your only option.

We’d recommend turning off at Million Dollar View instead. The entrance is before Million Dollar Point when coming from Luganville. There are bungalows here if you’d like to stay in the area for longer. Prices start from 2,000 VT for one person or 3,500 VT for two.

The beach is rocky but otherwise a safe point to enter the water. It would definitely be a good idea to wear reef shoes if you have them. You can then swim to the left and do a circuit around the Million Dollar Point area to see all the dumped equipment.

Travel tip: Make sure to bring your own snorkelling gear to Vanuatu. There aren’t many opportunities to rent or use some unless you’re staying at the bigger resorts.

There’s also a restaurant where you can enjoy the hospitality of the site manager Gilbert and order food and drinks. We had plates full of vegan food that was the most delicious of our trip so far. We also found Gilbert to be very experienced and a great guide to travelling in Vanuatu. ‍ ‍

SS President Coolidge

If you're a dive enthusiast, there is another WWII shipwreck nearby well worth visiting. It boasts around 50 dive sites and the wreckage is over 200 metres long. The depth of the various dive sites are between 68 and 240 feet. It's said to be the largest and most accessible wreck to dive in the world.

The Coolidge was originally a luxury steamship built in 1931 to carry 1,000 passengers. It was built in art deco style with various facilities for the well-heeled passengers on board. It was drafted into the war effort in 1940, first evacuating Americans from Asia and then converted into a troop carrier in 1942 after the attack on Pearl Harbour. In October of that year, it was transporting over 5,000 troops and equipment to Vanuatu when it ran into mines (laid by the Americans) in the Segond Channel just offshore from Luganville.

Day fourteen - Port Vila

Unless you're flying out of Vanuatu from Espiritu Santo, you'll need to travel back to Port Vila for your flight. We'd recommend allowing additional time for any delays with Air Vanuatu when flying domestically. Use your last day or two in Port Vila to relax and explore some of the places we mentioned above if you haven't already - Port Vila Market, waterfront, Port Vila Handicraft Market, Rarru Rentapao River Cascades, Mele Cascades, a local kava bar or the other shops located in Port Vila for some last minute souvenir hunting

If you have three weeks to travel in Vanuatu

If you have additional time and can extend your travel to three weeks, we recommend travelling to one of the other outer islands. There are a few to choose from including Ambrym, Gaua, Maewo and Malakula. Because flights only run sporadically, we recommend allowing a week to allow you to get to one of these islands and back again in time for your flight out of Vanuatu.

We chose to travel to Gaua as it's famous for its natural attractions and traditional culture. There is an active volcano (Mount Garet), a lake in front of it (Lake Letus), and the tallest waterfall in Vanuatu (Siri Waterfall). If you get the chance, it's also possible to see a traditional water dance performed by locals.

There are various bungalows available to stay in, but we recommend Weul Bungalows. They are the closest to the natural attractions. We paid 5,000 VT per night which included three meals a day.

It takes about three hours from Weul Bungalows to hike to the shore of Lake Letas. The hike is through jungle and requires a guide to take you there. You will find Victor’s Camp at the shore of Lake Letas. From here, you can organise to canoe across Lake Letas to the base of Mount Garet. It takes about an hour to then hike to the top of Mount Garet to view the six different craters.

After hiking back down and canoeing back to Victor’s Camp, we decided to rest there overnight. You can use Lake Letas to bathe and refresh after your journey. It costs 3,500 VT per person to stay in a bungalow, with breakfast included. You can also camp there if you have your own tent.

Read this article to learn more about our experience climbing Mount Garet on Gaua Island.

If you have one week to travel in Vanuatu

It's not something we'd recommend, but if you're short on time it's possible to squeeze in the highlights of Vanuatu in one week. We'd recommend Tanna Island as an outer island experience and doing that first to lessen potential issues with travelling domestically and missing your return flight. We've listed a sample itinerary below. If you prefer the attractions on Espiritu Santo, we'd recommend going there instead of Tanna Island. It would be too hectic to do both in one week.

• Day 1 - Arrival at Port Vila
• Days 2 to 4 - Tanna Island (or Espiritu Santo if preferred)
• Days 5 and 6- Explore Efate's attractions (including Nguna Island and/or Pele Island)
• Day 7 - Depart from Port Vila

Anna Sherchand

Solo Female Travel Blog

• Vanuatu itinerary for 1 week

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After my solo travel to FIJI , I have become more open to traveling to other pacific countries. And as some of you may know I am on the quest to travel to all the countries in the world, so it only makes sense that I start traveling to countries closer to me now that we are in a post-pandemic world. With that being said, if you are looking for Vanuatu itinerary for 1 week read on.

Prior to my FIJI travels, I used to think only couples, honeymooners, or families go to these pacific islands. All about them package deals inclusive flight and hotels, kid’s club, nanny, romantic walks on the beach, buffet meals, and breakfast on bed. But now that I have solo traveled to two beautiful pacific countries I can confirm that the above is absolutely true but I also met fellow solo travelers/digital nomads/ex-pats from around the world so there’s that.

With that being said, if you are hesitating whether to go or not, I hope this Vanuatu itinerary for 1 week helps you make up your mind and that you will go and experience this magical island country. I will cover everything from current Vanuatu travel restrictions and what you need, things to do in Vanuatu, and more. It might suit some other digital nomads too.

Vanuatu is a stunning little country with roughly 80 islands and is known as the home to one of the world’s most sought-after dive sites- President Coolidge, a 650ft shipwrecked luxury liner off Espiritu Santo island. If diving is not your cup of tea, there are other jaw-dropping sites that I will elaborate on further down below.

How to travel to Vanuatu?

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Traveling alone is quite different, as opposed to moving with a tour company. Hence if you are traveling alone, you have the choice to travel however you want via flight, bus, ferry, train, or cruise ship. It all depends on your preferred mode of traveling and budget.

Let’s start with how to get there, what to do, eat, where to stay, and day trips followed by the islands.

There are two ways to get to Vanuatu from Australia and around the world. 1. Stop over in New Zealand and fly to Port Vila or fly over from Australian cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

The major airport and gateway to the islands of Vanuatu is Bauerfield International Airport (VLI). It is located in Port Vila aka Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu and is on the island of Efate. Depending on where you are staying, the distance to the airport may vary. Since I stayed in Pango Road it took about 20 minutes in a taxi. Suggest booking the international port vila airport to hotel transfer .

The second option is to get on the cruise to arrive in Port Vila, just make sure while booking that the cruise not only passes through but actually docks in Vila and that you will have the opportunity to get off the ship and explore. There are a number of cruise lines that go to Vanuatu including P&O, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Carnival, Holland America Line, and Norwegian Cruise Line.

If you have a large travel budget, consider chartering a yacht. Sailing from Australia to Vanuatu is a popular vacation option. Make sure to book through a reputable company in advance.

The easiest way to get around the country is to fly with Air Vanuatu. Once you arrive in town, you can either hire a car for exploring or use buses as locals do.

Remember buses (it actually looks like a minivan) have a B on their license plate and a taxi cab will usually have a T on their license plate. Usually, the fare anywhere you go within Port Vila is 150 vatu but if you want to go from say downtown to Blue lagoon and there aren’t other people, the driver will charge you 3000 vatu for the empty bus just to take you there.

Over the years I have learned that figuring out why you want to go to a certain destination will make it easier to plan your trip. For example, if you want to travel to Vanuatu for an adventure in nature, or you will want to make a plan to visit some of the more remote islands. Or perhaps you have enough time to plan a bit of both world?

Regardless, I would say a week is a minimum time to spend on your Vanuatu solo travel. You will most likely start your journey in Vila, explore major spots, activities then get around the islands of Tanna & Santo for a multi-night trip.

If your passport is from Australia, you can stay up to 90 days in Vanuatu just with a visa on arrival stamp. That said, the authorities may ask for the return air ticket. That being said, I highly recommend checking the official website online or with your local embassy to find out if your country requires a visa.

The current COVID requirement is you must have negative PCR or RAT pre-flight and return flight ticket or if have covid previously a fit to fly certificate. There is no on-arrival test or quarantine policies atm. But the pre-flight requirement may be dropped by the time you are reading this, so DYOR also.

There are numerous choices when it comes to accommodation in Vanuatu from all five stars hotels to hostels. Make sure to book with a legit website such as Booking.com If you are in the mood to meet fellow travelers/backpackers I sugges either of the two places below. Price range from $1800 Vatu for dorm bed to $2950 for basic private to $$$$$ for more fancy stays.

Blue Pango Guest House (near the Ocean, has basic private rooms with bathroom and cooking stove, and fridge in it like a lil studio) or Travellers Budget Motel (near the city 5-10 min with common kitchen) Nasama Resort (Ocean right at the front, private sandy beach, infinity pool, 30 self contained rooms with full kitchen, views for days and balcony. But even if you don’t stay here and are around Pango road for surf or stay, check out Cafe Vila at this resort. Highly recommend the meals there as they were all tasty af), Paradise Cove Resort , Eratap Beach Resort Breakas Beach Resort (Another great spot near Honeymoon Beach, Pango road with Infinity pool, beautiful beach and good food), Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila

Some of these family-friendly resorts may serve organic fruits and vegetables grown in their own gardens. You can even enjoy bird watching, hiking to the waterfall, kayaking, and snorkeling with rent-free gear.

Download 9-12 Mbps and upload 7-10 Mbps. All in all it was fast enough for me as I actually bought a local vodafone sim card w data. An alternate option is Digicel. They both seem to have competitive offer.

If you are a digital nomad or looking for a place to work from. Check out Yumiwork. They offer half day free trial or Jill coffee shop next door but I perfer Yumi because it is quiet and they have meeting rooms as well. Daily pass is 4,000 Vatu per day, Hot desk 38,000 per month, your dedicated desk 48,000 per month and own suite from 98000 per month.

Tanna is well known for active Valcono Mt Yasur. If you are dividing your week with Tanna and Santo. An option is to book overnight trip to Tanna from Port Vila because the tour would cover your night stay. If not I recommned below accomodation providers.

White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa , Rocky Ridge Bungalows , Friendly Beach , Alofa Beach Bungalows , or Rockwater Resort

Espiritu Santo is the largest island in Vanuatu and is known for its beaches, such as Champagne Beach and Lonnoc Beach, with coral reefs and clear, sheltered waters. The town of Luganville has WWII relics like Quonset huts at Main Wharf. Nearby, popular dive sites include the sunken SS President Coolidge cruise liner and Million Dollar Point’s submerged U.S. war machinery.

Here are my suggestions on where to stay in Santo. The Hidden Lodge

Hidden Cove Eco Retreat , Turtle Bay Lodge , The Espiritu , Aore Breeze

The best times to visit Vanuatu are between April to October when the weather is dry and the temperature is warm yet comfortable averaging between 18 degrees and 28 degree Celsius. This island country has a wonderful tropical climate which means there are mosquitoes so make sure to bring repellent and sunscreen.

First of all, let’s establish the understanding of traveling is brutality! It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it. If you are okay with it, you will adapt, and you will survive.

That being said, People in Vanuatu were generally friendly regardless of where you come from and the violent crime rate is quite low. Unless there is a drastic change in the country’s political situation, pandemic, or some natural disaster it is safe to travel to Vanuatu. Just remember to apply a general rule of thumb i.e. Don’t walk down that dark alleyway on your own, respect the culture, don’t argue about religion, dress modestly, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid but be cautious. Recommend getting travel insurance as well.

The local currency is called the Vatu, with the international currency code VUV. You could withdraw VUV from ATMs on arrival at the airport or in town. However, remember to consider bank fees from your bank and the ATM withdrawal fee while you do your budget.

One of the smallest nations, Vanuatu is also linguistically the most diverse (100+ languages!) In addition to English, French and Bislama are widely spoken. Unlike many developing countries you don’t need yellow fever or cholera vaccinations when visiting.

Most hotels and some hostels also offer free WIFI but if you’ll be in Vanuatu for a while or think you’ll use the internet a lot, buying a sim with data would be worthwhile. Vodafone and Digicel have some good offers and are available at the Airport, at convenience stores, supermarkets, and the operator’s stores.

Google Translate for easy communication in case you happen to travel to remote islands.

Google Maps for ease of finding routes, offline use, Google Drive for storing pictures and Calendar for time management.

Here are my recommendations on must-try food in Vanuatu starting with Teluk (cassava with meat inside -could be chicken, beef, pork), Lap Lap (could be taro/pumpkin bed with meat on top), Simboro (s a steamed roll of grated banana, manioc, yam, taro, or flour that is wrapped in banana leaves and covered in coconut milk), Coconut fish curry, Tuna steak, Beef fillet, and Poulet fish.

For the best deals on fresh fruit and vegetables check out the local Micks food market in downtown and roadside stalls. At the market, I was buying daily coconut for 100 Vatu (50 Vatu for smaller ones) and you can also try out the above-mentioned food there as well. (food stalls are at the backend of the market. I had seafood with rice from the first stall with a lady with the name tag Miriam and the next day a nice gentleman at the third stall from the end on the last row of stalls cooked Proper fish curry with rice every meal is 500 Vatu here. I also tried Lap Lap, Teluk and simboro here)

When it comes to food costs it could be slighty similar to Western countries if you eat at 4-5 star hotels. Eg, I ate at Cafe vila few times (restaurant of a 4 star Nasama hotel) and it was $30 AUD w a drink. Another time I tried Exotic Thai and stone grill and they were all between $30 – even $45 per meal with drink.

Remember they also have a Au Bon Marche supermarket few places around town. Infact there is one right opposite the micks food market, So, i would buy coocnut and greens groceries from the market then water, eggs, etc from Au bon if you are planning to cook your own meals.

If you are a beer person, recommend the Premium Tusker beer, and Kava (the traditional drink brewed from a tree root) Kava is a staple in the South Pacific islands and apparently, Kava in Vanuatu is stronger than the one in FIJI. It’s made from yaqona that has been ground and mixed with water. This drink has an earthy and peppery taste.

Note: I found beer price fluctuate where you buy them although some do offer happy hours like at the Banana beach bar in the downtown. Recommned this place for sun downers as opposed to the beach bar one outside of town as it is quite far but if you have transport they do some cool fire shows on friday nights. Other than that, Ronnies Kava bar or Kava Lounge are pretty good spots for kava or a beer too.

Kava has also become a popular pass-time activity, a means to de-stress from the pressures of social, corporate, and personal life. However, in some social groups, the original function and etiquette that accompanies the activity have somewhat lost their reverence. It can be abused so drink responsibly.

Now that we got the practical tips out of the way, let’s get into the best places to visit during your solo trip to Vanuatu and day trips from it.

There are nearly 80 islands so if you have only 1 week I recommend visiting a few islands in Port Vila and making the most of it.

