vanuatu travel guide

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

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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)

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

• 🔥 Hot Tip: Book accommodation on Booking.com
• 🎟 Book your tickets online: We use Viator and GetYourGuide
• 🔋 Stay charged: This Belkin Power Bank is essential!
• 📸 Join a Group Tour: Search Tourradar for Group Tours
• ✅ Get Connected with eSIM: Easy and affordable! View eSIM

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. View the best 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 :  G Adventures OR compare multi-day tours worldwide with 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 is a Pacific island adventure far beyond any notions of cruise-ship ports and flashy resorts. Deserted beaches, ancient culture, remote and rugged islands and world-class diving are just a small part of the magnetism of this scattered 80-plus island archipelago.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Mele Cascades

This popular and photogenic swimming spot is 10km from Port Vila. A series of clear aquamarine pools terrace up the hillside, culminating in an impressive…

National Museum of Vanuatu

This excellent museum, in a soaring traditional building opposite the parliament, has a well-displayed collection of traditional artefacts such as tamtam …

Espiritu Santo

At the end of the sealed road you come to Port Olry, a small francophone fishing village with a stunning curve of white-sand beach and eye-watering…

Iririki Island

Iririki is the green, bungalow-laden island right across from Port Vila’s waterfront; it was closed following Cyclone Pam in 2015 but is expected to…

Hideaway Island

Just 100m or so offshore from Mele Beach, Hideaway Island isn't all that hidden but it's one of Vila's favourite spots for snorkelling, diving or just…

Loru Conservation Area

Covering 220 hectares, Loru Conservation Area contains one of the last patches of lowland forest remaining on Santo’s east coast. There are several…

Chief Roi Mata Burial Site

Chief Roi Mata's domain and burial site became Vanuatu's first World Heritage site in 2008. Roi Mata was a powerful 17th-century chief who, as legend has…

Ekasup Cultural Village

Futuna islanders talk about and demonstrate their traditional lifestyle at their kastom village. If you're not heading out to other islands, this is an…

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Vanuatu Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know

Nestled in the crystal-clear waters of the South Pacific, Vanuatu is a tropical paradise waiting to be explored. This archipelago, comprising 83 stunning islands, offers travelers a wealth of natural beauty, diverse cultures, and unforgettable adventures. Whether you seek pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, or thrilling volcanic landscapes, Vanuatu has something to enchant every type of tourist.

What’s the Best Time to Visit? 📅

The best time to visit Vanuatu as a tourist depends on your preferences, as this beautiful island nation in the South Pacific has favorable weather year-round. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind:

• Dry Season (May to October): This is the peak tourist season in Vanuatu. The weather is dry and pleasant with lower humidity and cooler temperatures. This is an excellent time for outdoor activities, water sports, and exploring the islands.
• Shoulder Seasons (April and November): These months offer a balance between pleasant weather and fewer crowds. You can still enjoy favorable conditions with fewer tourists. Keep in mind that November is the start of the wet season, so it may experience occasional rainfall.
• Wet Season (December to March): This period experiences higher humidity and more rainfall, with the wettest months typically being January and February. While this is the least popular time for tourists due to the rain, it can be a good time for budget travelers, and you can still enjoy the lush, green landscapes.

Ultimately, the best time to visit Vanuatu depends on your preferences. If you prefer dry and sunny weather, the dry season from May to October is the ideal choice. However, if you want to avoid crowds and don’t mind occasional rain, the shoulder seasons offer a good balance. Keep in mind that cyclone season in the South Pacific occurs from November to April, so there is a higher risk of tropical storms during that time. It’s advisable to check weather forecasts and any travel advisories before planning your trip.

What’s the Best Way to Get Around? 🚌

Getting around Vanuatu as a tourist typically involves a combination of transportation options, as the islands are relatively small, and road infrastructure can be limited on some of them. Here are the best ways to get around Vanuatu:

• Domestic Flights: For traveling between different islands in Vanuatu, domestic flights are often the quickest and most convenient option. Airlines like Air Vanuatu and Unity Airlines operate regular flights between the main islands, making it easy to hop from one island to another.
• Inter-Island Ferries: Ferries are available for traveling between the larger islands, such as Efate, Espiritu Santo, Tanna, and Malekula. These ferry services are a scenic way to explore the country and can provide access to more remote areas.
• Taxis: Taxis are a common mode of transportation on the main islands, especially in the capital, Port Vila. Negotiate the fare with the driver before starting your journey. In some cases, shared minibuses or vans also serve as taxis.
• Rental Cars and Bicycles: Renting a car or a bicycle can be a great way to explore the larger islands at your own pace. Keep in mind that roads can vary in quality, and driving conditions may be different from what you’re used to.
• Public Buses: On the main islands, such as Efate, you can find public buses that offer an affordable way to get around. These buses often have fixed routes and schedules.
• Walking: In smaller towns and villages, walking can be a pleasant way to explore the local culture and landscapes. Many tourist areas in Vanuatu are pedestrian-friendly.
• Water Taxis: Some remote islands and resorts may require using water taxis or boats for transportation between the mainland and nearby islands.
• Guided Tours: Consider taking guided tours for specific activities and excursions. Many tour operators offer experiences like snorkeling, scuba diving, cultural tours, and more. They often provide transportation as part of the package.

Keep in mind that schedules and transportation options can be limited on some of the smaller and more remote islands. It’s essential to plan your travel between islands and explore local transportation options before you arrive. Be prepared for a more relaxed pace of life and occasional delays, and enjoy the unique experiences that Vanuatu has to offer.

What’s the Official Language?

The official languages of Vanuatu are Bislama, English, and French. Bislama is a creole language widely spoken and understood throughout the country. Here are some basic Bislama phrases and words that can be helpful for tourists:

• Hello – Halo
• Good morning – Gud moning
• Good afternoon – Gud apinun
• Good evening – Gud nait
• Thank you – Tangkyu
• Yes – Yas
• No – Nao
• Please – Plis
• Excuse me – Sori
• How are you? – Yu gud nomo?
• What is your name? – Wanem nem blong yu?
• I don’t understand – Mi no save
• Help – Hap
• Goodbye – Bai bai
• Water – Wara
• Food – Kaikai
• Delicious – Hemia gudfala
• I need a taxi – Mi nidim tekxi
• Where is…? – Wea…?
• Restroom – Hambakrum

These basic Bislama phrases can be very useful for interacting with locals and navigating your way around Vanuatu. The people of Vanuatu are known for their friendliness and appreciate tourists making an effort to communicate in their language. Additionally, English and French are spoken in more formal or official contexts, so having a basic understanding of these languages can also be helpful, especially in urban areas and tourist facilities.

Where to Stay? 🏨

Vanuatu offers a range of accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets. The choice of where to stay largely depends on the type of experience you’re seeking. Here are some popular places to stay in Vanuatu:

• Port Vila: The capital city, Port Vila, on the island of Efate, is the most common entry point for visitors to Vanuatu. It offers a wide range of accommodation options, including luxury resorts, hotels, guesthouses, and vacation rentals. Port Vila provides convenient access to restaurants, shops, and numerous water-based activities.
• Espiritu Santo: The largest island in Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo, is known for its stunning natural beauty. You’ll find resorts, bungalows, and guesthouses here. The island is famous for the clear waters of the Blue Hole and Champagne Beach.
• Tanna: Tanna Island is renowned for its active volcano, Mount Yasur. It offers accommodations ranging from eco-lodges to more upscale options. Staying on Tanna is an opportunity to experience the island’s unique culture and natural wonders.
• Pentecost Island: Pentecost Island is famous for land diving, an ancient and awe-inspiring ritual. Accommodation here is limited, with rustic bungalows and guesthouses.
• Other Islands: Vanuatu has many other islands with accommodations suited for various preferences. For a more remote and secluded experience, consider staying on islands like Ambrym, Ambae, or Malekula. The accommodations on these islands may be more basic, offering a more authentic experience.
• Resorts and Bungalows: Vanuatu boasts a variety of beautiful beachfront resorts and bungalows, which provide a tranquil and picturesque setting. Some offer overwater bungalows for a unique stay.
• Eco-Lodges: If you’re interested in sustainable and eco-friendly travel, Vanuatu has a growing number of eco-lodges and accommodations that allow you to experience nature in an environmentally responsible way.

When choosing where to stay, consider factors like your budget, the type of activities you wish to experience, and the level of comfort you desire. It’s advisable to book accommodations in advance, especially during the high season, to secure your preferred options. Vanuatu offers a wide range of choices, so you can find the perfect place to stay, whether you’re seeking luxury, adventure, or a cultural experience.

What to Eat? 🍽️

Vanuatu offers a delightful array of local dishes and culinary experiences for tourists looking to savor traditional flavors and fresh ingredients. Here are some must-try foods in Vanuatu:

• Lap Lap: This is a staple dish made from grated root vegetables like taro, yam, or cassava, mixed with coconut milk, and then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an earth oven. It’s a traditional and flavorful dish.
• Coconut Crab: The coconut crab, known locally as “poulet,” is a sought-after delicacy in Vanuatu. This large land crab is cooked in various ways, often grilled or served with coconut cream.
• Kava: While not a food, kava is a traditional beverage made from the root of the kava plant. It’s often consumed during ceremonies and social gatherings. Trying kava is a cultural experience, but be aware that it has a mildly narcotic effect, so consume it in moderation.
• Vanuatu Beef: Vanuatu beef is known for its quality and flavor. Enjoy dishes like grilled beef steaks or beef cooked in coconut milk.
• Fresh Seafood: Being an island nation, Vanuatu offers a bounty of fresh seafood. Try local catches like coconut fish, parrotfish, and crayfish, often grilled, fried, or prepared with coconut milk.
• Taro: Taro is a root vegetable widely used in Vanuatu’s cuisine. You can find taro prepared in various ways, such as taro chips, taro fritters, or boiled taro served with coconut cream.
• Fruit: Savor the tropical fruits of Vanuatu, including pineapple, mango, papaya, and passion fruit. These fruits are often enjoyed fresh or used in fruit salads and desserts.
• Bougna: This is a traditional dish made from root vegetables, usually taro, yam, and sweet potato, mixed with coconut cream, wrapped in banana leaves, and baked in an earth oven.
• Island Fruit Smoothies: Cool off with refreshing fruit smoothies made from the abundance of tropical fruits available on the islands.
• Manioc (Cassava) Cake: Manioc is a starchy root vegetable, and it’s used to make delicious cakes and puddings, often served with coconut cream.
• Local Market Food: Visit local markets to sample a variety of snacks and street food, such as grilled skewers, fried doughnuts, and other homemade treats.
• Tuluk: Tuluk is a traditional dish of pork or chicken cooked with island greens and coconut cream. It’s rich, flavorful, and a must-try for visitors.

When dining in Vanuatu, you’ll find a mix of traditional dishes, international cuisine, and the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Don’t hesitate to explore local markets, street vendors, and small eateries to fully appreciate the authentic flavors of Vanuatu.

What to See? 🔍

Vanuatu is a stunning island nation in the South Pacific, offering a wealth of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and adventure. Here are some of the must-see places and attractions for tourists in Vanuatu:

• Mount Yasur, Tanna: Witness the incredible power of nature at Mount Yasur, one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes. You can stand on the rim and watch volcanic eruptions up close.
• Blue Hole, Espiritu Santo: Dive or snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Blue Hole, a deep natural swimming pool surrounded by lush rainforest. It’s a popular spot for its underwater caves and marine life.
• Millennium Cave, Espiritu Santo: Explore the dramatic Millennium Cave, a pristine wilderness area with waterfalls, cascades, and lush jungle. Guided tours allow you to hike through this stunning natural wonder.
• Champagne Beach, Espiritu Santo: Relax on the pristine white sands of Champagne Beach, named for the tiny bubbles that rise from the sea floor. It’s a picture-perfect tropical paradise.
• Port Vila, Efate: The capital city of Vanuatu offers a range of attractions, from the vibrant Port Vila Market to cultural experiences like the Ekasup Cultural Village and the Mele Cascades Waterfall.
• Nanda Blue Hole, Espiritu Santo: Another captivating blue hole, Nanda Blue Hole is known for its stunning turquoise water. It’s an excellent place for swimming and picnicking.
• Pentecost Island: Witness the exhilarating land diving ritual, where locals jump from tall wooden towers with only vines attached to their ankles.
• Chief Roi Mata’s Domain, Efate: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site, which includes the tomb of Chief Roi Mata and cultural artifacts, providing insight into Vanuatu’s history and indigenous culture.
• Million Dollar Point, Espiritu Santo: Snorkel or dive around the submerged American military equipment left over from World War II, creating a unique underwater attraction.
• Mystery Island: A popular cruise ship destination, Mystery Island is a small, uninhabited islet known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and coral reefs ideal for snorkeling.
• Ambrym Island: This island is famous for its unique volcanic landscapes and customs, as well as traditional practices like sand drawing and mask-making.
• Malekula Island: Discover the diverse cultures and traditions of Malekula, where you can witness ancient ceremonies, visit traditional villages, and explore untouched rainforests.

These are just a few of the incredible places and experiences that Vanuatu offers to tourists. The nation’s natural beauty, cultural diversity, and adventure opportunities make it a unique and unforgettable destination for travelers seeking an authentic South Pacific experience.

What to Do? 📸

Vanuatu offers a wide range of activities and experiences for tourists, catering to nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those interested in immersing themselves in the local culture. Here are some must-do things when visiting Vanuatu:

• Hike to Mount Yasur: Witness the awe-inspiring eruptions of Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes.
• Dive or Snorkel: Explore the vibrant underwater world of Vanuatu, with its coral reefs, shipwrecks, and crystal-clear blue holes. Popular dive spots include the SS President Coolidge and Million Dollar Point.
• Relax on Pristine Beaches: Visit the idyllic beaches of Vanuatu, such as Champagne Beach on Espiritu Santo or Hideaway Island near Port Vila, for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.
• Experience Land Diving: Witness the gravity-defying ritual of land diving on Pentecost Island, where local men jump from high wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles.
• Discover Local Culture: Immerse yourself in the rich culture of Vanuatu by visiting traditional villages, attending cultural ceremonies, and exploring customs like sand drawing and mask-making.
• Hike and Explore: Vanuatu offers numerous hiking trails through lush rainforests, past waterfalls, and up volcanic slopes. Guided tours are available to help you navigate the wilderness.
• Visit the Blue Holes: Don’t miss the enchanting Blue Holes of Vanuatu, like the famous Blue Hole on Espiritu Santo. These natural swimming pools are surrounded by lush jungle and are perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
• Relax in Hot Springs: Tanna Island has natural hot springs where you can unwind and soak in warm, mineral-rich waters.
• Climb Coconut Trees: Participate in a coconut tree climbing experience and learn how to harvest coconuts the traditional way.
• Enjoy a Kava Ceremony: Participate in a kava drinking ceremony to experience this traditional South Pacific beverage and learn about its cultural significance.
• Try Local Cuisine: Savor traditional Vanuatu dishes like lap lap, coconut crab, and manioc cake, as well as fresh seafood and tropical fruits.
• Attend a Local Market: Explore local markets, like the Port Vila Market, to shop for souvenirs, handcrafted goods, and experience the daily life of the locals.
• Go Fishing: Join a fishing excursion, whether it’s deep-sea fishing for game fish or a more relaxed experience in the waters around Vanuatu.
• Explore Shipwrecks: For divers, Vanuatu offers the unique opportunity to explore shipwrecks from World War II, like the SS President Coolidge, located near Luganville on Espiritu Santo.
• Discover Unique Wildlife: Vanuatu is home to diverse wildlife, including birds, marine life, and unique reptiles. Birdwatching and wildlife tours are available on various islands.
• Visit Chief Roi Mata’s Domain: Explore this UNESCO World Heritage site on Efate Island, offering historical and cultural insights into Vanuatu’s heritage.

Vanuatu provides an array of experiences for every type of traveler, from relaxation on stunning beaches to thrilling adventures in its natural wonders. Don’t forget to respect local customs and traditions and appreciate the unique culture of this South Pacific paradise.