Alternatively, you can divide the week between Vila, 2 days in Tanna, and 3 days in Santo but note the internal flights are $188 one way.

If you decide to spend one whole week in Vila you can do 1 activity per day but even if you divide the week with Tanna and Santo you can still cover some key places in 3 days.

Remember buses have a B on their license plate and a taxi cab will usually have a T on their license plate. Usually, the fare anywhere you go within Port Vila is 150 vatu but if you want to go from say downtown to Blue lagoon and there aren’t other people, the driver will charge you 3000 vatu for the empty bus just to take you there.

Port Vila full day tour Nguna Island Half day Kayaking Bridges of Eden and zip line Island tour with BBQ and swimming with turtles Efate Island Tour Mele cascades Honeymoon Beach Underwater post office Hideaway island Local Food port vila Markets Blue Lagoon (I paid 2000 vatu one way from downtown (Lucky I know) so def negotiate and hitchhiked back – wouldn’t suggest doing it alone but as I was with another traveller we decided to give it a go and it was a success) For the Nguna island hike, I was in the mood for adventure again and had the time. So I took the local bus 150 Vatu to Au Bon Marche Supermarket at Manples, then waited for another bus going to Emua Whraf (another 150 Vatu), once at the wharf, it’s really your luck how much you will pay!

If there is no one then you may have to take the whole boat and the standard cost for that is 3000 vatu but if there are some locals or travellers then you are in luck and your price may vary depending on the number of people. For me there were 3 other people so it was 700 one way.

In case you are after some ease, here are some direct booking options from trusted get your guide:

Assuming you decided to stay a week in Vila and after seeing all of the above and you have a spare day or two, it is a perfect opportunity to get out of Vila to see more of what Efate has to offer. You can even visit the outskirt islands Such as The Pele Islands, Moso Island, Lelepa, Eratap Island, Ifira Island, or Iririki island. Go snorkeling and diving or chase waterfalls and go on hikes.

If you don’t feel like exploring alone, you can join any of the private or group tours below.

Mt Yasur Volcano Accessible active volcano

The easiest way to get around the country is to fly with Air Vanuatu. Once you arrive in town, you can either hire a car for exploring or use buses as locals do. For the tours, I recommend asking your hotel travel desk or booking online by DYOR.

Nanda Blue holes Champagne Beach Blue cave Port Olry

I hope this Vanuatu itinerary for 1 week gave you an insight into traveling to Vanuatu alone or with others. Discover and experience the beautiful Pacific islands, Happy Travels!

Let me know in the comments :

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Ultimate Vanuatu Travel Guide (2024)

Vanuatu – a pacific island paradise! The archipelago of Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands. Travellers come here seeking gorgeous landscapes, fantastic diving & snorkelling, rainforests, volcanoes, lagoons, stunning beaches and warm hospitality.

Our Vanuatu travel guide will cover everything you need to know about this lush island nation.

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary , some experienced hints and tips , or just craving a delicious food adventure , we’ve got you covered!

We may earn affiliate commissions from websites we link to, at no cost to you. Click here for details.

Table of Contents

How to get around in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has many islands where you can stay, and our Vanuatu travel guide includes all transport options.

The main island, Efate, has small local minivans that pick up and drop off around the island. Look for a ‘B’ fixed on the number plate and flag the driver down on the side of the road.

Tell him where you’re going and ask if he’s going that way. One of the quirks of this transport system is that there is no set bus route. The drop-off points are usually in the order of the people who got on, going directly to each person’s destination.

These trips cost 150vt (USD 1.30) per person. It’s best to have a small change to pay the driver.

Transport options from Port Vila airport to your accommodation

This Vanuatu Travel Guide will also help you with getting from the airport:

Once you arrive at the airport in Port Vila, there are two ways to do this:

Take a private taxi – Exit the arrivals hall and find a taxi driver just outside. The standard rate quoted from the airport to your accommodation on the main island is 3500vt (USD 30). You may be able to talk your way into a better price, but that all depends on how good your negotiating skills are.

You can book a private transfer here if you’d like to arrange a transfer before your arrival.

Take local transport – This is precisely what we did and it’s very easy and much more affordable. Exit the arrivals hall at the airport and wait just outside for one of the small local minivans with a ‘B’ on its number plate.

Flag the driver down when he comes past and tell him the address/road you’re going to. It’s worth double-checking the price with him. Depending on the distance from your accommodation, he may charge you more than the standard 150vt. 

Our accommodation at the beautiful Nasama Resort  was about 4km past the centre of Port Vila, located on Pango Road. We paid our driver 200vt each from the airport to our accommodation; he was happy. We were dropped off directly before our resort; it was super easy.

The local minivans are very frequent on the main island of Efate, so it doesn’t take much effort to get around using public transport.

Car hire Options – Vanuatu Travel Guide

Yes, you can also hire a car on the main island. Discover Cars offers the cheapest prices. As a rough guide, prices start from around USD 70 per day.

The island is relatively easy to drive around – but mind the potholes!

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road in Vanuatu. Renting a car can save you time exploring different beaches and reaching the islands’ highlights.

Vanuatu Travel Guide: Where to stay in Vanuatu?

Efate (main island) – There are many options for accommodation in Efate. Most travellers will book a resort with access to the beach and facilities such as a pool and restaurants and base themselves there.

We booked a beach-view studio apartment at Nasama Resort for our stay in Vanuatu, and it was perfect.

A great feature of the apartment is that it was entirely self-contained, so we had our kitchen to cook meals. It was nice to cook breakfast and enjoy it with a coffee on our patio overlooking the beach each morning.

Alternatively, there is an on-site restaurant at the resort for those who don’t wish to cater for themselves.

Cafe Vila offers a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu in a very comfortable setting.

Our studio also included a flatscreen TV with A/C and a ceiling fan.

The location of our apartment was literally on the doorstep of a beautiful little beach with turquoise blue waters and an infinity pool, too. 

We want to return to Nasama Resort on our next visit to Vanuatu – we didn’t want to leave! 

CLICK HERE to check prices and availability for Nasama Resort . Let’s get back to our Vanuatu Travel Guide.

Booking.com is an easy-to-use search engine. It offers the best selection of accommodation available all over the world. We find they offer the lowest prices and no fees. Our Tip: Search by price, and filter by best reviews.

Budget accommodation in Port Vila

If you’re looking for budget yet decent accommodation in the centre of Port Vila, I’d recommend Room with a View . Check out the  Moorings Hotel  if you’ve got a little more in the budget; rooms from USD 80 per night.

RELATED POST:  How to Visit Every Country in the Pacific – The Ultimate Guide

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Where to Eat in our Vanuatu Travel Guide?

Aside from the delicious and affordable market food, there are a few great places to eat in Port Vila – I’ve mentioned them below:

L’Houstelet – a French restaurant that has been open for over 45 years. If you’re looking for some well-cooked French-style cuisine, don’t look further than this restaurant, located directly across from the main supermarket in the centre of Port Vila. We enjoyed a delicious beef fillet with pepper sauce here, which is highly recommended.

Cafe Vila – This restaurant is part of the Nasama Resort ; however, everybody is welcome to dine here and enjoy their fresh menu. The fresh fish here is delicious. It’s less than a 10-minute drive from town; take a local minivan for 150 vt per person.

Chill Restaurant and Bar –  Great views and fantastic food at this restaurant in the centre of Port Vila. It’s a little pricey but a memorable dining experience.

Central Markets

Don’t miss out on eating some of the best food on the island. Our Vanuatu Travel Guide would be incomplete if we didn’t talk about the cuisine. Located at the rear of the fresh central markets, you can find ‘mamas’ cooking home-cooked dishes.

Several different stalls are set up here, and you can choose who to dine with. Just sit at the comfortable tables – there are menus and prices. 

I ate a coconut fish curry, served with rice and tropical salad – the price was 500vt ($4.25).

It was delicious and a very generous portion. I’d highly recommend eating here for lunch during your stay. 

You’ll also see ladies selling ‘ready meals’ in the markets for takeaway. The food is home-cooked and wholesome.

Different options were chicken with vegetables (sweet potatoes, yams and green water spinach), dried fish, and the national dish in Vanuatu, laplap. 

Try the local food! – The Best Recommendation in our Vanuatu Travel Guide

Laplap is prepared by grating breadfruit, bananas and taro and making a vegetable paste. Coconut cream is added, and meat such as chicken, beef or pork is added.

It is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an underground oven. We purchased some chicken laplap from the markets to eat for lunch, later on, the price was 200vt.

The dish tastes like mashed vegetables and bananas with coconut cream added. It was tasty, yet a little bland. The serving size was huge, and we struggled to eat the entire meal.

RELATED POST – 7 Tips – How to find the best food when travelling

We love self-catering when we travel

Eating out for every meal can be costly, so if you choose to book an apartment as we did, having access to a full kitchen is priceless. We cooked quite a few meals during our stay here.

Our portable coffee machine was our saviour! It’s hard to find a good coffee on the island, and if you do, you’ll be paying at least $5 for one. We always travel with our espresso machine and a bag of freshly ground coffee.

Things to do in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has some of the world’s best beaches and diving/snorkelling. Most guesthouses and hotels can organise daily excursions. However, I’d recommend saving yourself a lot of money and booking activities online.

Viator is one of our favourite sites for booking food tours, day tours, and attraction tickets. It’s so easy to just browse the tours on Viator , pay online, and immediately receive your tour voucher.

Vanuatu Travel Guide – The cost

How much does stuff cost from the supermarket?

**Index of prices** Price shown in VUV/USD

• 1.5L bottle of water 150vt / $1.30
• Small NZ butter 220vt / $1.85
• Canned tomatoes 160vt / $1.35
• Baguette 60vt / $0.50
• eggs (each) 40vt / 0.33c
• 1 x small bottle Tusker beer 225vt / $1.90
• Tinned tuna 100vt / $0.85c
• 2min noodles 50vt / $0.42c
• UHT milk 1L 150vt / $1.30
• Bag spaghetti 500g from 150vt /   $1.30
• Bottle of wine 870vt / $7.40

Cost of fresh produce from the fresh markets

• Bunch of 12 small bananas 200vt / $1.70
• Small punnet of baby tomatoes 200vt / $1.70
• Pineapple 100-250vt / $0.84c – $2.10
• Eggplant (x3) 200vt / $1.70
• Avocado from 60-200vt / $1.70
• Potatoes/sweet potatoes (sml bag) 200vt / $1.70

We picked up a few groceries at Au Bon Marche, a larger supermarket that is located next to the fresh central markets in Port Vila. It’s convenient to visit both at the same time.

After shopping for food, we caught a local bus to our resort from the front of the markets for 150vt per person. 

Popular Activities & Day Trips in Vanuatu

Vanuatu travel guide for the best beaches.

What would our Vanuatu travel guide be without telling you about the best beaches to visit while you’re here?

Eton Beach – This is arguably the nicest beach on the main island of Efate. Expect white sand, palm trees and turquoise blue waters – just like you’ve seen in those travel magazines. The nearby reef cradles a natural pool where you can relax and watch small tropical fish swim around you.

Paradise Cove Beach – This beach is conveniently located near Port Vila. Bring your snorkel and enjoy fantastic swimming and snorkelling while you’re here. This is a beautiful beach in a lush setting.

Hideaway Beach – A popular place to come and enjoy a lazy day of swimming, snorkelling and relaxing. Unfortunately, we noticed that the coral reef has suffered heavily due to the number of visitors trampling over it. Yet, it was still teeming with beautiful tropical fish and underwater life. There is a beach restaurant where you can enjoy lunch or a cold beer. You can also hire snorkelling gear at reception for a fee.

Hideaway Island is also home to the world’s only underwater post office, so kids (and adults) can get a kick out of swimming underwater to send that postcard from paradise!

Note: You must pay an entrance fee of 1250vt or AUD 17 for adults.

Champagne Beach – A famous beach located on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. The beach is renowned for its shimmering crystal-clear waters and powdery white sands. See the bubbly water rising in the lagoon, caused by volcanic gas forcing the water to fizz through the rocks at low tide. This island receives many visitors on cruise boats from Australia.

Bokissa beach – Powder white sands, turquoise water and swaying palm trees. To the south of Espiritu Santo, Bokissa Island is an ideal place to escape and relax in paradise. Perfect for swimming, snorkelling and enjoying the warm tropical breezes of Vanuatu.

Other islands in Vanuatu worth visiting

Tanna Island is one of the most popular islands to visit in Vanuatu.

The biggest drawcard for visitors is to visit Mt Yasur Volcano. You can reserve simple accommodation in bungalows or a treehouse for incredible views of the volcano.

Accommodation options in Tanna:

• Castle Tree House & Bungalows –  Set in White Sands, Castle Tree House And Bungalow provides a garden. Featuring a shared kitchen, this property also welcomes guests with a restaurant, a water park and a terrace.
• Friendly Beach – Friendly Beach offers luxurious beachfront accommodation in a remote location. Each beachfront has a large terrace with a hammock and lounge seat, providing views across the Pacific Ocean.
• Rocky Ridge Bungalows – Set in Tanna Island, Rocky Ridge Bungalows offers accommodation with a balcony. This is an affordable accommodation for those travellers on a budget.

There are daily flights to Tanna with Air Vanuatu. Check availability, and the cheapest flights can be found on Skyscanner .

Espiritu Santo Island is famous for its fantastic beaches, range of basic or luxury accommodations, hiking, relaxing and scuba diving and snorkelling.

Accommodation options in Espiritu Santo:

Santo Seaside Villas – A great option with breakfast included in the rate. Clean and comfortable rooms and the staff are super friendly.

Beachfront Resort – A great mid-range option. Guests can enjoy a swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar on this property. Free Wi-Fi and continental breakfast.

Turtle Bay Lodge – This is a beautiful property with excellent reviews, including breakfast and a waterfront location. If you’ve got the budget to stay here, with prices starting at around $100 per night, then book it!

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Things to remember about travel in Vanuatu

• To visit many island beaches, hot springs, blue holes and caves, you’ll have to pay the landowners (in the form of entrance fees), so ensure you have some local currency or AUD.
• Bring your snorkelling gear to save on hire fees.
• Tap water is OK to drink
• English and French are widely spoken here.
• Use local (shared) transport and boats to get around to keep costs down.

Make sure you get Travel Insurance before hitting the road. We recommend Heymondo & SafetyWing

Click here and get 5% off Heymondo from us!

And that’s our Vanuatu Travel Guide. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments. 

Love to eat when you travel? After reading our Vanuatu travel guide, check out our post about   5 foods you cannot miss in Vanuatu .

For more stories from our crazy adventure to visit every country in the world , read about the time we got stranded in the Pacific—cancelled flights, lost luggage, and coronaviru s.

Travel Tips for Oceania & Australia

We have many travel guides and tips for Oceania & Australia—a fascinating continent!