Culture and Safety 🦺

When traveling to Vanuatu as a tourist, it’s essential to be aware of the local culture and take necessary safety precautions. Here are some key points regarding culture and safety in Vanuatu:

• Respect Local Customs: Vanuatu is a culturally diverse country with many different indigenous groups, each with its own customs and traditions. It’s important to respect local practices, including dress codes, ceremonies, and village protocols. Ask for permission before taking photos in villages and other sensitive areas.
• Kava Drinking: Kava is a traditional and culturally significant beverage in Vanuatu. If you’re invited to a kava drinking ceremony, participate with respect. Kava has a mild narcotic effect, so consume it in moderation.
• Language: While Bislama is the most widely spoken language, there are over a hundred different languages in Vanuatu. English and French are also spoken. Learning a few basic Bislama phrases can go a long way in showing respect for the local culture.
• Dress Modestly: When visiting villages and more conservative areas, dress modestly to show respect for local customs. This typically means covering your shoulders and knees.
• Island Time: Embrace the relaxed pace of life, often referred to as “island time.” Things might not always run on a strict schedule, and patience is essential.
• Health Precautions: Make sure you have travel insurance and check whether you need any specific vaccinations before your trip. Be mindful of food and water safety and take precautions to prevent waterborne illnesses.
• Natural Hazards: Vanuatu is prone to natural hazards like cyclones and earthquakes. It’s a good idea to check weather forecasts and stay informed about any potential hazards during your stay.
• Swimming and Water Activities: While Vanuatu offers excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, be cautious in the water. Strong currents and undertows can be present, so follow safety guidelines and consider local advice.
• Transportation Safety: When traveling between islands, use reputable transportation providers, and check the safety standards of the vessels. Inquire about the safety regulations of local operators for activities like diving and land diving.
• Currency Exchange: Be cautious when exchanging currency, especially in local markets. Use official currency exchange facilities or reputable banks to avoid scams.
• Crime: Vanuatu is generally a safe destination for tourists, but petty crimes like theft and pickpocketing can occur, especially in crowded areas. Keep an eye on your belongings and use hotel safes when available.
• Local Medical Facilities: Familiarize yourself with the location of medical facilities and pharmacies in the area you’re visiting. Consider carrying a basic medical kit with essentials like insect repellent and over-the-counter medications.
• Travel Documents: Keep your travel documents, including your passport, safe and secure. It’s a good practice to make photocopies or digital copies of important documents.

By respecting the local culture and taking appropriate safety precautions, you can enjoy a wonderful and safe experience in Vanuatu. The people of Vanuatu are known for their warm hospitality and friendliness, so engage with the local community, learn about their culture, and have a memorable visit.

For those seeking a getaway far from the ordinary, Vanuatu delivers an authentic, untouched experience in the heart of the South Pacific. From the lush jungles of Efate to the otherworldly beauty of Tanna’s volcanoes, this island nation is a haven for nature lovers and adventure seekers. So, pack your bags, immerse yourself in the warmth of the local culture, and create lasting memories in this tropical paradise that is Vanuatu.

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Vanuatu Travel Guide

With soft, powdery white beaches and deep emerald jungles, the beauty of Vanuatu reflects the vibrant and welcoming culture of its people. Take the plunge and embark on a magical journey to the land of smiles.

Nestled within the South Pacific Ocean sits Vanuatu, an archipelago of 83 unique islands that is the epitome of tropical bliss and barefoot luxury. Sprung from the aftermath of ancient volcanoes, Vanuatu is the ideal place for rejuvenation and relaxation, thanks to its sweeping beaches and deep blue sea, painting a pristine image of a remote paradise.  

When translated, Vanuatu simply means ‘our land’, which reflects how its people and culture are at the heart of the country. With over 113 distinct languages and hundreds of dialects, Vanuatu is recognised as one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world.  

There is no distinct language within the Ni-Vanuatu culture; storytelling, music, and dance dominate the region, creating elaborate and compelling forms of communication and mythic legends. Particularly special is Vanuatu’s many art forms, spanning body decorations, tattoos, extravagant masks, headwear, and carvings. Be sure to take in the country’s fascinating traditional rituals and ceremonies, as they are unlike any other.  

To match the vast multitude of cultures on land, Vanuatu also has a vibrant underwater scene, with over 4,000 species of marine life thanks to its many ecosystems, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass areas. Vanuatu is truly proud of its flourishing sea life, which contains elegant manta rays, humble sea turtles, colourful nudibranch molluscs, unusual-looking coconut crabs, bulbous dugongs and migrating whales near the shores of the Southern Islands. As such, make the most of Vanuatu and explore the archipelago’s fascinating underwater world through ample diving trips and tours that provide a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.  

Back on the sandy shores, visitors will openly come across Vanuatu’s national animal, the iguana, as this mighty creature is often seen wandering the open road. The flying fox, commonly known as the fruit bat, is endemic to the country and can also be seen as they soar from tree to tree.  

From the heights of staggering volcanoes to the depths of the South Pacific Ocean, Vanuatu has so much to offer visitors and is on the rise as the most enriching and rejuvenating archipelago in the Asia Pacific region.   

TOURISM INSIGHTS: VANUATU TOURISM OFFICE

With a budding tourism industry, Vanuatu is the undiscovered paradise of the Asia Pacific area, and the Vanuatu Tourism Board ’s main objective is to highlight the treasures of the archipelago to the international tourist market. The office’s mantra of ‘Answer the Call of Vanuatu’ reflects how the office passionately highlights the beautiful culture and the endearingly friendly locals to any travelling tourists. We speak to CEO, Adel a Issacur Aru . 

Q&A WITH ADELA ISSACHUR, CEO, VANUATU TOURISM OFFICE

Can you talk us through the origins of the Vanuatu Tourism Office and its initial vision?

Adela Issachur Aru, CEO (AIA): At its core, the office must cultivate the sustainable growth of Vanuatu’s tourism industry by executing internationally and domestically unified marketing efforts, as outlined in the Vanuatu Tourism Office Act and the 2030 Vanuatu Tourism Market Development Plan. This envisions tourism as celebrating Vanuatu’s cultural richness and natural beauty, enabling its citizens a better quality of life while enchanting its visitors across the archipelago. 

The Vanuatu Tourism Office, established under an Act of Parliament, Cap 142 of 1982, operates as a statutory entity. Governed by a dedicated board of directors, this office assumes a distinct corporate role within the Ministry of Trade and Commerce (MTC). 

Why, in your opinion, should someone visit Vanuatu?

AIA: Vanuatu should be on everyone’s list of top countries to visit because it has a unique way of forging a deep connection between its visitors, the land, and its people. For many, tourism transcends mere commercial transactions; it becomes a cultural exchange wherein strangers swiftly transform into family and lifelong friends.  

Amidst our small corner of the world, goodbyes prove to be the most challenging moments. This is because we do not just value your business; we value your friendship, and the void you leave behind resonates deeply as you depart, often leading to tearful farewells at the airport. It is a genuine sentiment that underscores the impact of these connections.  

We are a rough diamond and offer genuine smiles and authenticity in our services. We speak to your heart, and even if our communication is not clear when we serve you, it is our actions of hospitality and our cultural exchanges that will truly create a unique connection to our people, land, and natural attractions for every visitor.  

Undoubtedly, the true essence of a fulfilling stay lies in the bonds formed with our people. Thus, whether you are enjoying our stunning beaches, undertaking thrilling volcanic hikes, or immersing yourself in various adventures, you will discover a sense of belonging that rivals similar experiences you come across. We wholeheartedly urge everyone to ‘Answer the Call of Vanuatu’ and craft their treasured Vanuatu moments.

What kind of travellers does the archipelago appeal to the most?

AIA: Although Vanuatu can cater for travellers from all walks of life, the diverse destination comprises 83 islands and appeals to experience collectors and global adventure seekers the most. People who are free-spirited, active, well-travelled, and young at heart make up the experience collectors. Vanuatu appeals to people who enjoy an adventure and the many cultural opportunities to engage and connect with the people and the place.   

Global adventure seekers, on the other hand, travel in search of the remote locations and off-the-beaten-track adventures that Vanuatu is known for. Global adventure seekers are more likely to travel to undiscovered places and actively seek challenges that focus on nature, cultural immersion, and thrill-seeking.  

This is why Vanuatu is appealing to both these two market segments because we offer the experiences they are looking for in finding fulfilment in life adventures and travel. 

How has the tourism office worked towards putting Vanuatu on the map for potential visitors?

AIA: Firstly, we have repositioned Vanuatu in the marketplace as an adventure destination because it is truly a raw diamond that you must keep uncovering and connecting to appreciate every part of it.  

We have appointed market representatives in our key tourism source markets of Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. We have also recently appointed a part-time market coordinator in the US, targeting Los Angeles and San Francisco since diving is a key niche market for our destination.  

We run dedicated campaigns in each market throughout the year to reach out to the consumers, as well as work with other partners so that we can target specific periods of travel for visitors to book their holidays in advance.

What is Vanuatu’s most underrated attraction?

AIA: Vanuatu has so many underrated attractions that it would be hard to name them all, but I would say that spending some time up in Vanuatu’s northern or southernmost provinces will allow a traveller to find a higher appreciation for life. If I were to name a specific underrated attraction, it would be Rah Island and the rock of Rah, where visitors can see the sleeping mountain, walk across the beautiful Dori Lagoon, witness the stunning snake dance, and eat their hearts out to the feast of seafood that the province of Torba is known for. 

How have you integrated traditional Vanuatu culture into the tourism experience?

AIA: Vanuatu’s culture has always been a part of the tourism experience and one of the country’s main attractions. It is deeply embedded in our product offerings, which commence with the welcomes at the airport and cruise arrival ports and continue throughout the accommodation and the various places you visit whilst on holiday. As such, travellers soon see and experience that we are shy but friendly. Once you speak to us and get to know us, we will open up, share our way of life with you, and tell you how happy and satisfied we are with what we have.  

Our culture and traditions do not need to be integrated into the tourist experience because it is a part of everything we are and do, so naturally, it becomes a part of the tourist experience. At the Vanuatu Tourism Office, we only tell the story of who and what we are whilst showcasing and highlighting the places that all travellers should visit to create an authentic Vanuatu experience.

How is it important for Vanuatu to offer socially responsible tourism experiences that benefit the local communities?

AIA: Being a country that is made of islands that are both urban and geographically remote, it is essential that we provide socially responsible tourism experiences. Vanuatu cares for its guests by ensuring that they care about our environment and people, and respect our customs and cultures.  

The government has banned single-use plastic; therefore, we encourage all visitors to purchase a local basket for their shopping and memorabilia when moving around. Some of these local baskets are created by community producers in the islands, so by purchasing them, tourists are supporting a family income from afar.  

Many of our tourism businesses are small operators scattered across the country that rely on tourism for their livelihoods. Business and community-run events, such as canoe race festivals, fish harvesting events, volcano experiences, bush trekking, top rock lookouts, custom villages, and more, bring direct income back to the business community. This helps to pay for school fees, health centres, and community halls that can become a cyclone shelter during bad weather and a place of learning for the young and old.  

Vanuatu impedes its offering to provide the best it can for any socially responsible traveller to experience the islands. This lets visitors create their own moments, but also know that they are contributing deeper to our purpose than just a holiday. 

Finally, what makes 2023 the year to visit Vanuatu?

AIA: 2023 has allowed people worldwide to be more confident in their travel and heightened the need to regain lost time. Similarly, tourism businesses in Vanuatu have been missing the opportunity to welcome back visitors and show off their beautiful islands, culture, people, and business services. Still, most importantly, it is about reconnecting with travellers. Since we reopened in July 2022, this is definitely the year to revisit Vanuatu as we are rebuilding, reconnecting, and reestablishing ourselves, so your visit will help us recover and offer you genuine Vanuatu moments.

OUTLOOK RECOMMENDS  

FOR ADRENALINE-FILLED JUMPING…   

Visit the island of Pentecost, where local men partake in the fun-filled tradition of land diving, locally known as Naghol (Nang-gol). Onlookers to the daredevil ritual will find many diving off a 98-foot-high wooden tower with their ankles tied to vines, as part of the yam harvest festival. Some say that this spectacle inspired the modern bungee jump, which was first practiced in New Zealand in the 1980s.   

FOR SNORKELLING AMONGST THE REEF FISH…   

Lelepa Island Tours

FOR DISCOVERING THE TRUE BEAUTY OF VANUATU…   

Santo Heritage Tours

FOR AN INTIMATE TROPICAL RETREAT…   

The Breakas Beach Resort integrates the natural beauty of the Pango Peninsular with modern luxury to provide the ultimate beachside island resort. Secluded in a private cove, guests can enjoy a stunning infinity pool and spa before residing in a romantic garden faré that is the perfect private haven.

FOR AN UNTOUCHED PARADISE…   

The Dori Lagoon Bungalows lets you rest on the wonderfully private Rah Island, providing breathtaking views of the lagoon, Mota Lava Island, and Sleeping Mountain right from your window. As a family-owned business, guests delight in the friendly atmosphere of the bungalow’s owners and staff, as they guarantee the authentic experience of staying in neatly crafted bungalows. Visitors can choose from a range of sizes, including a waterfront bungalow with an ensuite, as well as a double or single bungalow. As you drift off to the blissful sound of the ocean, you are bound to enjoy a dreamy night’s sleep.

FOR A SECLUDED AND ROMANTIC RETREAT…  

Exclusive Sunrise Eco Resort

FOR A FUN-FILLED STAY…   

Holiday Inn Resort has all you need for your travels to Vanuatu, as the perfect balance of relaxation and activity. The resort stands out with its plethora of facilities, including a gym, a variety of pools, a spa, regular resort activities like paddleboarding and sailing, and a range of restaurants, ensuring its guests are always satisfied. As a perfect island resort, it also has an exclusive lagoon front, with both quiet and fun zones, and affordable and comfortable rooms. Whether it’s a romantic getaway, a memorable family trip, or a sun-soaked break, the Holiday Inn Resort has everything you need.

FOR BOUTIQUE AND AFFORDABLE ACCOMMODATION…   

Lagoon Gardens is exquisitely nestled within the jungle metropolis on the banks of the Emten Lagoon. Just a short five-minute drive from the centre of Port Vila, this resort allows nearby access to the capital and its sights without the hustle and bustle. As a small, bespoke resort containing just four bungalows and two apartments, it is ideal for large group bookings, as well as smaller groups who can enjoy the benefits of seclusion. Guests can revel in the personalised touch created by the garden’s host Morgan, who is passionate about providing visitors with the most pleasurable stay.     

FOR A ROOM WITH A VIEW…   

Nasama Resort

PORT VILA IN FOCUS

Home to two-thirds of Vanuatu’s total population, Port Vila is rich with many different cultures, such as British, Chinese, Vietnamese, and French, the latter of which has the most dominant influence on the city’s appearance, making it a cultural mosaic .

Positioned between a blissful lagoon and a tropical harbour, Port Vila is popular with yachties, cruise-goers, and expats who all bask in the assorted landscape. If you delve deeper into the heart of this compact and energetic city, you will easily come across one of Port Vila’s outdoor markets (also known as Mama’s Market), with a vibrancy that shines through in the plethora of unique stalls selling local fruit, brightly-coloured dresses, and classic fish markets.

To take a break from the chaotic markets and inner streets, be sure to visit the National Museum of Vanuatu. A widely-regarded attraction across the Asia Pacific region, the museum is situated in a magnificent traditional building, heralding some impressive historic artefacts including tamtam (also known as slit gongs or drums), outrigger canoes, ceremonial headdresses, shell jewellery, and the intricate designs of Lapita and Wusi pottery.  

Port Vila strikes the perfect balance as a lively city just a stone’s throw away from rolling beaches and optimum diving spots, making it the perfect place to start your Vanuatu adventure.

LANDMARK ATTRACTIONS

As nature’s very own swimming pools, these majestic bodies of water must be seen to be believed. The sparkling pockets of water occur when freshwater springs trickle from the very top of the islands’ mountains over thousands of years. Therefore, take a dip for a swimming experience like no other, but remember to bring cash as some guides charge an entrance fee.  

Vanuatu Cultural Centre

To truly understand the culture that is so ingrained in Vanuatu, the centre plays a pivotal role in preserving, protecting, and promoting the variety of cultures across the archipelago. Therefore, if you are looking for something to do in Port Vila, learn about the Indigenous culture of Vanuatu, spanning sand drawing, land diving, and more.

Mount Yasur

As a mighty active volcano on the island of Tanna, this fantastic natural landform gives tourists the unique opportunity to stand on the volcano’s edge and gaze at dancing lava as it rises and falls. The 400-metre crater is only accessible by foot, however, regular tours are held in which guides can drive travellers to the nearest checkpoint, where they can enjoy an equally spectacular viewpoint.

GETTING THERE AND AROUND

Located deep in the South Pacific between Fiji and New Caledonia, both Australia and New Zealand are only three hours away from Vanuatu and offer plenty of flights to the region via various international airlines. Port Vila Airport is only 10 minutes away from the city centre, and 20 minutes away from the gorgeous Havannah Coast.  

As a location that is so widespread, there are a variety of options available for travelling around. The most obvious mode of travel is to fly via Air Vanuatu, which offers domestic routes across the islands. However, take care to plan ahead, as the airline offers a comfortable ATR-72 aircraft between Port Vila, Santo, and Tanna, but beyond these routes, flights are operated on smaller aircraft with limited facilities.  