Australia is ideal for exploring with two wheels! If you plan to explore Oz, check out our best tips for doing the Big Lap of Australia 

These 12 classic foods from Australia  are unmissable and remember to get a photo with the 30 best BIG THINGS in Australia.

Do you plan to visit the Pacific islands? You’ll need our ULTIMATE guide to visit every country in the Pacific.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel longer after visiting Australia and Oceania, these 21 cheapest countries to visit will make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in this region of the world. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual countries .

If your travels in Australia and Oceania are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries , offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM . The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour.

Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming departures in Australia or Oceania, or view these Tourraddar deals on group tours in Oceania & Australia here .

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.

Travel Planning Resources

✈️ Flights : We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.

🏨 Accommodation :  Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation. We use Vrbo to book apartments and long-term stays.

🏥 Travel Insurance : We recommend Heymondo ( Get 5% off Heymondo)  & SafetyWing

🚌 Transportation : Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.  

🚘 Car Rental : We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.

👫 Group Tours : We now offer Group Trips; check them out here . Alternatively, we recommend G Adventures OR Tourradar .

📸 Day Tours & Trips :  GetYourGuide  & Viator are the only two platforms you need.

📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks , and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)

🎒 Luggage :  Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack  or  Samsonite Luggage Range.

🛄 What to Pack:  Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good  power bank .  To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers .

🐶 Become a House Sitter:  Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.

💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE  &  Revolut  are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.

📶  Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use promo code NOMAD15 for 15% off ALL eSIMs (new Airalo users only) OR use NOMAD10 for 10% off ALL eSIMs (for existing Airalo users)

✅ Check out our Travel Gear  and  Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!

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Vanuatu Tours & Vacations

An unforgettable archipelago of 83 islands, each one more beautiful than the last.

Vanuatu isn’t your run-of-the-mill tropical paradise in the South Pacific . Sure, you could spend your time lying on deserted beaches or swinging in hammocks, but there are volcanoes to be hiked, reefs to be snorkeled, songs to be sung and dances to be… attempted. There’s plenty to dip your toe into ­– from cascades to hot springs to flourishing marine reserves – and the swimming spots are just the start. A welcome here is like a welcome home; come to Vanuatu and you’ll never want to leave.

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Vanuatu at a glance

Capital city.

Port Vila (51,000)

Bislama, English, French

(GMT+11:00) Port Vila, Noumea, Honiara

CALLING CODE

Electricity.

Type I (Australian/New Zealand & Chinese/Argentine 2/3-pin)

Learn more about Vanuatu

History and government.

It’s believed that the first people to inhabit the islands of Vanuatu were the Lapita, who left remnants of their pottery at sites stretching from northern PNG to Samoa. It’s thought that they appeared in the South Pacific around the years 1000­–1500 BC.

Villages popped up on different islands though people were separated by language and geographical features. There was also a strong belief in black magic, which was blamed when misfortune struck. Cannibalism was rife among the different tribes as it was believed that consuming an enemy would bring their strength to the victor.

Age of exploration

The 17th century saw explorers arriving in the South Pacific from Europe. In 1605 a Portuguese explorer employed by Spain arrived in Vanuatu during an attempt to find ‘terra australis’. He pulled into Santo Island and, in the belief that he had found modern-day Australia, named it Terra Australia del Espiritu Santo.

In the late 18th century James Cook mapped the islands of Vanuatu and named several of them including Tanna and Ambrym, names which are still used today. He named the entire island chain the New Hebrides.

Missionaries

The first missionaries arrived in Vanuatu in the 19th century but were met with a hostile reception, perhaps because of previous atrocities committed by traders. After several missionaries were eaten the church sent Polynesian missionaries in the hope they would be accepted, but they too were served up for lunch.

This isn’t to say that cannibalism was rife throughout all of Vanuatu. A chief named Roi Mata ruled Central Vanuatu (Efate, Lelepa, Moso etc.) during the 17th century and he famously brought the different tribes together for a feast, espousing the benefits of living in harmony. He told people to bring different items to the feast – yam, coconut and more – and then split them into tribes based on the item. To this day people identify themselves through their mother’s tribe, whether it’s the coconut tribe, yam tribe, breadfruit tribe or whatever.

Despite this new-found peace in some parts of Vanuatu, other areas suffered from various epidemics as a result of interaction with traders and missionaries. Entire populations were wiped out as a result of measles, smallpox, pneumonia and more, and over the course of the 19th century it’s estimated that the population dropped from approximately one million to 100,000.

British and French influence

Settlers from Britain continued to arrive in Vanuatu through the 19th century and so did the French, who had laid claim to New Caledonia in 1853. By the end of the century much of Vanuatu’s farmland was owned by foreigners.

The British and the French continued to clash, with a 1906 agreement decreeing that the British and French would have equals right in Vanuatu while the locals would essentially have none. Everything was duplicated – police, schools, currencies – and laws and regulations differed depending on whether you subscribed to French or British rule.

Pacific War and the path to independence

WWII saw the Japanese advance through Pacific territories and the US sent soldiers to Vanuatu to construct military bases. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers ended up passing through the islands at some point and many locals were employed on the bases. Much of the American equipment was left in Vanuatu and the sunken planes and ships are now popular drawcards for divers.

Once the war had ended the slow journey towards independence began. The biggest issue for locals was the use of land by foreigners and several political movements sprung up in favor of independence. After various secession attempts and avoided conflicts with the British and French, independence was declared on 30 July 1980.

Vanuatu has had a rollercoaster ride since independence. The founding prime minister, Walter Lini, served until 1991 and after this everything became slightly chaotic. Bribery, corruption and mutinies dominated the political landscape, and these problems resurfaced in 2015.

Most recently, Vanuatu has seen huge investment from the Chinese into tourist and government infrastructure. This investment has sparked conversations about the power balance in the South Pacific as the Chinese naval strength continues to grow. For now, however, Vanuatu remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its stunning beaches, excellent diving and welcoming culture.

Geography and environment

Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands of varying sizes, though not all of these are inhabited. The northern islands have an equatorial climate, which is hot and rainy throughout the year, while the central and southern islands have a tropical climate with a hot, rainy season from December through March and a cool, dry season from May to October.

The islands are actually spread some 560 Miles (900 kilometers) from north to south and while this geographical spread means the weather can be quite different, most of islands are characterized by a mountainous, volcanic landscape with quite high elevation. Given Vanuatu’s location on the Ring of Fire, there are a number of active volcanoes, the most famous of which is Mt Yasur on Tanna Island. It’s nicknamed the Lighthouse of the Pacific as its glowing cone can be seen from the sea and is also a popular tourist attraction as it’s possible to walk right up to its crater.

The islands are typical of the South Pacific – mangoes, bananas and coconuts grow among swaying palm trees, while life below the water is perhaps even more beautiful. The coral reefs provide a home for an array of colorful fish, sharks and more. And though the coral in some areas has been damaged as a result of the cyclones, a strong recovery is expected.

On the topic of cyclones, Vanuatu has the unenviable title of the world’s most at-risk country for natural hazards, according to a UN report. Earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones – the Ni-Vanuatu know them all well thanks to Vanuatu’s position in a very volatile area of the world. The most recent disaster, Cyclone Pam, came through in 2015 and levelled a huge area and left some 75,000 people homeless with an estimated 90 per cent of crops destroyed. Despite this, the Ni-Vanuatu constantly rebuild their island homes and revel in the strong ties they have with the land.

Festival and events

Given the spread of Vanuatu’s islands and the unique customs and traditions observed on each one, there are festivals throughout the year celebrating everything from Christian saints to black magic to the humble yam.

Independence Day

Vanuatu celebrates its independence from Britain and France on July 30 every year. Expect food, dancing and music across the country.

John Frum Day

John Frum is a mythical figure on Tanna Island. He’s worshipped by the island’s cargo cults and he is supposedly an America WWII soldier who will give materialistic wealth to those that follow him. February 15 every year is John Frum Day, during which followers hold a military parade complete with wooden rifles in the hope that John Frum will return.

Yam & Magic Festival

North Ambrym Island is known for the black magic that supposedly still exists on the island. This festival, held in July, celebrates the importance of the yam to the people of Vanuatu and features dancing, ritual magic and feasts.

St Andrew’s Day Festival

The locals of Rah and Mota Lava islands have been celebrating the life of Saint Andrew for over 100 years. The three-day festival is an infusion of Christian and traditional customs with singing, dancing, cooking and other cultural activities.

Public holidays that may impact travel include:

Father Lini Day

Custom Chief’s Day

Ascension Day

Children’s Day

Assumption of Mary

Constitution Day

Please note dates of Vanuatu's public holidays may vary.

Culture and customs

You’ll struggle to find a bigger grin than the one that greets you in Vanuatu. This is, after all, the fourth-happiest country in the world, and there’s plenty for the locals to be happy about.

It’s hard to say what makes the Ni-Vanuatu – those from Vanuatu – such happy people. Maybe it’s the importance placed on family and social connection, maybe it’s the abundance of coconuts. Maybe it’s the fact that thanks to Chief Roi Mata, the threat of cannibalism no longer weighs heavy on their shoulders. Whatever it is, it pervades all 83 of the islands that make up Vanuatu.

The Ni-Vanuatu are Melanesian, the same as those coming from the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. They have almost no genetic relation to Polynesian people.

Religion plays an important role in Vanuatu’s daily life. The majority of the country practices Christianity but celebrations will usually blend traditional and Christian practices. And on the topic of celebrations, well, they’re common. There are festivals throughout the year and huge parties are held whenever there’s a wedding happening.

Eating and drinking

Vanuatu’s cuisine is very much based off sea food, fresh fruits and vegetables. While Port Vila has plenty of supermarkets and restaurants, those living on the smaller islands rely heavily on what they can grow in their gardens. In the mornings the men will usually head off on fishing boats in search of yellowfin and skipjack tuna and the catch will be split among their family, their neighbors and, if they manage to get a big haul, they might sell some fish on to the local restaurants too.

These are some of the culinary highlights to look out for:

• Laplap Laplap is Vanuatu’s national dish. It’s simple, it’s tasty and it’s widespread. The locals take a taro, grate it and pound it into a paste, then it’s laid out on a banana leaf and coconut milk is added. They add meat – maybe pork, beef, fish or even flying fox – then wrap it up and put it underground in a rock oven.
• Simboro Go to your garden and grab some cassava, island cabbage and coconut. Grate the cassava and roll it up in some island cabbage like a sushi roll. Shuck the coconut, add water to the flesh and make a coconut cream, then poach the rolls in the cream. Voila. 
• Pineapple You’ve no doubt seen a pineapple before, but you haven’t tasted pineapple until you’ve had it in Vanuatu. This is the sweetest, tastiest pineapple in the world and you’ll find it everywhere.
• Kava If you’ve previously spent time in Melanesian or Polynesian places you’ve probably come across kava, a ceremonial drink made from the root of the kava plant. In Vanuatu, it has become part of everyday life for many local men and they’ll often get together at the end of the day to share a shell or two. It’s said to have a calming effect on the body and you may well be offered some when you arrive in a new community.

Shopping in Vanuatu is limited to the market stalls typical of Melanesian nations. There are ample souvenirs of the cheap plastic kind, but we recommend trying to find a locally made memento.

Remember, it's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

The local women weave baskets, bookmarks, placemats and more. These can be found in the markets in bigger cities like Port Vila, or in smaller villages that you may be visiting on a day tour.

Some of the local men carve small necklaces and larger sculptures that can be purchased at markets or in villages. Dolphins and turtles are particularly popular.

Visit the craft markets in the bigger towns and you’ll almost certainly find a local artist selling paintings of sunsets, volcanoes and sea creatures. Most of these artists are incredibly talented and the colourful paintings are of great value.

Tanna Island is well known for its coffee production. Find some beans to bring home on the island itself or you’ll be able to pick up a bag at one of Port Vila’s many cafes or markets.

A hangover of Vanuatu’s French colonial days, there are several small chocolate-makers operating in Port Vila. Pay them a visit, sample some different flavours and perhaps bring a few blocks home.

Vanuatu travel FAQs

When is the best time to visit vanuatu.

The best time to visit Vanuatu’s southern islands is from May to October. This is generally the coolest, driest period of the year, with the cyclone season beginning in December. If you’re visiting the northern islands, the best time to visit is from July to September. Cyclones are most likely from mid–to–late December until early April.

Is it safe to visit Vanuatu?

When it comes to theft and personal crime, Vanuatu is a very safe place to visit. Travelers are advised to take precautions in Port Vila and avoid extravagant displays of wealth and walking alone at night.

Given Vanuatu’s geographical location, earthquakes and cyclones occur regularly and tsunamis do happen too.

Cyclone season lasts from November/December through till April/May but they can happen at any time. Local phone numbers are messaged and regularly updated when a cyclone moves into Vanuatu’s waters.

Port Vila has a tsunami warning system and travelers are advised to move to higher ground if there is a long tremor or warning sirens.

Do you need a visa for Vanuatu?

Travelers of all nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival in Vanuatu. This visa lasts a maximum of 30 days.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your country of origin. Check the Essential Trip Information section of your tour itinerary for more information.

The page is for general information only and may be subject to change. It is your responsibility to obtain the relevant visa and travel information required for entry, departure and travel to each country or region you visit on your trip. You should confirm these with the relevant embassies and/or consulates. 

Last updated: 3 January 2023

Is tipping customary in Vanuatu?

Tipping is not customary in Vanuatu though tipping loose change or rounding up the bill at a restaurant is always appreciated. A smile and ‘tank you tumas’ (thank you) should suffice. It’s worth nothing that bargaining in shops and markets is not part of the culture here either.

What is the internet access like in Vanuatu?

In Port Vila and Luganville there are a number of cafes and bars that offer free wi-fi. Most hotels and resorts will also offer wi-fi, either free or for a small fee. In the villages people tend to use their phones for internet access – if you’d like to be able to access the internet for the entire length of your trip then your best option is to purchase a local SIM with Digicel or TVL.

Some islands will be better suited to a particular carrier so if you are spending the majority of your time in one place, then it’s worth having a chat at the phone shop about which SIM is best for you.

Can I use my mobile/cell phone while in Vanuatu?

If you’d like to use your mobile/cell phone in Vanuatu your best option is to purchase a local SIM card on arrival. The main villages on most islands generally have good 3G reception, while the larger islands including Efate and Santo have 4G reception. If you wish to use your own SIM then be sure to activate global roaming before departing your home country and check with your carrier for international fees.

What are the toilets like in Vanuatu?

The toilets in Vanuatu will vary depending on your itinerary. In hotels, flushable Western-style toilets are the norm, and the same applies for many bars and cafes. The situation will be a lot more basic on the smaller islands – don’t expect a flushing toilet.

Can I drink the water in Vanuatu?