Minibuses, seating around 10 people, are also available. The minibuses drive around the islands picking up locals and tourists, and are a reflection of the friendly atmosphere that has characterised the country. The buses are cheap and run regularly, so don’t worry if you miss the first one you see; however, just be aware that they only travel on sealed roads between Efate, Espiritu Santo, and Tanna.  

For those who want to get the blood pumping, Vanuatu also offers unconventional tours that let you see sensational views whilst travelling around. One of the most popular forms of travel is via Air Taxi Vanuatu . Flying through the air on a bright yellow by-plane, see Vanuatu from above, bearing witness to the best tropical waterfalls and beautiful beaches or stare into the eye of an active volcano.

VIEW THE VANUATU TRAVEL GUIDE

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Vanuatu Travel Guide – An Adventurer’s Paradise

Vanuatu is the adventurer’s paradise we’ve been searching for. It is a country where you can climb two active volcanoes in one day, swim in the world clearest bluest lagoons, scuba dive incredible coral reefs, then board a cargo ship overnight to a remote island. Of course, there is the option to relax in a natural geothermal hot spring and enjoy a secluded beach all to yourself with a fresh coconut in hand after all the exploring too.

The culture in Vanuatu is diverse. There are over 100 languages spoken, sometimes more than 10 dialects on one island. There are 7 main religions, with many people following more than one. Cannibalism only ended a few decades ago, and many locals still believe in various forms of Black Magic.

There are a total of 83 islands, spread over 900 kilometers. From the Torres Islands in the far north to Angehowhat in the far south. Each island has its own culture, so you can just begin to imagine what a diverse country Vanuatu is.

To see all the islands would take many months. I recommend spending five to ten days on each island. This will give you sufficient time to properly understand the local culture and have the chance to meet the local people.

Table of Contents

Vanuatu fact file.

Population: 250,000

Currency: Vatu. Check exchange rates here.

Languages ; Bislama, English, French, Regional Dialects

International Airports; Port Vila, Luganville

Visa Requirements; for most countries only a departure flight is required. If you don’t want to book a departure flight just yet, you can rent one here for a minimal fee.

Domestic airlines ; Air Vanuatu , Bel Airways , Unity Airlines, Air Taxi Vanuatu

Phone services; Digicel, TVL

Where is Vanuatu Located? 

Vanuatu is a series of 83 islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It is located about 500km North East of New Caledonia, and 1,900km East of Australia. Vanuatu stretches from approximately the latitude of Mackay to Port Douglas in Australia, all of which is referred to as the tropics.

Air Vanuatu connects Vanuatu directly with its neighboring islands including; Fiji, New Caledonia, Soloman Islands, and Papua New Guinea.

Best Time to Visit Vanuatu 

The best time to visit Vanuatu is a personal opinion. Are you keen to see a certain festival such as the Naghol Land Diving, do you want to travel the off-season when prices are lower and there are fewer tourists around, or just after beautiful blue skies?

Vanuatu has a distinct wet season and dry season.

• The wet season (monsoon season) runs from November to March. It doesn’t rain all day but the humidity is incredibly high with the ambient temperature above 30 degrees. This can be uncomfortable for some.
• The dry season runs from April to October. There is much less rain and the ambient temperature ranges from 18 degrees to 28 degrees.

In my opinion, the best time to visit Vanuatu is the end of the wet season (February to March). I don’t mind the rain or the humidity in exchange for being one of the only tourists around. Heck, I even got the entire Blue Lagoon in Santo to myself! You can’t complain about that.

Vanuatu Island Guide

With 83 islands, there is plenty to see when you travel Vanuatu. Each island has it’s own unique culture, landscape, and attractions. Here is a quick overview of some of the most popular islands.

Espiritu Santo

Highlights: blue lagoons, diving SS Coolidge, Champagne Beach

Santo Espiritu is commonly referred to as Santo by the locals. This is the largest of Vanuatu’s 83 islands. The east coast is well connected by sealed roads from Luganville in the south to Port Olry (pronounced Port Lory) in the north. You can take a hire car along sealed roads.

Other parts of the island such as the interior, north coast and west coast are unsealed and only accessible by 4WD.

The most popular attractions in Santo Espiritu is to visit one of Vanuatu’s Blue Lagoons . There are actually three popular Blue Lagoons here including the Riri Blue Hole, Nanda Blue Hole, and Matevulu Blue Hole. As the name suggests, the water here is incredibly blue and crystal clear (apart from Matevulu which has recently turned green).

Other popular things to do in Santo include hiking to the  Millenium Cave, and SCUBA diving the SS Coolridge, and checking out the old war relics at Million Dollar Point.

Of course, your time on Santo would not be complete without enjoying one of the amazing beaches such as Champagne Beach, Port Olry, and my favorite Lonnoc Beach.

Airports: Luganville

Stay in Espiritu Santo: Lonnoc Beach Bungalows – Lonnoc Beach

Highlights: Small Nambas, Big Nambas, Dugongs

Malekula is the second largest island in Vanuatu, but perhaps the most culturally diverse. There are regular flights and boats from Santo and Port Vila to Malekula.

A flight is less than one hour, while a boat takes four to eight hours from Santo, and overnight from Port Vila.

Popular attractions in Malekula include; Small Nambas Cultural Tour, Big Nambas Cultural Tour, Cannibal sites, Botko Waterfall, Losinwei Waterfall, South West Bay, and the Maskelynes. Malekula is one of the top islands to spot dugongs in the wild, though they can still be quite difficult to find.

Read my detailed guide to travel in north Malekula where I visited small islands like Uripiv without electricity, roads or mobile phone coverage.

Airports in Malekula; Nosrup, Lamap

Stay in Malekula: Nabelchel Guesthouse – Norsup

Highlights: volcanoes, hot springs

Ambrym is home to two active volcanoes each with lava lakes. Lava lakes are a very rare occurrence, there are only five locations where you can find these.

Unlike Tanna where you can drive to the top of the volcano, the volcanoes in Ambrym   are more adventurous requiring two to three days of hiking.

A hike to the volcanoes can be arranged departing Craig’s Cove with options to return to Craig’s Cove or hike overland to Olal in the north or Ulei in the east.

The island has two domestic airports including Craig’s Cove and Ulei. Access to the south is via a road in terrible condition, while Olal and Rano in the north as accessed by speedboat.

Airports in Ambrym: Craig’s Cove, Ulei

Stay in Ambrym: Sam’s Guesthouse – Craig’s Cove

Highlights: Naghol Land Diving

Pentecost is one of the easternmost islands in Vanuatu. It is said that it always rains on Pentecost whether wet or dry season.

Pentecost is home of the Naghol land diving festival . Naghol runs every Saturday between April and June, marking the start of the Yam harvest season. Read more about my trip to see Naghol on Pentecost here.

Pentecost’s west coast is accessible by a terrible condition road only passable by 4WD. The east coast has no road and can only be traveled by boat. It is suggested the government will build a road on Pentecost’s east coast, but no one knows when this will happen.

Airports in Naghol: Lonorore, Sara

Stay in Pentecost: Noda Guesthouse – Waterfall Village

Efate is commonly referred to as Port Vila and is Vanuatu’s most populated island. Life in Port Vila is very different from the outer islands. The island is accessible by sealed road, has phone coverage and stable power supply.

For good snorkeling near Port Vila snorkeling head to Hideaway Island. The bay is protected by a marine reserve which means no fishing. If you stay at the Hideaway Island Resort you will get free use of snorkels, kayaks, paddleboards, free boat transfer to the mainland and avoid the 1250 vatu island entry fee.

For good surfing head to Pango beach. It is one of the only surfing spots you will find in all of Vanuatu. Water is otherwise quite flat throughout the country.

Efate is visited by many Australian tourists with direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane. There are plenty of hotels available from dorm rooms to fancy 5-star hotels.

While a trip to Port Vila s an easy way to visit Vanuatu, you will not get a view into the traditional way of life here.

Airports: Port Vila

Stay in Efate: Hideaway Island Resort – Port Vila

Additional Islands in Vanuatu

Have you been to any other islands in Vanuatu and would like to contribute content? I am open to accepting guest content on islands such as; Tanna, Banks Islands, Maewo, etc…

Getting Around Vanuatu

International flights to vanuatu.

There are a number of international flights to Vanuatu, most departing from either Australia, New Zealand, or the other South Pacific Islands.