The tap water in Port Vila and Luganville is generally safe to drink. Outside of these areas, water will need to be treated. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water and fill a reusable water bottle instead. Ask your leader where filtered water can be found.

Are credit cards widely accepted in Vanuatu?

Major credit cards are generally accepted at hotels, supermarkets and restaurants in the main touristed areas of Vanuatu like Port Vila and Luganville. Outside of these cities, as well as in smaller shops, it’s unlikely that credit cards will be accepted so make sure you have cash on you.

What is ATM access like in Vanuatu?

ATMs can be found in Port Vila and Luganville but outside of these cities the access is minimal. If you plan on leaving the main tourist areas for an extended period it’s important to be prepared with a good supply of vatu.

What is the weather like in Vanuatu?

From May–October, Port Vila sees average temperatures of 63–81°F with an average rainfall of 4–5 inches. The maximum average temperature increases to 86°F over the summertime with over 11.8 inches of rainfall. The north sees similar temperature ranges but with a lot more rainfall. Keep in mind that the humidity makes it feel much, much warmer than it necessarily is.

Is Vanuatu safe for LGBTQIA+ travellers?

Though same-sex sexual activity was legalized in Vanuatu in 2007, and those who identify differently are now protected under discrimination laws, same-sex marriage is still not recognized by the government. Public displays of affection are not common in Vanuatu, which is a conservative and very Christian country, so both LGBTQIA+ and heterosexual couples should display discretion in public.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting  Equaldex  or  ILGA  before you travel.

If you are traveling solo on an Intrepid group tour, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travelers who do not wish to share a room.

Is Vanuatu accessible for travellers with disabilities?

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. We’re always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Vanuatu, along with most of the South Pacific, does not have good facilities for travelers with disabilities. Public transport (where it exists) doesn’t tend to have ramp access, the footpaths are often damaged or non-existent, and traveling by boat between islands can be logistically complex. Some of the larger international resorts will have rooms equipped for those with limitations but this is not the norm. That said, the Ni-Vanuatu look after their elders and the disabled and will go out of their way to help travelers that are having issues.

As a general rule, knowing some common words in the local language, carrying a written itinerary with you and taking to the streets in a group, rather than solo, can help make your travel experience the best it can be.

What to wear in Vanuatu

Loose-fitting clothing is best to keep travelers cool throughout the year. Malaria is present on the islands, so long-sleeved shirts and light trousers are great for wearing at dusk and dawn when the mosquitos are about. It can get quite cool in the evenings during the winter (June, July, August), so it’s worth having a light jumper/sweater as well as a light raincoat for rain showers throughout the year.

Do I need to purchase travel insurance before traveling?

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

How do I stay safe and healthy while traveling?

From Australia?

Go to: Smart Traveller

From Canada?

Go to:  Canada Travel Information

From the UK?

Go to:  UK Foreign Travel Advice

From New Zealand?

Go to:  Safe Travel

From the US?

Go to:  US Department of State

The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.

Does my trip support The Intrepid Foundation?

Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners, Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.

Eden Reforestation Projects

Eden Reforestation Projects are helping to mitigate climate change by restoring forests worldwide; they also hire locally and create job opportunities within vulnerable communities. Donations from our trips support restoration across planting sites in 10 countries around the globe. Find out more or make a donation World Bicycle Relief

World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilize school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most. Find out more or make a donation

Vanuatu Travel Guide

Last Updated: January 30, 2023

The archipelago of Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands that offer fantastic tropical views, vivid landscapes, lush rainforests, world-class diving, lots of fish, and unforgettable Pacific hospitality.

A lot of people visit Vanuatu when they are in New Zealand since the flight time is short and there are the most connections.

Prices in Vanuatu are lower than other Pacific islands as it’s not yet a “hotspot” to visit. But just because tons of people don’t come here doesn’t mean it isn’t paradise. In fact, it’s probably even more of a paradise because of the fewer people!

Come here for friendly locals, lush jungles, unspoiled beaches, and great seafood. It’s a beautiful place to disconnect and relax.

This travel guide to Vanuatu helps you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this tropical paradise!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Vanuatu

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Vanuatu

1. Go diving

There is amazing diving in Vanuatu, with underwater tunnels, caves, and grottoes to explore. There are tons of turtles, sharks, and rays in the waters here, there are pristine soft and hard corals, the water is warm, and the visibility is out of this world. If you’re lucky you might also see dolphins on the way to or from your dive. Don’t miss the SS “President Coolidge” wreck, which sank after running into mines during World War II. Single-tank dives cost around 8,500 VUV but many places only do two-tank trips.

2. See Mount Yasur

This is the world’s most accessible active volcano (and, indeed, one of the world’s most active volcanoes), where visitors can get up close to the caldera and watch it erupt (they’re small eruptions, nothing to worry about). Access is via a short rutted road that can be either driven in a 4WD or hiked (most people go by car). You can even camp around the volcano if you’re feeling extra daring. The hike to the top takes under an hour. Ask your accommodation to help you book a tour if you want to go by car.

3. Take a village tour

The tours of the tribal villages are educational and shed light on the people who call Vanuatu home. Ekasup Cultural Village is the best-known tour but there are options on all of the three main islands and on some of the other islands too. Some take you via minivan while others are done by bike. Prices vary but expect to spend at least 4,000 VUV for a day tour.

4. Explore Port Vila

Here, you can see evidence of the shared colonial influence of France and Britain. The food seems to be French-influenced while the language is a Pidgin English called Bislama. Along the main street, you can find duty-free stores and local shops selling artisanal crafts and there are some decent restaurants and bars here too. If you’re in town for a while, pay a visit to the National Museum, head to the outdoor market, head to the Summit to explore the Secret (botanic) Gardens, and go snorkeling just off the coast at Hideaway Island (1,250 VUV entry).

5. Visit Mystery Island

This tiny island is just 1 kilometer long (0.6 miles) and 200 meters (656 feet) wide. It’s largely uninhabited, save for travelers who fly or cruise here to explore its golden beaches, hike its remote jungles, and snorkel in its crystalline waters. As well as snorkeling it’s great for other water sports like kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. You can take a few boat tours that operate here but they’re mostly limited to glass-bottomed boats and deep-sea fishing. If you’d rather stay on dry land, check out the beach markets or go get a massage. Flights from Port Vila take around 3 hours as you have to go via Tanna.

Other Things to See and Do in Vanuatu

1. hike to the mele cascades.

These waterfalls are some of the most famous in the whole country. They are easy to get to and the surrounding area has lots of hiking opportunities. They’re just 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Port Vila and the hike to them takes 2-3 hours. Admission is 2,000 VUV so pack a lunch and make an afternoon of it to get your money’s worth.

2. Visit Chief Roi Mata’s Domain

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is half an hour’s drive north of Port Vila. Mata was a 12th-century ruler who was poisoned by his brother. The area of northwest Efate and the islands of Lelepa and Artok represent the Chief’s historic area of influence. The region has several archeological sites you can visit. You can see where the chief lived, where he is buried, and where he was killed. Don’t miss the National Museum and Cultural Center to learn about the region’s history and culture before heading off to the Northwest of Efate to check out the domain.

3. Explore the islands

Rent a kayak or sailboat, or head out on an organized boat tour around the islands. Kayaking tours take you to a small coral island, which is stunningly beautiful. A full-day kayak or SUP rental is around 3,000 VUV while a guided tour costs 6,000 VUV. Boat tours start at 7,500 VUV.

4. Enjoy some water sports

Whether it’s kitesurfing, surfing, or parasailing, you can find something on the beach to keep you active or get your heart pounding. Prices vary depending on the activity so ask your accommodation to help you book lessons or gear or tours. Erakor Point, Port Resolution, and Pango Point are some popular spots for surfing.

5. Soak in the hot springs

In the northeast of Efate about an hour’s drive from Port Vila are the Nasinu Hot Springs. A local family runs the thermal springs and they are relatively basic and undeveloped (don’t expect any modern or fancy facilities). There are thermal pools and a mud bath, both of which claim to offer healing properties. There’s a restaurant nearby too.

6. Go fishing

Fishing is a popular pastime (and job) in Vanuatu and there are many competitions held throughout the year. A lot of companies offer deep-sea fishing trips for swordfish, marlin, Dorado, and Wahoo. Prices vary depending on how long you go for but expect to pay at least 100,000 VUV for a charter (they’re best shared between a group to split the cost).

7. Visit the underwater post office

Just 49 meters (160 feet) off the coast of Mele is a fully-functional underwater post office. What started as a funny idea over drinks by the local Postmaster eventually became a reality in 2003. You can only access the post office by diving to the ocean floor — and the post box is only open at certain hours. On land, you can purchase an embossed waterproof postcard that you can drop off in the underwater post box. To this day, it’s one of the only places in the world you can send mail underwater!

8. Watch naghol

Vanuatu travel costs.

Accommodation – Hostels with dorms are in short supply so budget-conscious travelers should look for affordable guesthouses. Expect prices to start artounf 3,000 VUV per night. Most include free Wi-Fi and free breakfast. Those that don’t offer breakfast usually have kitchens.

Airbnb is available around the islands with private rooms starting at 2,100 VUV per night, however, most prices average triple that. For an entire home or apartment, prices start at 3,000 VUV per night.

For those traveling with a tent, wild camping is prohibited and there are no campgrounds here. To pitch your tent, you need permission from the landowner. For that reason, camping isn’t recommended here.

Food – Vanuatuan cuisine is based heavily on fish, root vegetables like yam and taro, coconuts, and fresh fruit. Mangoes, plantain, pineapples, and papayas are all readily available. Be sure to try lap lap , (baked yam pudding) and simboro (a steamed roll wrapped in banana leaf). Tuna, Red Emperor, Parrotfish, Cod, and lobster are all common seafood staples.

Be sure to try kava , a traditional psychoactive non-alcoholic drink that’s extremely popular. It used to be consumed only at ceremonies and festivals but is now a common drink for all social situations. It has a mild narcotic effect and is quite relaxing, so it’s usually consumed at dusk.

For a meal of traditional cuisine, expect to pay 1,500 VUV. For a pizza, prices start at 1,300 VUV while Thai or Vietnamese food (which can only be found around Port Vila) costs around 1,700-2,000 VUV.

A three-course meal of traditional cuisine costs 3,250 VUV. A cappuccino costs 385 VUV, a beer costs 450 VUV, and a bottle of water costs 100 VUV.

For a week’s worth of basic groceries including staples like fish, seasonal produce, and rice, expect to pay at least 10,000 VUV. Eliminating expensive imported products such as cheese, chicken and beef can help you to keep these costs down.

Backpacking Vanuatu Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget of 11,000 VUV per day, you can stay in a budget guesthouse or a private room on Airbnb, cook most of your meals and have the occasional meal out, limit your drinking, do cheap activities like hiking and snorkeling, and use local transportation to get around.

On a mid-range budget of 26,000 VUV per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb apartment, eat out for all your meals, go diving, take some taxis to get around, enjoy a few drinks, and do some water sports like kayaking.

On a “luxury” budget of 48,000 VUV per day, you can stay in a hotel, rent a car to get around, visit other islands, take guided tours, eat out at any restaurant you want, and enjoy all the water sports and excursions that you want! This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in XX.

Vanuatu Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Vanuatu may not be as expensive as other nearby islands but it’s not super cheap either. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to save money in Vanuatu:

• Bring your own snorkeling gear – If you’re going to snorkel more than once or twice, bring your own gear. Rental prices can add up and the budget rental gear here is usually in poor condition.
• Avoid the resorts – The resorts here overcharge for everything. Avoid them!
• Cook your own meals – Stay somewhere with a kitchen to save money on food costs. It won’t be as glamorous as eating out, but it cuts your food costs significantly.
• Stay somewhere with free breakfast – Many budget hotels include free breakfast. Stay at one of them to lower your daily food expenses.
• Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and lower your single-use plastic consumption. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a filter so you can ensure your water is clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Vanuatu

There are virtually no hostels in Vanuatu so budget travelers need to rely on affordable guesthouses and hotels as their main accommodation choice. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started and save money:

• Bluepango (Port Vila)
• Travellers Budget Motel (Port Vila)
• Retreat Seaside (Port Vila)
• Volcano Island Paradise Bungalows (Tanna)

How to Get Around Vanuatu

Ferry – Ferries are available between the main islands, though they don’t operate often (some only go once per week) and they can take several hours. Expect to pay between 5,000-10,000 VUV for a one-way ferry ride. There are also some smaller boats that operate called banana boats. Head to the port to find out the most recent timetable and fares.

For destinations further afield, such as Luganville, the 25-hour ferry costs around 10,000 VUV.

Bus – The bus system here has no fixed routes but you can usually catch one along one of the main roads. There aren’t always bus stops, particularly outside of the towns, so simply wave down a bus, hop on, and tell them when to stop. There are buses around Efate and along the east coast of Espiritu Santo. Expect to pay around 150 VUV for short journeys and 200-500 VUV for longer ones.

Taxi – Taxis in Vanuatu charge around 100 VUV per kilometer, although it can be more if the road conditions are bad! If you’re traveling from the airport to downtown Port Vila, it’s a flat fee of 1,400 VUV.

Flying – Efate, Santo, and Tanna can be reached via relatively affordable flights. Expect to pay around 16,000 VUV for the one-hour flight from Efate to Santo. The one-hour flight from Efate to Tanna costs about the same.

For the smaller islands, most of the airports have grass landing strips and are little more than fields. Some don’t even have electricity and most have no other facilities there. Expect smaller planes and more expensive flights.

Car rental – If you want to explore the main island by car, rentals start at 6,500 VUV per day. An International Driving Permit (IDP) isn’t required to rent a car here. Drivers typically need to be 23 years old and have had their license for at least one year.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking in Vanuatu is hard. There isn’t a lot of traffic here so expect long waits. However, the locals are friendly and usually don’t mind picking people up. Hitchwiki is your best resource for additional information.

When to Go to Vanuatu

April to October is the most popular time to visit Vanuatu. This is when temperatures are a comfortable 18-28°C (65-82°F).

November to March is the wet season, however, showers are usually brief and there is still plenty of sunshine. There are fewer crowds and slightly cheaper prices during this period as well.

May-June and September-October are the shoulder season and offer the best balance of price and weather.

The water in Vanuatu is a mild 22-28°C (72-82°F) all year round so you can really enjoy this island paradise any time.

How to Stay Safe in Vanuatu

Vanuatu is very safe and violent crime against visitors is rare. Petty theft is the most common issue, so keep your valuables secured and out of sight to avoid trouble. Always lock your accommodation and keep any valuables stored in a safe if possible. Most crimes are crimes of opportunity so as long as you take precautions you should be fine.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Scams here are rare, but if you’re worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here

November-April is cyclone season. Be prepared for potential flooding and landslides. Earthquakes are also common in this region of the world, so always make sure you’re familiar with your accommodation’s emergency exits. While unlikely, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Since the country has more conservative social values, avoid wearing clothing that is too revealing.

Tropical diseases like Dengue fever and malaria are possible (especially in the rainy season). Make sure you have a vaccination for Dengue and seek medical advice about your options for malaria before arriving.

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Vanuatu Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Vanuatu Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on South Pacific travel and continue planning your trip:

Learning How to Scuba Dive in Fiji

How to Backpack the Yasawa Islands

Trapped in Paradise: A Trip to Fiji

The 20 Best Tropical Islands in the World

Get your  free travel starter kit.

Enter your email and get planning cheatsheets including a step by step checklist, packing list, tips cheat sheet, and more so you can plan like a pro!

• Where To Stay
• Transportation
• Booking Resources
• Related Blogs

Ultimate Vanuatu Travel Guide 2024 – Everything You Need to Know

The ultimate vanuatu travel guide post.

You’ve landed on the ultimate Vanuatu travel guide that details everything you need to know about visiting the beautiful South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

This Vanuatu blog post is designed to provide you with all the information you need to plan a memorable and authentic experience.

From the best places to visit and the most exciting activities to sign up for to practical tips for where to stay, how to get around, and how to stay safe.

I traveled solo to Vanuatu over Easter in 2023 and although it wasn’t the smoothest of trips, I have a lot of insights to share with you! Traveling to a less developed country can be tricky, but don’t fear I’ve uncovered a lot of information about Vanuatu travel that you simply can’t find online.

Whether you are a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler to Vanuatu, this Vanuatu travel guide will help you make the most of your time on this stunning and unique island nation.

So, pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for an unforgettable journey to Vanuatu!

DO YOU HAVE THESE ITEMS FOR YOUR TRIP?

✔️ Flights: Book your flights on Skyscanner 

➡️ Car rental: Rent your car on DiscoverCars

✔️ Travel insurance:   I recommend World Nomads

➡️ Accommodations:   Book your stay at booking.com

✔️ Activities:   Arrange your adventure trips and tours

Top 13 Best Things to See and Do in Vanuatu

A Vanuatu travel guide wouldn’t be complete without the best things to do.

Here are my 5 ride-or-die or die things to see and do in Vanuatu.

1. Tanna Blue Cave

Located on the island of Tanna, the Blue Cave is a natural wonder that is sure to take your breath away. The cave is filled with crystal clear water that glows a brilliant blue when sunlight filters through the cave’s entrance. Take a guided tour with Whitegrass Resort to swim and explore the cave, an experience I will remember for life.

✔️  Mt. Yasur Volcano full day Tour including Blue Cave  

2. Blue Holes of Santo

The Blue Holes are a must-visit attraction in Vanuatu. These deep, freshwater holes are filled with clear blue water that will make you go WOW! Swim, snorkel, and take gorgeous photos at one of the blue holes, my personal favorite is Nanda Blue Hole.

3. Champagne Beach and Port Orly

Champagne Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vanuatu, with bright blue waters and pristine white sand replicating beaches you find in the Maldives and French Polynesia.

Further north Port Orly is another gorgeous beach that I actually preferred over Champagne Beach. It is free to access, unlike Champagne Beach and the waters and views are just as stunning if not more. Plus there is a great local restaurant to dine at!

✔️  Book a  Full Day Santo Blue Hole, Champagne Beach, Million Dollar Point & Port Olry Tour

4. Yasur Volcano

Located on the island of Tanna, Yasur Volcano is one of the most active and accessible volcanoes in the world. Take a guided tour with Whitegrass Resort to hike up to the crater and witness the awe-inspiring volcano. As the sun begins to set the red glow of the lava will contrast against the night sky, it’s magnificent.

✔️  Book Now! Mt Yasur Volcano Tour  

5. Discovering the Local Culture

Vanuatu is known for its rich culture that has been well preserved. Take the time to explore the island’s traditional customs and practices on your trip to Vanuatu.

From attending a local dance performance to visiting a village, there are plenty of opportunities to immerse yourself in the unique culture of Vanuatu.

6. Shop at Port Vila markets

Port Vila, is home to several bustling markets where visitors can find local crafts, clothing, and fresh produce. The markets offer a glimpse into everyday life in Vanuatu.

7. Drink Kava

Kava is a traditional drink made from the root of the kava plant and is a key part of Vanuatu’s culture. Kava effects are similar to drinking a glass of wine, but you won’t get a nasty hangover. Visitors can try kava at local bars or at kava ceremonies, where locals gather to drink and socialize.

8. Discover Nearby Islands

Vanuatu is home to many picturesque islands, each with its own unique culture and attractions. Take day trips or longer excursions to explore nearby islands like Espiritu Santo, Tanna, and Pentecost.

✔️ Book Hideaway Island Escape, Blue Lagoon and Turtle Experience

9. Pentecost Land Diving Festival

The Pentecost Land Diving Festival, also known as the Nagol, is a traditional ceremony that is a very unique experience. During the festival, local men jump from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles, symbolizing a bountiful yam harvest.

10. Go Snorkeling or Diving

Vanuatu’s clear waters and coral reefs make it a prime place for snorkeling and diving . Explore the underwater world including colorful fish, sea turtles, and a range of coral.

✔️ Coongoola Full Day Cruise Including Moso Island and Snorkeling in Vanuatu

11. Visit the U nderwater Post Office

Located on Hideaway Island , Vanuatu’s underwater post office is a super cute attraction that allows visitors to send postcards from underwater! Snorkelers and divers can post their cards in a waterproof pouch, creating a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Hideaway Island is accessible from Port Vila so it’s an easy day trip to add to your itinerary.

12. Venture to Millennium Cave

The Millennium Cave, located on Santo, is a spectacular cave filled with waterfalls, rivers, and natural rock formations. You will need to take a guided tour to explore the cave and from what I hear it is very physically challenging!

13. Visit the Mele Cascades

The Mele Cascades are a series of waterfalls located just outside Port Vila. Hike through the jungle to reach the cascades, where you can swim in the refreshing pools and enjoy the stunning scenery.

✔️ Discover Cascades and Turtles Sanctuary in Port Vila

Money-Saving Tips

As Vanuatu can be expensive, below are my top money-saving tips when travelling to Vanuatu.

• Bring snacks from home
• Chose accommodation with free breakfast
• Travel with a friend to split the cost of accommodation
• Travel with hand luggage only
• Convert AUD to Vatu in Vanuatu to avoid a fee
• Travel outside of peak times such as May and September
• Take advantage of free activities such as hiking, snorkeling, and swimming
• Take the bus instead of a taxi

⭐ Love my travel guides and itineraries? I’m here to design a custom itinerary tailored to your travel dreams! Fill out the contact form below, and let’s plan your dream trip! ⭐

⏬ Custom Travel Itineraries Enquiry Form ⏬

➡️  Learn more about my custom travel itinerary services here .

Where to Stay in Vanuatu

Booking accommodation in Vanuatu can be tricky as there aren’t loads of options, especially budget-friendly options. Plus getting around the islands can be difficult, so picking a good location to stay is essential!

I traveled to Port Vila, Espiritu Santo, and Tanna Island so I have popped my accommodation recommendations below to help you book your stay.

Continue reading my Vanuatu travel guide to read my thoughts on the places I stayed.

BREAKAS BEACH RESORT

I loved my stay at  Breakas Beach Resort,  it was a beautiful beachfront resort with wonderful bungalows.

Breakas is located just south of Port Vila on a 500m private beach. It’s a short drive to shops and restaurants although you won’t really need to leave the resort as it has it all.

Free breaky is included plus there is a range of delicious Italian options for lunch and dinner.

The resort also offers daily activities including cooking classes, live music, fire dancing, and more.

You don’t need to go far to access some great snorkeling at Breakas. I spent the day exploring the reef located on the private beach and it was magical.

Garden View Bungalow:  $262 AUD  (free breakfast included)

Discover other accommodations in Port Vila

Espiritu santo, turtle bay lodge.

Turtle Bay Lodge  was my favorite stay in Vanuatu.

The owners were so lovely and accommodating, even when my flight was delayed and I didn’t arrive until midnight they still greeted me with a welcome drink!

It is a prime location for snorkeling in Turtle Bay, plus you can borrow their Kayak and head up to the blue holes.

During my stay, I was surprised by a free fire dance performance one evening which just added to my stay.

The food is wonderful, with a range of Italian and hearty pub meals.

Double Room, Ocean View, Oceanfront:  $204 AUD  (free breakfast included)

I was even upgraded for free to the Deluxe Double Room which is priced at $308 AUD per night.

Discover other accommodations in Espiritu Santo

Tanna island, whitegrass ocean resort.

On my visit to Tanna Island, I stayed at  Whitegrass Ocean Resort  due to the fantastic range of tours they had on offer including the Yasur Volcano tour and Blue Cave tour.

The resort was very expensive but due to the remoteness of the island, there aren’t many options.

The resort is a short walk to Blue Holes 1 & 2 which are some of the best snorkeling spots on Tanna. Or you can even snorkel right off the beach of the resort, just follow advice from the dive team as it can be dangerous.

Overall, I loved my stay at Whitegrass Ocean Resort, the staff were lovely, the food was divine (although very expensive) and the rooms were clean and comfortable.

Bungalow with Seaview:  $362 AUD  (free breakfast included)

This last resort is extra pricey as it is on a pretty remote island, however, I managed to grab a great deal at work and only paid $278 AUD per night (I work for a travel company).

Discover other accommodations in Tanna

Is vanuatu worth visiting.

Vanuatu is an incredible destination for anyone looking for a unique and  unspoiled holiday experience.  If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, Vanuatu’s natural beauty, including pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and active volcanoes, won’t disappoint.

Immerse yourself in the  rich culture and traditions of Vanuatu , and experience the unique customs and ceremonies that make this destination truly special. A holiday in Vanuatu is a chance to reset your perspective and reflect on all you have to be thankful for.

For those who love adventure as much as I do, Vanuatu offers a range of activities, such as  snorkeling, diving, hiking, and ziplining, all set in stunning natural surroundings.

Importantly,  Vanuatu is committed to sustainable tourism , with many operators and accommodations implementing eco-friendly practices. The locals take great pride in maintaining the land and preserving nature for years to come, and this commitment shows in the  immaculate condition of the reefs, rainforests, and beaches.

Vanuatu has also managed to maintain its  authenticity and charm,  with locals welcoming visitors with open arms and genuine warmth.

It’s truly a great destination for families, couples, and solo travelers alike.

How to Get Around Vanuatu

Getting around Vanuatu can be a bit challenging as there are no railways or efficient public transport options on the islands.

However, there are several ways to get around the country which I will take you through.

To island hop in Vanuatu you have to fly via Port Vila . Air Vanuatu offers the only flights to and from the Islands unless you take a private Air Taxi. Just note, that flying to the islands can add up, particularly when you can’t go direct!

When you arrive,  Taxis are available on the main islands of Efate, Santo, and Tanna.  But they are not metered, so it’s important to negotiate the price before getting in and be wary of scammers. Hiring a taxi driver for the day for an arranged price is a common way for travelers to get around. I recommend asking your accommodation to help you book this to ensure you choose a reputable company and negotiate a fair price. Or they may even arrange a private tour driver instead.

You can take buses for generally cheap, but they can be crowded, uncomfortable, and poorly scheduled. It can also be tricky to tell a bus from a regular van.

Lastly, you can  rent a car  on the main islands, but they can be expensive ($100-$180 per day) and driving can be challenging due to the poor condition of the roads. Plus they drive on the right-hand side of the day.

I rented a car for the day in Santo, with the help of Turtle Bay Lodge , and it cost me $180 and came with an empty tank of petrol which only further added to the cost! But it gave me the freedom to explore at my own pace. Just remember to drive carefully and slowly as the roads are in bad shape.

Vanuatu Tours and Experiences Not To Miss!

Vanuatu offers a range of tours and experiences to suit every traveler. Tours are often the best or only way to get to the main attractions in Vanuatu so it’s definitely worth looking into.

Below are my recommended tours to check out.

1. Snorkeling and Diving Tours

Vanuatu has some of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world, with clear waters and abundant marine life. A snorkeling or diving tour can take you to underwater caves, coral reefs, and shipwrecks.

2. Mt Yasur Tour

Tanna Island is home to the famous Mount Yasur, an active volcano that is a must-see attraction. Whitegrass Ocean Resort offers one of the top-rated Mt Yasur tours available, I recommend checking them out.

3. Blue Cave Tour

Take a 40-minute boat ride from Whitegrass Ocean Resort . When you arrive, swim underwater (approximately ½ metre) to enter the turquoise cave. When inside you will see the stunning grotto, which is lit from above, by a shaft of light filtering down through a hole in the cave’s roof – the effect is breathtaking. My absolute favorite experience in Vanuatu!

4. Santo Horse Tour

Spend the morning riding a horse through lush rainforest trails, a gorgeous private blue hole, and finishing along the beach. A wonderful way to see hidden spots in Vanuatu whilst learning a new skill. As a beginner, with no real horse riding experience, Meagan made the whole experience enjoyable. I always felt safe and in control thanks to her guidance!

5. Cultural Tours

Vanuatu has a rich cultural heritage, and visiting a traditional village is a must-do activity. A cultural tour can take you to remote villages to witness customs such as traditional dancing, firewalking, weaving, and kava ceremonies. One of the best places to experience the preserved culture of Vanuatu is on the remote Tanna island. Whitegrass Ocean Resort offers excellent cultural tours that you should check out.

6. Santo Day Tour

If you are in Santo and are short on time, this full-day tour covers the main attractions you don’t want to miss. Experience the blue Holes, Champagne Beach, Million Dollar Point, and Port Orly, all within one day.

7. Port Vila Day Tour

Explore the major attractions on Efate including the Blue Lagoon, swim with turtles, explore the Rarru Cascades, and enjoy an inclusive BBQ lunch. The perfect day trip to see the best of Efate!

✔️ Book a Port Villa Day Tour Now!

These are just some of the tours and experiences available in Vanuatu. Not all the available tours in Vanuatu are listed online, in fact, I found most were organized by the hotels and resorts.

They are generally very accommodating so I recommend talking to your accommodation about your itinerary and they will help you plan it!

Best Time To Go to Vanuatu

The best time to visit Vanuatu depends on your preferences and what you want to do.

The best month to visit Vanuatu is during the dry season, which runs from April to October . During this time, you can expect sunny and warm weather, with little rainfall and lower humidity.

This makes it an ideal time to explore Vanuatu’s beautiful beaches, go snorkeling or diving in the clear waters, and go kayaking or hiking. It’s worth noting that the peak tourist season is from June to August, so expect prices to be higher during this time.

I visited over Easter in April and it was a lot more humid and hot than I had anticipated. Let’s just say it was pretty sweaty and frequent swims and cold beers were essential.