• Air Vanuatu is the national airline with flights to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea
• Virgin Australia and Qantas both operate flights to Vanuatu. Flights from Brisbane are direct, while Sydney and Melbourne require a stopover
• Air New Zealand operates direct flights from Auckland to Vanuatu

Domestic Flights in Vanuatu

Most people arrive in Vanuatu by plane into Santo Espiritu or Port Vila. Domestic flights provide travel routes to most of the larger islands.

• Air Vanuatu is the largest domestic flight provider covering the most islands with the most frequent schedules. Their website is fairly good with lots of domestic flights and direct booking available.
• Bel Airways also has regular flights between many of the outer islands and Port Vila. Their website contains minimal information and actually looks inactive. To check flight schedules and prices you will need to call them directly to tell you route and date.
• Unity Airlines and Air Taxi Vanuatu have chartered flight services. There are many flights between the outer islands and Port Vila which you can try to board. Call them directly to inquire for more information.

It is common for domestic flights to arrive and depart early in Vanuatu. Domestic flights require check-in two hours before the scheduled departure and it is suggested to arrive up to three hours early. I have almost missed a flight from Malekula to Ambrym because of this, so take this warning quite seriously!

Domestic flights in Vanuatu have a standard 200 vatu airport tax. This is paid after check-in, and before departure.

The standard weight allowance for a domestic flight is 10kg check-in, and 5kg carry on . Excess baggage may be rejected, or have an additional charge. If you book your domestic flights in conjunction with an international Air Vanuatu flight, your baggage allowance can be increased to 23kg,

Boats in Vanuatu

Boats are a cheaper way of traveling around Vanuatu. However, use cargo boats and ferries with caution. Schedules change on an hourly basis, and can quite often be canceled due to poor weather. Be sure to follow up on your boat schedule daily to be sure of its arrival and departure.

Vanuatu Cargo , Vanuatu Ferry , and Big Sista are the largest and most comfortable boat options to travel Vanuatu.

There are small cargo boats that service the outer islands from Port Vila and Santo Espiritu. Some cargo lines include; Makila, Tinawan, Freedom, Regim and Young Bloodz.

These smaller cargo boats are much more basic than the larger boat services. Expect the main cabin to be outdoors, without seats or any sleeping provisions. Toilets are terrible, best not to have to use them. There will be no food or drinks available onboard, so come prepared. Read my full review on taking a cargo boat in Vanuatu.

The best way to check cargo boat schedules and prices is by going directly to the port and asking for the manager. If the manager is not around, talk to the locals there, but beware of getting conflicting information from different people. They are not trying to trick you, may not actually know the latest schedules either.

Traveling by Road in Vanuatu

Apart from Efate and Santo’s east coast, roads in Vanuatu are typically unsealed, poor quality and only passable by 4WD. Travel is slow, usually no faster than 30km/hr.

The cheapest way to travel is by catching a passing vehicle. You can flag down a vehicle by waving at them or whistling. A standard fare starts from 200 vatu and increases with distance. It is easy to catch vehicles on a weekday. Catching vehicles on a weekend can involve a long wait, up to a few hours, as these are church days, not working days.

If you need to get somewhere in a hurry, you can generally charter a vehicle from your guesthouse. A standard fare starts from 2000 vatu and increases with distance.

Drinking in Vanuatu

Drinking kava at a Nakamal is common for many people in Vanuatu. It is more common in rural areas, where it is used as a way to relax after a day of work.

Beer is consumed and available in many places. In rural areas is it common to find that all shops are completely sold out of Tusker over the weekend, with only wine available. Beer is generally warm, not cold, as most people do not have their own refrigerators and rely on a communal one.

There are bars and nightclubs in Port Vila, some smaller hotel bars in Santo, and generally no bars or nightclubs on the outer islands.

Vanuatu Travel Videos

Here are a few travel videos I made while in Vanuatu. Give them a like, a comment, and be sure to subscribe to the channel!

12 Amazing Things to do in Vanuatu

Vanuatu’s Incredible Blue Lagoons (Santo & Efate)

Guide to Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu’s Unspoken Paradise

Naghol Land Diving, Vanuatu’s Craziest Tradition

Taking a Cargo Boat in Vanuatu

Ambrym Volcano Hike; Marum and Benbow (2 Days, 1 Night)

Guide to Malekula Island, Vanuatu

Uripiv Island, life without electricity, roads or internet

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Welcome traveler!

We're Andre & Lisa, adventurers and experienced budget travelers.

We have over two decades of travel experience and  since 2018 have led a full-time nomadic lifestyle.

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Thank you for visiting and we hope you find value in our destination pages! ​We thoroughly research and curate all content ourselves and everything you find on this site is put together by only the two of us.

VANUATU TRAVEL GUIDE

Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometres. The islands offer scuba diving at coral reefs, underwater caverns and wrecks.

The chain of 83 islands reminded Capt Cook of the dark, forbidding, wind buffeted islands off the Scottish coast and he named them New Hebrides. The islands range from towering volcanoes to those covered in dense rainforests to those with wide beaches with deep natural harbours.

⬇️ REGIONAL GUIDES ⬇️

Travel guide.

⬇️ COUNTRY GUIDE ⬇️

• Capital : Port-Vila
• Currency : vatu (VUV)
• Area : 12,200 km²
• Population : 292 680 (2018)
• Language : English, French, creole (known as Bislama or Bichelama) official; plus 100+ local languages
• Religion :Presbyterian 36.7%, Anglican 15%, Roman Catholic 15%, indigenous beliefs 7.6%
• 21 February, Father Walter Lini Day (Father of Independence)
• 5 March, Custom Chief’s Day
• 24 July, Children’s Day
• 30 July, Independence Day
• 15 August, Assumption
• 5 October, Constitution Day
• 29 November, National Unity Day
• 26 December, Family Day

Also, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Ascension Day.

DO YOU NEED A VISA FOR

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Let iVisa take the pain out of travel planning and assist you with Electronic visas, Travel Authorizations, Visas on Arrival, and even Paper Visas. They can also help with Health Declarations and Embassy Registrations. If you're from the US, they provide a One-Stop Shop to renew your Passport securely and error-free.

SEASONS AT A GLANCE

Most destinations have different times of the year when they’re more or less popular with tourists. 

Peak Season

Shoulder Season

Off Peak Season

BEST TIME TO VISIT VANUATU

Vanuatu has two main seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

• The dry season, also known as the "cool" season, typically runs from April to October. During this time, the weather is sunny and warm with little to no rainfall and mild humidity. This is the peak tourist season and the best time for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and snorkeling.
• The rainy season, also known as the "hot" season, typically runs from November to March. During this time, the weather can be unpredictable with more rainfall and higher humidity. The temperature is generally warmer during this time. However, it's also the best time to see the lush vegetation and waterfalls in full flow.

Additionally, Vanuatu is also prone to tropical cyclones which mostly happen between January to April. It's a good idea to check the weather forecast before planning a trip to Vanuatu during this time.

The best time to visit Vanuatu is between April and October, during the dry season. The weather is generally sunny and warm, with little to no rainfall and mild humidity. This is also the peak tourist season and the best time for outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and snorkeling. The rainy season is between November and March, and although the weather can be unpredictable during this time, it is also the best time to see the lush vegetation and waterfalls in full flow.

BEST TIME FOR:

Snow Sports

The best time to enjoy outdoor activities in Vanuatu is during the dry season from May to October when temperatures are also a little cooler. During the rainy season, even though showers are generally brief it is much more humid.

The best time to enjoy the beaches of Vanuatu is during the dry season from May to October when temperatures are also a little cooler. During the rainy season showers are generally brief but it is much more humid. The water is always warm enough for swimming.

Although Vanuatu may not be typically associated with surfing, it is gaining a growing reputation among the global surfing community. 

With excellent conditions almost all year round, there is plenty of potential for surfing in Vanuatu. Surfers willing to travel to the outer islands islands will be rewarded with breaks that offer perfect hollow waves and ideal surfing conditions. The best time to surf here would be between March and December with consistent southern swells.

Kitesurfing in Vanuatu will make you feel as though you have been taken back in time. 

The trade winds are most stable and predictable during the months of June, July and August when about half the days should be suitable for kiting. The winds are usually only around 12-15 knots, sometimes more. Make sure to take the tide into consideration as there can be shallow rocks.

For more details on kite surfing in Vanuatu expand this section!

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VANUATU TRAVEL COSTS

The cost of traveling to Vanuatu can vary depending on a number of factors such as the time of year, the type of accommodation you choose, and your planned activities.

• A round-trip airfare from major cities in Australia and New Zealand to Port Vila, Vanuatu's capital, can cost anywhere from $300 to $800, depending on the carrier and the time of year.
• Accommodation can also vary widely in price. Budget-friendly options such as hostels and budget hotels can start at around $30 per night, while more luxurious resorts can cost upwards of $300 per night.
• Food and transportation in Vanuatu are relatively inexpensive. You can find a meal at a local restaurant for around $10 to $20, and a taxi ride within the city can cost around $10.
• Activities such as snorkeling, diving, and island-hopping can also add to the cost of your trip. A half-day snorkeling trip can cost around $50 to $70, while a full-day island-hopping tour can cost around $100 to $150.

Overall, it's possible to plan a trip to Vanuatu on a budget, but you should expect to spend at least $50 to $100 per day for accommodation, food, and activities.

Here's a sample budget for a 7-day trip to Vanuatu:

• Round-trip airfare: $600
• Accommodation (budget hotel): $210
• Food and drinks: $150
• Transportation (taxis and bus fares): $50
• Activities (snorkeling and island-hopping): $200
• Souvenirs and other expenses: $100

Total cost: $1210

Please keep in mind that this is just a sample budget and your actual costs may vary depending on your specific travel plans and personal preferences. To save money, you could opt for budget accommodation, cook your own meals, or stick to free activities like hiking, swimming, and exploring local markets.

It's also worth noting that Vanuatu has a relatively high value-added tax (VAT) of 12.5% which can add to the cost of goods and services, and is included in the prices of most things.

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Here are some travel tips for Vanuatu:

• Pack light : many of the islands in Vanuatu have limited resources, so pack accordingly.
• Be prepared for the weather : Vanuatu has a tropical climate, so bring sunscreen, a hat, and light, breathable clothing. During the rainy season, bring a rain jacket or umbrella.
• Be respectful of local customs : Vanuatu is a culturally diverse country, and it's important to be respectful of local customs and traditions. Dress modestly when visiting villages and remove shoes before entering a traditional nakamal (meeting place).
• Bring cash : many places in Vanuatu do not accept credit cards, so make sure to bring enough cash to cover your expenses.
• Learn some Bislama : Bislama is the most widely spoken language in Vanuatu and is used as a lingua franca. It's a simplified version of English, and learning a few key phrases can make communication much easier.
• Be aware of tropical cyclones : Vanuatu is located in an area prone to tropical cyclones and the season is from January to April. It's a good idea to check the weather forecast before planning a trip to Vanuatu during this time.
• Take time to explore the islands : Vanuatu is made up of over 80 islands, each with their own unique culture and landscapes. Be sure to take the time to explore some of the lesser-known islands and experience the local way of life.
• Be cautious with sea activities : The sea around Vanuatu can be quite rough and currents can be strong. If you plan to go snorkeling, diving, or swimming, be sure to follow safety guidelines and be aware of any potential hazards.

REGIONS & HIGHLIGHTS OF VANUATU

Vanuatu is made up of over 80 islands, which are grouped into six main regions:

• Efate : This is the most developed and most visited island in Vanuatu. It's home to the capital city of Port Vila and offers a wide range of activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving, and hiking. Visitors can also explore the Mele Cascades, a beautiful waterfall, or take a trip to the Blue Lagoon, a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing.
• Espiritu Santo: Known as the "big island" of Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo is the largest and most diverse of the islands. It's home to several World War II relics, as well as beautiful beaches and lush forests. Visitors can also take a boat trip to the island of Aore to snorkel in the crystal-clear waters or explore the limestone caves at the Millennium Cave.
• Tanna : Known for its active volcano, Tanna Island is a popular destination for adventure seekers. Visitors can hike to the summit of Mt. Yasur, one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, or visit the nearby hot springs and sulfur pools. Tanna is also home to a number of traditional villages where visitors can learn about the island's unique culture and customs.
• Malakula : Known as the "Island of the Cannibals", Malakula is home to a number of traditional villages where visitors can learn about the island's unique culture and customs. Visitors can also take a hike to the top of the island's highest peak, Mt. Tukosmera, or explore the beautiful beaches and coral reefs.
• Pentecost : Known for its traditional land diving, Pentecost is home to the famous Naghol, a traditional ritual where men jump from tall wooden towers with only vines tied to their ankles. Visitors can also explore the island's beautiful beaches and traditional villages.
• Ambrym : Known for its active volcano, Ambrym is a popular destination for adventure seekers. Visitors can hike to the summit of Mt. Marum, one of the island's two active volcanoes, or visit the nearby hot springs and sulfur pools. Ambrym is also home to a number of traditional villages where visitors can learn about the island's unique culture and customs.

Please keep in mind that this is just a general overview and each region have much more to offer to explore. It's recommended that you do your own research and plan accordingly based on your interests and priorities.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN VANUATU

Vanuatu offers a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy. Here are some of the best things to see and do when visiting Vanuatu:

• Visit Port Vila : The capital of Vanuatu is a great place to start your visit. You can explore the local markets, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy the nightlife.
• Explore the island of Efate: Take a trip around the island of Efate and visit the Mele Cascades, a beautiful waterfall, or take a trip to the Blue Lagoon, a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing.
• Visit the World War II relics : Espiritu Santo is home to several World War II relics, including the Million Dollar Point, where you can see the remains of US military equipment that was dumped into the ocean at the end of the war.
• Hike to the summit of an active volcano : Tanna and Ambrym are popular destinations for adventure seekers, as they are both home to active volcanoes. Visitors can hike to the summit of Mt. Yasur or Mt. Marum for an unforgettable experience.
• Explore the island of Malakula : Known as the "Island of the Cannibals", Malakula is home to a number of traditional villages where visitors can learn about the island's unique culture and customs. Visitors can also take a hike to the top of the island's highest peak, Mt. Tukosmera, or explore the beautiful beaches and coral reefs.
• Visit the traditional land diving on Pentecost : See the famous Naghol, a traditional ritual where men jump from tall wooden towers with only vines tied to their ankles. Visitors can also explore the island's beautiful beaches and traditional villages.
• Snorkeling and Diving : Vanuatu offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. With crystal-clear waters and an abundance of marine life, you can explore the coral reefs and shipwrecks, and see a wide variety of fish and other sea creatures.
• Visit the hot springs and sulfur pools : The volcanic islands of Vanuatu are home to a number of hot springs and sulfur pools, which are popular attractions for visitors. Relax in the warm waters and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• Learn about the local culture : Vanuatu is a culturally diverse country, and visitors can learn about the local culture by visiting traditional villages, attending cultural shows, and experiencing the local way of life.
• Relax on the beautiful beaches : Vanuatu has many beautiful beaches, which are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and relaxing. You can also try water sports such as kayaking, surfing and windsurfing.

WHAT TO EAT IN VANUATU

Vanuatu offers a diverse range of cuisines, with influences from its Melanesian, Polynesian, and European heritage. Here are some of the best foods to try when visiting Vanuatu:

• Lap-lap : A traditional Vanuatuan dish made from grated yam or manioc, mixed with coconut cream and meat or fish. It is then wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in an underground oven.
• Coconut crab : Often considered a delicacy, coconut crab is a type of land crab that is found on many of the islands in Vanuatu. They are usually cooked in a curry or grilled.
• Taro : a staple root vegetable in Vanuatu, it is often boiled, baked, or mashed and served as a side dish or mixed with meat or fish to make a traditional dish.
• Fresh seafood : Vanuatu is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, so it's no surprise that seafood is a staple in the local cuisine. Try some of the local seafood such as tuna, mahi-mahi, and prawns.
• Fresh fruit : Vanuatu has a wide variety of tropical fruits, including pineapples, papayas, and mangoes. Many of these fruits can be found at local markets and make for a refreshing snack or dessert.
• Kava : A traditional drink made from the root of the kava plant. It is usually served in a bowl and is often consumed before meals or at special events.
• Bamboo shoots : a delicacy in Vanuatu that is usually cooked in coconut milk with meat or fish and served as a side dish.
• Palusami : A traditional Samoan dish made from taro leaves filled with meat or fish and coconut milk, then wrapped in banana leaves and
• Roasted pig : Roasted pig is a common dish at special events and ceremonies, and is usually served with a variety of side dishes and vegetables.

It's also worth noting that many local restaurants and hotels in Vanuatu offer international cuisine options such as Asian, Italian, and French.