If I were to go again I would wait until the end of May or September.

The wet season in Vanuatu runs from November to March which brings high humidity and heavy rainfall, with occasional tropical storms or cyclones.

While this isn’t ideal the lush tropical vegetation is the most vibrant during this time, and you may be able to find lower prices and fewer crowds.

Where is Vanuatu? 

Vanuatu is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean.

It is an archipelago made up of 83 islands, l ocated a 2-3 hour flight from Australia,

Vanuatu is also a short 1hr 30 min flight from New Caledon ia and a 2 hr 30 min flight from Fiji.

How to Stay Safe in Vanuatu

Safety is paramount when traveling to any destination, particularly when we travel solo.

In my opinion, Vanuatu is a safe destination for all to enjoy.

Below are my top tips for how to stay safe in Vanuatu.

1. Choose your accommodation wisely

If you are traveling solo to Vanuatu like I did, choosing your accommodation is very important for your safety.

Getting around Vanuatu is challenging, particularly as a solo traveler so staying near main attractions you are visiting is essential.

Plus I found the people at all the resorts I stayed at to be super friendly and helpful, particularly at Turtle Bay Lodge . They helped me hire a car, book tours, discover the best spots to snorkel, and even allowed me to purchase cash when I ran out!

When booking accommodation, I would check the reviews and opt for a place that has a tour desk operator and friendly staff.

2. Share your location with a loved one

No matter where you are traveling, I always suggest you share your location with either a friend, partner or family member you trust.

I also share my detailed travel itinerary with this person and make sure to check in every other day. If they are ever worried about my safety, it’s peace of mind knowing they know where I am.

3. Purchase travel insurance

The number 1 tip I continue to stress is,  travel insurance  is non-negotiable. 

If you can’t afford travel insurance you can’t afford to travel FULL STOP! No buts no ifs. 

It is possible that you may experience unexpected medical expenses or disruptions to your travel plans, so it is important to be prepared with travel insurance.

I flew Air Vanuatu which is notorious for flight cancellations and delays. And yes it did end up happening to me… twice!!

For a 1 week’s trip, I had 2 flights that were delayed by 1 whole day, which meant I had to book additional accommodation and pay for extra meals. Having travel insurance gave me reassurance that if Air Vanuatu wasn’t going to reimburse me, my insurance provider would.

Just make sure to keep your receipts!

Plus, Vanuatu’s health care system isn’t the best, particularly on the islands outside of Port Vila. If you were to injure yourself or fall sick, you may need medical evacuation, which as you could imagine, is a pretty penny.

Travel insurance  is likely not as expensive as you think.

For example, a 25-year-old Australian traveler visiting Vanuatu for 7 days can purchase  travel insurance from World Nomad s for only  $70 AUD!

4. Lock up your valuables

On my trip to Vanuatu, the people staying next to my marquee were actually robbed. They broke in and stole all of their duty-free alcohol.

This could have been a lot worst and just goes to show that break in’s can occur and resorts can be targeted.

Most places have safes so pop your valuables in there, or lock up your suitcase when you leave.

Don’t leave cash lying around and hide your passport in your luggage.

5. Be careful leaving your bags unattended on the beaches

Most places in Vanuatu are generally harmless, but there are a few spots where I’ve been told by the locals to never leave your bags unattended.

These places include Riri blue hole, Metavelu blue on Santo, and blue holes 1 & 2 on Tanna.

Avoid bringing many belongings if you plan on swimming and when you do swim pop your bag on the water’s edge to keep an eye on it.

6. Avoid walking alone after dark

When traveling in Vanuatu, it is essential to be aware of your surroundings, especially at night. Avoid walking alone in dimly lit areas and back streets.

7. Wear lots of insect repellant

Dengue fever, malaria, and the Zeke virus are real risks in Vanuatu.

Make sure to wear insect repellant during the day and at night. If you are applying sunscreen, pop this on first before the repellant.

If you are like me and getting bitten really easily, I suggest visiting your Dr for some anti-malaria medication. It’s an added layer of protection and will give you peace of mind on your trip.

8. Be cautious of the weather

Vanuatu is prone to tropical storms and cyclones during the wet season, so keep track of the weather conditions and follow the advice of locals.

9. Respect the culture

Vanuatu has a rich cultural heritage, and it is important to respect the local customs and traditions. Dress modestly when visiting villages, and ask permission before taking photographs of people or their property.

10. Use licensed taxis

Use licensed taxis for transportation, and avoid getting into unlicensed taxis or hitchhiking.

11. Stay Informed

Keep yourself informed about any security risks, natural disasters, or health hazards by regularly checking travel advisories and the local news.

Things To Know Before You Go: Vanuatu Travel Guide

Before you visit Vanuatu, there are a few things you should know to make your trip more enjoyable and hassle-free.

In this next section of my Vanuatu travel guide, I will take you through some key insights into what to expect on your trip.

While the official languages of Vanuatu are English, French, and Bislama , the local language is predominantly Bislama, particularly on the more remote islands. I personally never had any language barriers on my travels to Port Vila, Santo, and Tanna as a lot of the locals learn English at school and are thus bi-lingual.

Vanuatu has a tropical climate with two seasons – a wet season from November to April and a dry season from May to October. Year-round Vanuatu enjoys warm weather.

Vanuatu is also prone to natural disasters such as cyclones, earthquakes, and tsunamis, particularly in the wet season. Check the weather and the local news before traveling to Vanuatu, and follow the advice of local authorities in case of a natural disaster.

The currency used in Vanuatu is the Vatu.

Make sure to exchange your currency at the airport or in the city center before you head to the islands.

Debit/Credit Cards are not widely accepted on the islands and ATMs are very scarce. Don’t do what I did and run out of cash by day 3 with no access to an ATM!

Transportation

There are no trains or public transport in Vanuatu.

Taxis and buses are available, but renting a car is the best way to explore the islands on your own schedule.

The Ni-Vanuatu people are friendly and welcoming, but it’s important to respect their culture and traditions. Dress modestly, avoid taking photographs without permission, and ask before entering a village or a sacred site.

Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue fever and malaria are prevalent in Vanuatu. Make sure to use insect repellent, cover up (if it’s not too hot), and sleep under mosquito nets.

Vanuatu’s cuisine is influenced by its Melanesian, French, and British heritage.

On your trip, try a variety of seafood, tropical fruits, and root vegetables. Don’t miss the chance to try Vanuatu’s famous kava drink.

Electricity

The electricity supply in Vanuatu is 220-240 volts, with a Type I plug.

If you are from Australia you don’t need to bring an adapter. All my devices were able to be plugged in with no issues.

Internet and phone service

The internet and phone service in Vanuatu can be slow and unreliable, especially on more remote islands.

I used my Optus roaming service which cost $5 a day. It was pretty slow and the coverage wasn’t great but it was all I needed. Combined with decent Wi-Fi at the resorts, I was able to stay in touch with loved ones and get some work on my blog done.

Consider purchasing a local SIM card if you need a strong and consistent connection on your trip.

Is Vanuatu Expensive?

Vanuatu can be expensive, but it can also be relatively affordable if you plan ahead.

I found Vanuatu to have  similar pricing to Australia and New Zealand.

Although the quality of products and services are rarely on par with that of Australia and New Zealand, so you  don’t really get value for money.

Vanuatu is quite expensive in touristy areas, in particular at resorts and restaurants/cafes near attractions.

For a full breakdown of how much I spent on my trip to Vanuatu, check out my  detailed Vanuatu expense guide.

FAQ’s – Vanuatu Travel Guide

If you’re headed to Vanuatu you may have a few unanswered questions.

Below are my answers to some common questions travelers have!

What is the best month to visit Vanuatu?

The most ideal month to visit Vanuatu in my opinion is May.

During this time, the weather is warm and sunny with temperatures ranging from 21 to 32 degrees Celsius and it is just before the peak tourist rush.

The months of June, July, and August are particularly pleasant, as the weather is cooler, but this of course means its peak time.

How many days do I need in Vanuatu?

I recommend a minimum of 5-7 days to explore the main attractions of Vanuatu, such as the stunning beaches, waterfalls, cultural sites, and outdoor activities like snorkeling and diving. My trip to Vanuatu was 7 days and this was the perfect length for me to tick off major bucket list experiences .

However, if you have a specific interest in a particular aspect of Vanuatu, such as its history or natural wonders, and have the budget, you may want to stay longer.

Or if you want to experience more remote areas of the country, and cover more islands, you will need to add extra days to your itinerary to allow for travel time.

Ultimately, the length of your stay will depend on your travel goals, how much leave you have with work, and your budget but if in doubt 5-7 days is a safe bet.

Is Vanuatu better than Fiji?

It’s difficult to say which is better Fiji or Vanuatu . It’s comparing apples with oranges. This is a Vanuatu travel guide but I will try and give you my unbiased opinion!

Fiji is known for its stunning beaches and luxurious resorts. It’s a popular spot for honeymooners and those seeking a relaxing holiday in paradise. Fiji also has a rich culture and history, with traditional villages and ceremonies that can be explored.

Vanuatu, on the other hand, is known for its rugged natural beauty, including active volcanoes, lush rainforests, and pristine coral reefs, making it a popular destination for adventure seekers. Vanuatu also has a unique culture, with traditional ceremonies still practised.

If you’re looking for a luxurious and relaxing beach vacation, Fiji may be the better choice. If you’re interested in adventure and exploring a unique culture, Vanuatu may be more of your style.

Ultimately, whether Fiji or Vanuatu is better for you depends on your personal preferences.

Is Vanuatu good for tourists?

Vanuatu is a great destination for tourists who are looking for an adventure.

From its pristine beaches to its lush rainforests and active volcanoes, Vanuatu is a place that provides a unique and authentic experience.

The country’s rich culture and traditions are also a highlight for travelers. The friendly locals, fresh food, and exciting activities such as snorkeling, diving, and hiking make it a perfect holiday destination.

With its warm tropical climate and laid-back atmosphere, Vanuatu is also an excellent choice for those seeking a relaxing trip.

Is Vanuatu cheaper than Australia?

Vanuatu is generally considered to be a more affordable destination than Australia.

The cost of living in Vanuatu is lower than that of Australia.

However, tourists staying and dining in resorts that are in prime locations will experience pretty similar prices to those in Australia.

This is for numerous reasons such as geographical location, cost to import goods, limited tourism supply, limited competition, and high government taxes and charges.

I personally found prices to be on par with Australia, however, once you factor in international transaction fees, government charges, and the quality of goods and services, the better value does lie in Australia.

Do you need malaria tablets for Vanuatu?

Malaria is present in Vanuatu, particularly in the more remote and rural areas of the country. In particular, Malaria is a risk in Espiritu Santo.

It is recommended that travelers take antimalarial medication. The type of medication will depend on how long you stay and your specific destination within Vanuatu.

I suggest you visit your Doctor or a specialized Travel Doctor for a prescription.

I am incredibly susceptible to mosquito bites so I opted into taking Malaria medication. The medication was around $20AUD and I was required to take one pill for 30 days, starting the dose a couple of days before arriving in Vanuatu.

More importantly, though, you should take measures to prevent mosquito bites from happening in the first place by, using insect repellent, wearing protective clothing, sleeping under mosquito nets, and lighting mosquito coils, particularly during dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.

The Wrap-Up: Vanuatu Travel Guide

And there you have it, my detailed Vanuatu travel guide to help you plan an unforgettable and authentic experience.

In this Vanuatu travel guide, we have covered a lot! From the best things to do, where to stay, some great tour options, a couple of budgeting tips, and my must-know travel tips.

Let me know in the comment section if you have visited Vanuatu or if it’s on your bucket list. Feel free to share any tips or insights I missed!

Read more about travelling Vanuatu: Best Espiritu Santo Vanuatu Resorts Is Vanuatu a Good Holiday Destination? Is Vanuatu Safe For Tourists? Essential Safety Tips Best Port Vila Tours – Top Things To Do in Vanuatu  Vanuatu Vs New Caledonia: A Guide To Choosing Where to Go Is Vanuatu Expensive? Ultimate Spending Money Guide Vanuatu Snorkeling Spots That You Need To Visit!  Vanuatu Vs Fiji? Which South Pacific Destination Should You Travel To?

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Olivia McDonald is the avid traveler and creator behind Defining Decade, a travel blog tailored for those navigating their 20s. As an Australian with a rich background in the travel industry, she brings her passion for exploration to life through Defining Decade. Having travelled to 20+ countries, primarily in Asia and Oceania, Olivia shares authentic stories and practical tips on her blog. Whether you work full time, are a digital nomad or an aspiring entrepreneur, Olivia will show you how to travel more in your 20’s.

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VANUATU – 7 days in Vanuatu itinerary: travel guide, tips & inspiration

Table of Contents

Planning a Vanuatu itinerary

Vanuatu itinerary day 1: arrival, vanuatu itinerary day 2: coongoola cruise, vanuatu itinerary day 3: efate day trip, vanuatu itinerary day 4 + 5: tanna volcano overnight trip, vanuatu itinerary day 6: chief roi mata’s domain tour, vanuatu itinerary day 7: departure, suggestion to extend this vanuatu itinerary.

Vanuatu is a beautiful tropical destination in the south Pacific and I had the luxury recently to visit this island nation. In this 7 days Vanuatu itinerary I will share with you the places I visited and I hope it will help you plan your trip. Vanuatu is well known for its easy accessible active volcanos, dive sites, pristine beaches, and indigenous culture. This Vanuatu itinerary includes a bit of everything. As the islands are remote I will summarize various options on how to get there efficiently before going into details of the itinerary. I combined my visit with a Solomon Islands itinerary of the same length. I had a great time in Vanuatu discovering things that matter. I’m sure you will want to go too after reading this Vanuatu itinerary; enjoy!

Getting to Vanuatu is for most of the world a long journey. I’m from the Netherlands and Vanuatu is literarily on the other side of the world. Just going for a week to Vanuatu is something I didn’t want to do as I would be flying at least 24 hours not counting layover hours. Vanuatu should be added to a trip in the “area” and that area is still large. I’m going to summarize a few options on how to get to Vanuatu.

If you live in or are visiting Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, Brisbane (including other parts of Australia) or New Zealand then it’s just a short flight and this Vanuatu itinerary can easily be done as a single trip. I highly recommend flying Air Vanuatu as they fly from all these places and offer incredible service onboard.

I arrived from Nouméa, New Caledonia on an Air Vanuatu flight. I did this because I was already in Singapore and I could get to Nouméa through Sydney with a SkyTeam award ticket. It was just 70000 miles and 65-euro taxes for a business class ticket and I love cheap business class tickets ! I continued from Vanuatu to the Solomon Islands to explore these islands and used the option through Papua New Guinea to get back to Singapore with Air Niugini.

From North America the easiest way to get to Vanuatu is through Fiji. Europeans should fly first to South East Asia and go to Fiji too or Sydney as I did. There is however a faster option and that’s through Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. I did that when I returned. Air Niugini flies from Hong Kong, Manilla, Tokyo, Denpasar, and Singapore. These flights are not daily so plan carefully. Air Niugini also flies to the Federated States of Micronesia and if you decide to fly there make sure to read my suggested itinerary for Micronesia, Palau, and the Mariana Islands . You can also add  Vanuatu to a Thailand itinerary , Vietnam itinerary or an Indonesian itinerary .

In Vanuatu you’ll need to book domestic flights with Air Vanuatu if you want to get to the other islands. I did just a day trip to Tanna to see the volcano as visiting two other islands can’t be done in a week. If you plan various islands make sure to check when flights go. Not every flight is daily and you don’t want to get stuck somewhere longer as planned. Make sure to write down your full Vanuatu itinerary before booking any flights. Now, let’s look at the Vanuatu itinerary which I followed.

Efate is the main island and the island most if not all visitor arrive. I stayed first three and later two nights on the island. There are two hotels I highly recommend. The Grand Hotel downtown which is a business & leisure hotel but a bit more focusing on business. It has a pool so if that’s what you need it’s the place to stay. Everything is within walking distance in the evening. The other hotel is the Holiday Inn Resort Port Vila which is a true resort with a private lagoon beach. If you travel for leisure only or with kids stay there. Downtown is a short taxi ride away, but a taxi is cheap. I arrived from Singapore via Sydney on a night flight late morning and just spend the rest of the day at the pool. I always like to do that the first day, so I can avoid a huge jetlag. I was in bed at 9PM.

A Coongoola day cruise is a must do if you visit Vanuatu. I was picked up from my Holiday Inn Resort Port Vila at 08:30 and taken to the Havannah Harbour where the Coongoola day cruise starts. It was low season and just 5 other guests joined but the ship can take up to 60 passengers. The ship first sets sail to Moso Island and Tranquility Eco Resort which is owned by the same owner. A guide shows the baby turtle sanctuary which was impressive to see. It’s possible to go diving on the day tour too but book in advance. Just before lunch the ship anchors for an hour snorkeling . A BBQ is served for lunch on the beach to regain energy.

After lunch it’s time for another hour snorkeling and a visit to a secluded beach, weather permitting. On the way back to Havannah Harbour the captain will make a few circles to attract dolphins. It’s great to see these animals play in the water while enjoying a cold beer on the front deck. The shuttle back to the hotel was already waiting at the harbor when the ship returned. The Coongoola cruise was a very relaxing day in Vanuatu and I highly recommend including it in a Vanuatu itinerary.

Read more Coongoola day cruise travel inspiration in the following day trip article: VANUATU – Must do day trip: Coongoola cruise from Port Vila

An Efate day trip is a road trip around the island in either direction. I suggest doing it clockwise if you plan to swim in the blue lagoon or counter clockwise if you prefer to relax under waterfalls. I started at the blue lagoon and to be honest when I was there I regret that I didn’t take my swimming trunks. Isn’t that a great blue lagoon?

Next up where several beaches and other natural photo stops. At some point you’ll pass a big river where it’s possible to go for a kayak tour . Further down the road is the WWII museum at the place of an old American military base. If you have time bring your snorkeling gear as there is a plane easily accessible in the ocean. Now continue to Val Eva Cave which is an interesting cave as you can go kayaking inside! Isn’t that awesome?

Vanuatu is well known of its easy accessible active volcano’s . Mount Yasur volcano on Tanna island is a stratovolcano and a must-see if you visit Vanuatu. You’ll get up close with erupting magma and, especially in the evening, a great light show. I have visited volcanos before like the Ijen volcano on Java (Indonesia) where I almost died but I never saw active magma before. I was excited to go to Tanna where I stayed at the White Grass Ocean Resort , a luxury resort.

I departed Efate in the morning and other travelers were rumoring at the airport that the day before all tours to Mount Yasur were cancelled due to heavy rain and flooding. Now I don’t care getting wet but when visiting a volcano safety goes first. Vanuatu Inbound Travel arranged my tour and the 4×4 car was waiting at the White Grass Resort as my flight was delayed by an hour. Unfortunately, a night visit wasn’t possible due to safety, but a day visit was. I had to depart immediate to make the tour and I’m glad I did. As you can see in the photos; it was an amazing tour.

The next morning, I still had a few hours and White Grass Ocean Resort arranged a short snorkeling trip to Turtle Reef and the blue cave. At least I saw a few turtles while snorkeling as the other day when I did the Coongoola cruise I didn’t see any. Tannas airport is very small and you just need to be there 45 minutes before the flight. I love those tiny airports! I was back in the afternoon in my hotel on Efate.

Read more Tanna Island travel inspiration in the following day trip article: VANUATU – Tanna Island day trip: Mt. Yasur active volcano tour

Chief Roi Mata’s Domain is currently the only UNESCO World Heritage Site Vanuatu has. It’s a must-do day trip if you’re visiting Vanuatu and are interested in local history. Roi Mata was a powerful chief in the 13 th century and united the tribes in what is now Vanuatu. There are three places of interest. His domain called Mangaas on Efate island, Fels Cave (with cave paintings) on Lelepa and his burial site on Artok (Hat) Island. It’s a tour I highly recommend but make sure you arrange it through the official Chief Roi Mata’s Domain tour (tel. +678 5440695 / 7102892 or by email [email protected]).

Read more about Chief Roi Mata’s Domain in the following day trip article: VANUATU – Chief Roi Mata’s Domain tour; must do day trip from Port Vila

The options for arriving to Vanuatu also apply for departing of course. I highly recommend departing to the Solomon Islands and make a trip there. Check my Solomon Islands itinerary to learn what to see and do. These islands are even more remote as Vanuatu. I thought when I was planning my trip it would be stupid not to visit these islands too as from the Netherlands they are so far way. When I look back at my visit to Vanuatu I think I need to return one day as while being there I learned about some other awesome things to do.

Vanuatu has more to offer! There are a few places I still want to see and somethings I still want to do one day in the future. One day I will return to see & do the following:

• Pentecost island: One thing I want to see is the land diving on Pentecost. This is a kind of bungee jumping and takes place each Saturday between April and July only.
• Santo island: To dive the SS President Coolidge which is a well-preserved wreck. I’m still learning to dive, and this is one thing on my to-do list. I also want to do a land tour of Santa island and see local culture.

That’s just two things I want to do myself, but Vanuatu has so much more to offer that matters. Check out the Vanuatu Tourism Office website and see what each of the island has to offer. You can make you trip as long as you want!

I had a great time in Vanuatu and I’m happy I decided to go! It was my 71 st country that I visited and it’s for sure high on my list of recommendations. I hope to return one day, but for now, I can think back of this great time I had in Vanuatu. I visited the Pacific last year for the first time. I learned while planning an island hopping itinerary to Palau, Yap and the Northern Mariana Islands that this isn’t straightforward. This Vanuatu itinerary is how I decided to travel around this year, and I hope it helps you plan your trip in Vanuatu too. If you’re like me and want to visit every country than make sure to add a Solomon Islands itinerary as these places are remote. I’m sure you’ll have a great time!

Stay tuned for more stories and subscribe to the newsletter or follow CTB on social media ( Facebook , Twitter , Instagram including Instagram stories; on all social media you can find CTB @christravelblog) to get updated information.

Did you visit Vanuatu too or do you have questions? Please leave a comment at the bottom of the page. Love to hear from you!

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10 Days in Vanuatu: everything you need to know

The Republic of Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Caledonia, east of Australia and west of Fiji. The country is made up of about 80 islands of which 65 are inhabited. The capital is Port Villa, which is the largest city and the economic centre, located on the island of Efate. The second largest city is Luganville, located on Espiritu Santo and if you only have a short time here (less then 10 days), I recommend just visiting these two islands.

Things to know:

Time zone: GMT +11. Vanuatu observes Vanuatu Time all year. There are no Daylight Saving Time clock changes. It is the same time zone as Sydney during their daylight savings.

Currency: Vanuatu Vatu. A$1 = 80 Vatu.

Credit credits: Credit and debit cards are accepted in most bigger restaurants, hotels and tour companies but they charge anywhere between 3-5% service fee. Cash is the preferred method of payment for most vendors and there are plenty of ATMs around but they charge up for 700 Vatu (A$10) every time you withdraw. We were hit with over A$50 in Arm withdrawal fees until we started to use an Australian ANZ card to withdraw from a local ANZ ATM.

Public transport: Buses are the only method of transport in Efate and I didn’t see any buses in Luganville. The buses are little minibuses with a letter B on the licence plate. They are $150 Vatu anywhere in Efate but if you’re looking to go further such as the Blue Lagoon or Mele Cascades, the price will go up and as at the discretion of the driver and how many other passengers are on the bus so ensure you confirm the price before getting in. There are no set bus routes or time table, you simply put your hand out and wait for one, then tell the driver where you wish to go.

Language: There are three official languages of Vanuatu – English, French and Bislama, the most common Vanuatu language.

Driving: You can hire cars with an international licence or an Australia/ New Zealand drivers licence. They drive on the right hand side of the road.

Water: The tap water is potable in the pacific but if you are not used to the local water it is recommended to drink bottle water.

Pre book car hire and tours: Pre booking tours and car hire is essential. The island has a limited amount of resources and hiring a quad bike or car was difficult. Hire a car on both Efate and Espiritu Santo well in advance. You can hire cars from The Espiritu on Santo and from World

How to get there?

Direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane go to Port Villa with Vanuatu Air and the flight takes about 3.5 hours. You must fly through Port Villa to get to Luganville or Tanna but this may change soon as airlines resume their flights to Vanuatu. Vanuatu closed its borders with COVID-19 pandemic and only reopened in July 2022 to the rest of the world.

Best time of year to go?

April- October : Thanks to its wonderful tropical climate, Vanuatu weather is typically great all year round however conditions are generally at their best from  April to October  when the weather is fine and temperatures are warm yet comfortable, averaging between 18 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius. Dec-Mar is their wet season and is humid with downpours. We went in Dec and had a few hours of rain on 3-4 of the days but it didn’t last too long most days.

10 day itinerary

Land in Port Villa and check into your accommodation. Don’t plan too much on your travel days as delays are pretty normal and things move on ‘island time’. I recommend basing yourself in the city and taking trips out of the city. Wander around the town and the central market, watch the sunset on the water front and grab dinner from one of the lovely restaurants in the town with a sunset view such as the Stonegrill Restaurant or Kesorn‘s Exotic Thai Restaurant .

Get picked up early from your accommodation to head for a day on the Coongoola Day Cruise. This is a full day tour 8.45am-5pm, costs 11,900 Vatu (A$160) and includes morning tea, lunch and transfers. This can be booked in town at their office or through most hotels. The cruise was one of the best days in Vanuatu. It started at 8.45am picking us up from our accommodation and then heading towards Havana Harbour where the boat departs.

We hopped onto a smaller boat to bring us to the bigger boat, an ex Sydney to Hobart race mother ship, that we would cruise to Tranquility Island on. The first stop was to the turtle rookery. It is a voluntary Hawksbill Turtle Conservation Program, based at Tranquility Resort on Most Island. The sanctuary is home to upwards of 200 juvenile turtles that are raised from hatchlings until they reach 1 year old, before being tagged and released into the ocean. Their chance of survival to adulthood increases from 2% to 85% by releasing them at 1 years old.

Morning tea and coffee was served on the boat and we set sail for about an hour to Tranquility Island, where we snorkelled, swam, relaxed and had lunch for the day.

Tranquility Island is like nothing I’ve seen before, pure paradise with white sand, impossibly clear, blue water and healthy coral reefs just off the shore. Before lunch the smaller boat brought us to a snorkel site about 15 mins from the island. We had a beautiful BBQ lunch on the beach and another short boat trip to another snorkel sight before ending the day by sailing back to Efate.

We arrived back to our accommodation in Port Villa at about 5 pm. Enough time to get ready to head out for a sunset drink and dinner .

Hop on a bus to Mele Cascades. It should cost 300 Vatu per person if you are not the only ones on the bus. Ask the driver to drop to you the cascades. From the road it is a 20 min walk through rivers and forest to the cascades. Entry fee is $2000 Vatu (A$25) per person but it is definitely well worth it. The cascades are so beautiful and powerful.

Bring a dry bag if you have one as the spray from the waterfall can be so powerful and soak your camera, phone and clothes.

The boat to Hideaway Island departs from Mele so after the cascades, walk (30 mins) or hop on a bus (5 mins) to Mele Bay where the boat leaves every 10 minutes to Hideaway Island.

Hideaway Island is a beautiful tiny island with a resort and diving school on it. It is possible to visit for the day and avail of the diving or just hire snorkels from the reception. The reef is directly off the beach along with the underwater post office, the only one in the world. You can purchase a waterproof post card from the reception for A$8 with the postage included. You don’t need to scuba dive to reach the post box, it is only about 2m below the surface so you can reach it snorkelling.

The boat across to Hideaway island takes about 4 mins and is free. Day visitors entry fee is vt1500 per adult and vt750 (5-12) for children. There is a small bar doing drinks, lunch and snacks but its quite expensive so I recommend bringing you own snacks and drinks onto the island.

After a day snorkelling, sunbathing and swimming on Hideaway Island, get the boat back to Mele and catch a taxi or bus back to Port Villa for a relaxing evening.

Hire a car and get on the road early to hit up the best tourist attractions and beautiful nature in Efate. You can drive around the whole island in just over 3 hours. Head in an anti clockwise direction from Port Villa starting first with the Blue Lagoon, a 30 minute drive from Port Villa. Get to the Blue Lagoon before the crowds and have the place to yourself. It opens at 8am. Entry fee is 2000 vt (A$25). The rope swings here are so much fun and there is plenty of space to lie out and enjoy the sun.

The next stop is Eton Beach, the water here is a mixture of fresh lagoon water and sea water. Bring your snorkelling gear as the reef is directly off the beach. Entry fee here is 1000 vt (A$12.50). The beauty of having a car rather than going on an expensive tour is you can pull in and stop at some of the beautiful look out points and smaller beaches like Ch-something beach and Banana Bay Beach Club.

Continue the lap around the island and stop at the very north of the island at Top Rock, stunning views and a great snorkelling spot also. The best time to go is at high tide so check the tide times and plan your day accordingly. Entry fee is 500 vt per person.

Stop for lunch in Havannah. There are a few restaurants to choose from, The Havannah Vanuatu is a beautiful resort on the water serving lunch and has a beautiful pool and beach access. Bring snorkelling gear here to step right off the beach and snorkel. Gideon’s Landing is another restaurant serving lunch on the beach.

Make your way back to Port Villa and stop into Breakas Beach resort for dinner or a sunset drink overlooking the infinity pool and ocean.

Where to stay in Port Villa

$: Moorings Hotel. A perfect budget hotel with amazing rooms with sea views and balconies. The hotel has a bar, restaurant, includes a free basic breakfast of toast, fruit and cereal, lovely pool and is perfectly located a 5 minute walk from the best restaurants and the town centre. The staff are really helpful and can book tours for you. The rooms have AC which is a must.

$$ Melanesian Hotel. A mid range hotel the other end of the town, slightly up on a hill which gives great sunset views. The hotel has a decent enough free breakfast, pool, restaurant and bar and a casino.

$$$ Grand Casino Hotel. Slightly more expensive hotel but well worth it for the facilities, the rooms, the food and the bar. It has a beautiful pool overlooking the port and a pool bar serving great happy hour cocktails deals for sunset. The free breakfast was excellent and the you can’t get a better location right in the centre of town.

Best restaurants Port Villa

Breakfast/lunch.

Coffee Tree: If you’re looking for an Australian style brunch, this is about the only place you will find it. Serves nice coffee, salads, breakfast and is open for dinner too.

Nambawan Café : Nice cafe facing the water open for breakfast lunch and dinner. The dinner isn’t up to a great deal but its very reasonably priced for lunch and breakfast and they do great coffee. Nice place to watch the sunset and grab a drink.

Stonegrill Restaurent: This would rival any restaurant in Sydney for service, food quality, value for money and ambience. Located at the top of the hill with amazing views, this is a great place for sunset. We loved this place so much we went back two nights in a row. It was so reasonable for how much we ordered and the service was so quick. A must visit when in Port Villa. If you get the HotSpots vouchers, you can get a free wine, beer or soft drink with any main meal.

Kesorn’s Exotic Thai Restaurant: Right opposite the Stonegrill restaurant, this is another lovely rooftop place with great views and beautiful Thai food that is reasonably priced.

Le Cafe Du Village: Beautiful quaint restaurant on the waterfront that specialises in sea food. Great for a cocktail and sunset viewing of the water too.

L’Houstalet restaurant: Authentic French restaurant at the far end of the town serving classic French delicacies. It is one of the oldest restaurants in Vanuatu.

Relax by the pool in the hotel or head to resort for the morning to enjoy the infinity pool. Fly to Luganville, Espiritu Santo. The flights tend to leave once a day and we got a 2 pm flight to Luganville. Delays are very common so don’t aim to get too much in after the flight to Luganville. Taxis from Luganville airport to the town should be 1500vt. Have a wander around the very small town and book in for any tours you are hoping to do if you haven’t already.

Head scuba diving at Million Dollar Point and SS Coolidge to see the millions of dollars worth of equipment the US military drove off the jetty into the ocean after WWII and the ship wreck. If you are lucky enough you will see dugongs and turtles among the sea grass. If you don’t scuba dive, it is still great place to snorkel. Book your scuba diving a few weeks in advance through Pacific Dive, located in The Espiritu reception.

If scuba diving isn’t your thing, explore the beauty of Espiritu Santo on horse back. There are different trail options suitable for all levels of experience. The tours book out in advance and are only held in the morning, 8.30am-1pm.

[email protected]

Hire a car for the day to explore the east coast of the island, where the most incredible blue holes, beaches and coconut tree lined roads are. Driving from Luganville to the top of the island takes 1.5 hours. The west coast of the island is impassable and doesn’t have sealed roads. There is one main road from Luganville to Port Orly, the end of the sealed roads at the top of the island.

The top places to see on the east coast road trip:

• Riri Blue Hole. This is the first stop along the road trip, about 25 min drive from Luganville. It is quite hidden as you cannot drive to this blue hole. You have to reach it by boat. You will see on the left hand side just after going over a bridge a gateway with wooden boats and some men ready to take you to the blue hole. Alternatively you can hire kayaks and paddle up the river yourself. The guides can take you up on a 15 minute easy paddle to get to the blue hole. The fee is 1500vt per person and there is no entrance fee to the blue hole. This river was honestly the clearest water I’ve ever seen. The boats looked like they were suspended in air.

• Matevulu Blue Hole: I probably thought the Riri Blue Hole was more impressive and the rope swing was bigger but this blue hole is bigger and the water is just so deep and so blue with a magnificent big tree. The entrance fee here is 1000 vt (A$12.50) pp but if you arrive here before 8 am and leave before 9 am you will get away without paying an entrance fee as it is open 24/7 with no gates.

• Nanda Blue Hole (also known as Jackie’s Blue Hole) is often referred to by visitors as the most beautiful blue hole in Vanuatu. The water is 14 m deep and natural spring water. There is no rope swings here but platforms to dive off and there is no entrance fee.

• Champagne Beach: The beach is on the largest island, Espiritu Santo. Champagne Beach is world-renowned for its white, soft sand and lapping waves. It’s often voted one of the best beaches in the world, and its easy to see why. The beach is known as Champagne Beach because of the volcanic gases that come up through the sand at the shoreline to make it feel and look like champagne under your feet. There is an entrance fee of 2000 vt (A$25) per car. To reach the beach you have to drive 10 mins on an unsealed track off the main road.

• Port Orly: Another beautiful beach with crystal clear water and white sand. There is no entrance fee here. This is the furthest point you can travel along the east coast. It is one of the spots you can stop for lunch along the road trip. There is one restaurant, Chez Louis , on the beach in Port Orly. The menu is not very extensive, simple chicken or beef and not cheap but you have no other choice of places to eat.

Early rise for the final day on Santo and to head on the Millennium cave tour. This is a full on tour and not for the faint hearted. With lots of climbing, walking and canyoneering, it’s not for everyone. If you do brave it, it is one of the best days out. The tour picks you up at 8.30 am and will drop you back at 5pm. There is no water or food provided so bring snacks and a packed lunch with you, hiking sandals or trainers and be prepared for them to get wet, water and some dry clothes for after. If you have a dry bag pack that with you. This tour is subject to weather, if there is very heavy rainfall it won’t go ahead.

Best places to stay in Espirtu Santo

Deco Stop Lodge: A beautiful boutique hotel owned and ran by an Australian couple a short walk from the town. The sunrise view from the hotel on the hill is spectacular, the bedrooms are so clean and have AC, a lovely continental breakfast is included and the restaurant is excellent here. It isn’t the cheapest but not too expensive either for the attention to detail and care. They provide a free airport shuttle bus and were very accommodating when we arrived a day early. The hotel is a short 15 min walk from he town.

The Espiritu: More lively hotel that caters more for backpackers with a number of different types of rooms. It is perfectly located in the centre of town and they can help book any tours on the island and scuba diving. Pacific Dive shop is located in reception of the hotel. I think we ate at the hotel restaurant every night bar one, the food is excellent, well priced but the kitchen works on island time so be prepared to wait a while!

Where to eat

Deco Stop Lodge: Open for breakfast and dinner, serving locally sourced food and the menu changes every night. The food is beautiful here but we found the portions small and expensive.

Espiritu: The best restaurant on the island for choice and value. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the food is delicious with a great selection to choose from. The menu is mainly western style food and they have a good selection for vegetarians. They have a good bar here too with happy hour cocktails and daily specials.

Natangora Cafe: This casual, open-air café is located right on Luganville’s Main Street and offers delicious breakfasts (including house-roasted coffee) as well as Western-style snacks and lunches, such as sandwiches, burgers, fries and salads. More surprisingly, it also offers a great variety of Japanese dishes, including sushi, bento boxes, miso soup and Japanese curries. In addition to sea views and shade offered by mango trees, Natangora Café has a very good Wi-Fi connection.

Fly to Tanna via Port villa. The flights to Tanna don’t fly everyday and the only way to get to Tanna is by flying from Port Villa. If you time it right, you can book a morning flight from Luganville which stops quickly at Port Villa and then a short 45 minute flight on to Tanna. It’s a mysterious place, home to the world’s most accessible active volcano, herds of wild horses, and dozens of blue waterfalls, hidden deep in the Middlebush forest.

Arrange a tour to climb the bubbling active volcano, Mt Yasur. The  10-minute crater rim hike  is Tanna’s most iconic experience, especially at sunset, when the lava glows red and lights up the surrounding sky. You don’t need to be particularly fit: four-wheel drive  vehicles can park within 150 metres of the rim. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can also spend the day ash boarding down the mountain. There are no safety rails or viewing platforms at Mt Yasur, so it’s best to climb with an experienced local guide. Tanna is not cheap to visit and hiring a car is nearly impossible so expect to pay a lot to get around. The volcano The price of guides varies but expect to pay somewhere between 20,000-25,000 VT (A$245-280). The volcano is located on the opposite side of the island to the airport so you need to book a transfer.

Spend the day exploring Tanna and swim in Tanna’s famous Blue Cave. It’s a hidden grotto, cut deep into the sea cliffs on the western side of the island. Visitors can only reach it by swimming along a secret sea passage. It is bets to wait for low tide if you’re nervous about swimming through the sea passage. At low tide you can wade through without diving underwater. Inside is a curved rock cathedral, where light beams through a hole in the ceiling, illuminating an electric blue swimming hole.

After swimming in the blue hole, head for a walk the black sand beaches of Louniel. Tanna’s beaches range from the sugar-white postcard variety to long stretches of black volcanic sand. There are several of these beaches scattered around the island, Louniel Beach is probably the most famous, sweeping for several kilometres along the northeast coast of the island. Tanna is difficult yo get around so you will need to hire a driver for the day from your accommodation.

Final day in Vanuatu is a travel day catching a flight from Tanna to Port Villa and then on to your final destination- Sydney, Brisbane or New Zealand. Be aware that flights run late more often than on time but don’t let island time deter you from visiting these magical islands.

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Unforgettable Adventures

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UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURES

Discover the Real Vanuatu

Vanuatu Ecotours

Welcome to Vanuatu Ecotours! Established in 2006, we are proud to be Vanuatu’s leading tour operator and have been rated #1 ‘Thing to Do’ on TripAdvisor for many years (92% of our 1000+ reviews are ‘Excellent’).

VANUATU ECOTOURS offers a range of fun half and full day adventures on Efate, with something for everyone!

VANUATU ECOTOURS also offers a range of all-inclusive 3-6 day outer island packages, allowing you to get off-the-beaten track safely and easily.

VANUATU ECOTOURS is Vanuatu’s tourism expert and we love designing special itineraries for groups or charters.   We are also the preferred fixer for visiting TV and film crews and provide destination management services for trade partners across the globe.

VANUATU ECOTOURS is proud to support our community partners and is committed to sustainable tourism.  So if you are looking for authentic experiences and want to discover the real Vanuatu, please contact our friendly team.

‘Oui, on parle Francais!’

Fondé en 2006 et classé numéro 1 des choses à faire sur TripAdvisor depuis de nombreuses années,

VANUATU ECOTOURS propose des expériences authentiques de la vie réelle, des aventures hors des sentiers battus et des services sur mesure.

VANUATU ECOTOURS propose une gamme d’aventures amusantes d’une demi-journée ou d’une journée complète sur Efate ainsi qu’une gamme de forfaits sur les îles extérieures. VANUATU ECOTOURS est l’expert en tourisme des îles extérieures de Vanuatu et le fixateur préféré des équipes de télévision et de cinéma en visite.

VANUATU ECOTOURS est fier de soutenir ses partenaires communautaires et s’engage en faveur du tourisme durable.

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Our Half-Day Tours

Close to Port Vila – Morning & afternoon departures

DISCOVERY BUSHWALK

TUESDAY, THURSDAY and SATURDAY or on request

Enjoy a range of fun, memorable and informative bush walking adventures, suitable for all fitness levels. Discover Vanuatu’s rainforests, gardens, schools and villages and meet the “happiest people on earth” going about their daily lives. Birdwatching options also available!

6,500vt per person 4,500vt for 6-12’s Free for U5’s

RIVER KAYAKING

Come with us and experience the serenity of kayaking down a gently flowing freshwater river, surrounded by lush tropical forest. Enjoy a cool dip, and have fun swinging on our tarzan rope.

Perfect for families.

7,000vt per person 5,000vt for 6-12’s Free for U5’s

CRYSTAL CASCADES

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY or on request

Enjoy a short walk to the best cascades on Efate, set in a magical private rainforest, exclusive to Vanuatu Ecotours!

Our Full Day Tours

Close to Port Vila – Perfect for day trips

RIVER KAYAKING & Cascades

DAILY except SUNDAY

Experience Vanuatu’s rainforests and authentic village life as you paddle and swim the safe waters of Rentapao River. After a French-style lunch, follow your guide to the river cascades and swim and relax in its cool waters.

11,500vt per person 9,500vt for 6-12’s Free for U5’s

Pele Island Snorkel & Beach

Every TUESDAY, THURSDAY, SATURDAY

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Nguna Outer Island Adventure

Every MONDAY and WEDNESDAY or on request

Experience one of Vanuatu’s outer islands through a half day volcano trek and an afternoon snorkel.  Support local communities who are conserving their reef and forest resources.

16,000vt per person 14,000vt for 6-12’s

what about an outer island adventure?

Island explorer.

3 Days – 2 Nights

Experience village life on a pristine tropical island. Follow your hosts on stunning half-day island walks. Snorkel in sparkling waters in front of your own beachside bungalow.

Tanna Adventure

4 Days – 3 Nights

Tanna is your ‘must-do’ adventure when in Vanuatu. Be awed by Yasur volcano, get off-the-beaten track with a choice of two half-day tours, and relax at the award winning Whitegrass Resort.

Trek Ambrym

An unforgettable expedition to the island of fire and magic. Our 3-day trek to Ambrym’s famous twin active volcanoes, Benbow and Marum, is for the adventurous!

Maskelynes Discovery

Discover the magical Maskelyne archipelago in south Malekula.  Snorkel pristine reefs, explore remote islands, sail a traditional outrigger canoe, and swim with dugongs.

Pentecost: Dive Deeper

Experience the heart-stopping land diving ceremony of South Pentecost, then take time to explore and understand this mysterious region with your Vanuatu Ecotours escort.

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Itineraries

Need Some Inspiration For Your Trip?

Whether you are looking for a holiday of culture, adventure and relaxation or simply a long weekend away, Vanuatu has it all. Port Vila, on the main island of Efate is where you will start your holiday and from here you can explore one or more of Vanuatu’s 83 islands.

Getting to Port Vila is easy with Vanuatu’s national carrier Air Vanuatu offering direct services from Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, Noumea and Nadi. Direct flights from Brisbane to Santo are also available through Air Vanuatu.  Air Vanuatu operates regular domestic connections between the islands in Vanuatu.  Visit www.airvanuatu.com

Other carriers including Virgin Australia, Fiji Airways, Fly Solomons and Aircalin operate direct services to Port Vila.

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