LGBTQ IN VANUATU

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WHERE TO STAY IN VANUATU

When visiting Vanuatu for the first time, there are several regions worth considering, each offering unique attractions and experiences. Here are some options along with reasons and accommodation suggestions for each:

Where To Stay In Port Vila, Efate Island

Port Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu, located on the main island of Efate. It offers a mix of cultural experiences, outdoor adventures, and beautiful beaches.

Budget accommodation:   The Melanesian Port Vila Hotel - Located near the city center, this hotel offers budget-friendly rooms, a swimming pool, and easy access to attractions like the Port Vila Market and Parliament House.

Mid-range accommodation:   Warwick Le Lagon - Nestled on the shores of Erakor Lagoon, this resort offers comfortable rooms, multiple dining options, water sports activities, and a tranquil setting just outside of Port Vila.

Luxury accommodation:   Iririki Island Resort & Spa - This luxurious resort is located on its own private island just off the coast of Port Vila, offering elegant rooms and villas, gourmet dining options, a spa, and exclusive access to pristine beaches and water activities.

Where To Stay In Espiritu Santo Island

Espiritu Santo is the largest island in Vanuatu, known for its stunning natural beauty, including pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and underwater wonders like the SS President Coolidge shipwreck.

Budget accommodation:   Village de Santo Resort - Situated near Luganville, the main town of Espiritu Santo, this resort offers budget-friendly bungalows, a restaurant serving local cuisine, and easy access to attractions like Champagne Beach and Blue Hole.

Mid-range accommodation:   Aore Island Resort - Located on a private island off the coast of Espiritu Santo, this resort offers comfortable bungalows, a restaurant and bar, water sports activities, and a relaxed atmosphere with beautiful views.

Luxury accommodation:   Ratua Private Island - This exclusive eco-luxury resort is located on its own private island near Espiritu Santo, offering luxurious villas, gourmet dining options, a spa, and a range of activities including horseback riding and snorkeling.

Where To Stay In Tanna Island

Tanna Island is known for its active volcano, Mount Yasur, as well as its unique cultural experiences and pristine landscapes.

Budget accommodation:   White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa - Located near Lowanatom village, this resort offers budget-friendly bungalows, a restaurant serving local and international cuisine, and easy access to attractions like Mount Yasur and Port Resolution.

Mid-range accommodation:   Tanna Lava View Bungalows - Situated near the volcano, this accommodation offers rustic bungalows with volcano views, traditional meals cooked in the ground, and guided tours to Mount Yasur.

Luxury accommodation:   Tanna Evergreen Resort & Tours - This resort offers upscale bungalows with modern amenities, a restaurant serving gourmet cuisine, and personalized tours to Mount Yasur and other attractions on the island.

Each of these regions in Vanuatu offers its own unique experiences and accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets. Whether you're interested in exploring bustling city life, relaxing on pristine beaches, or embarking on outdoor adventures, Vanuatu has something to offer for every traveler.

For hassle-free bookings, use platforms like   Booking.com  for competitive rates or   Holiday Swap  for unique homes worldwide. Ensure to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, and align your preferences with nearby activities such as surfing, snorkeling, or cultural exploration.

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• 1.1 History
• 1.2 Climate
• 1.3 Culture
• 1.4 Holidays
• 1.5 Visitor information
• 4 Other destinations
• 5.2 By boat
• 5.3 By plane
• 6.1 By airplane
• 10.2 Tipping and gifts
• 10.3 Shopping
• 11.1 Lap lap
• 11.4 Seafood
• 12.2 Alcohol
• 13.1 Budget
• 14.1 Volunteer
• 15 Stay safe
• 16 Stay healthy
• 17.1 Photography
• 18.1 Telephone
• 18.2 Radio and television
• 18.3 Internet
• 18.4 Postal services

Vanuatu (previously known as the New Hebrides Islands ) is an archipelago nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The archipelago more than 80 islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.

Vanuatu is one of the smallest of five independent Melanesian countries in the southwest Pacific. The archipelago of 83 or so islands includes deserted sand beaches, remote beauty, tribal communities and world-class deep-sea diving.

The prehistory of Vanuatu is obscure; archaeological evidence supports the commonly held theory that peoples speaking Austronesian languages first came to the islands some 4,000 years ago. Pottery fragments have been found dating back to 1300–1100 BC.

The first island in the Vanuatu group discovered by Europeans was Espiritu Santo, when in 1606 the Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós working for the Spanish crown, spied what he thought was a southern continent. Europeans did not return until 1768. In 1774, Captain Cook named the islands the New Hebrides, a name that lasted until independence.

During the 1860s, planters in Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, and the Samoa Islands, in need of labourers, instigated a long-term indentured labor trade called "blackbirding": essentially slavery. At the height of the labor trade, more than one-half the adult male population of several of the islands worked abroad. Fragmentary evidence indicates that the current population of Vanuatu is much lower than that of pre-contact times.

The British and French agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium. Challenges to this form of government began in the early 1940s. The arrival of Americans during World War II, with their informal demeanor and relative wealth, was instrumental in the rise of nationalism in the islands. The belief in a mythical messianic figure named John Frum was the basis for an indigenous cargo cult (a movement attempting to obtain industrial goods through magic) promising Melanesian deliverance. Today, John Frum is both a religion and a political party with a member of Parliament.

In 1980, amidst the brief Coconut War, the independent Republic of Vanuatu was created. During the 1990s Vanuatu experienced political instability which eventually resulted in a more decentralized government. The Vanuatu Mobile Force, a paramilitary group, attempted a coup in 1996 because of a pay dispute.

Vanuatu sustained extensive damage due to Cyclone Pam in March 2015. While the island of Espiritu Santo was unscathed, destruction on many outer islands was severe.

European settlers released several saltwater crocodiles on the island, although there remain 2 or 3 medium-sized individuals on the Banks Islands and no breeding has been observed. Despite its proximity to Papua New Guinea, crocodiles do not naturally occur on Vanuatu.

With such a large north-south area, Vanuatu has all the tropical variances possible. From hot and humid in the north, to mild and dry in the south. The Capital Port Vila on Efate can expect 27°C in July to 30°C in January. Nights can drop to 12°C. Humidity from December to February is around 82% and 70% around July.

Rainfall from January to April is around 300 mm per month, for the rest of the year around 200 mm per month. The Banks Islands in the top North can receive above 4,000mm of rain in a year, yet the southern islands may receive less than 2,000 mm.

Cyclones are natural phenomena to understand and respect. Mainstream tourism facilities are solidly built and experienced in cyclone management. Cyclones appear (in varying degrees with plenty of warning) on an average every couple of years from December to March. By following instructions given by the local authorities, you will be in no danger.

Yachties commonly avoid cyclones from Nov through April. There are no effective cyclone holes for any size of ship in Vanuatu. Yachties typically leave to the north of the equator, New Caledonia, New Zealand or Australia. There is a small boatyard in Port Vila with haulout facilities for yachts.

Tourism peaks from July to December. January to June is quietest. Experienced travellers take advantage of these tourism troughs to travel, as airlines, accommodation providers and other tourism-related businesses discount heavily during this period.

January to June is a little more humid, but cooled by the occasional tropical downpour. The added bonus is that in this period, tourism numbers are low. You have more opportunities to mingle with locals and aimlessly do your own thing instead of being rushed by the crowd (except when cruise ships are in port).

Vanuatu retains a strong diversity through local regional variants and foreign influence. In the north, wealth is established by how much one can give away. Pigs, particularly those with rounded tusks are considered a symbol of wealth throughout Vanuatu. More traditional Melanesian cultural systems dominate in the central region.

• 1 January : New Year's Day
• 21 February : Father Lini Day
• 5 March : Custom Chief's Day
• Easter (in accordance with the Gregorian calendar)
• 30 July : Independence Day
• 5 October : Constitution Day
• 29 November : Unity Day
• 25 December : Christmas Day
• 26 December : Family Day

Visitor information

• Vanuatu Travel website

The 83 islands of Vanuatu are grouped into six geographic provinces, the names formed by combining the first syllables or letters of the major islands in each.

Matthew and Hunter are uninhabited islands southeast of Aneityum. Aneityum people believe that the islands are in their historical territory. Aneityum appears to have provided the ancestors of the people of New Caledonia and there are cultural links particularly with the Loyalty Islands.

• -17.73333 168.316667 1 Port-Vila - capital
• -15.5128 167.1735 2 Luganville

Other destinations

• -16.7225 168.231389 1 Epi Island
• -15.416667 166.9 2 Espiritu Santo - Vanuatu's biggest island, and popular with divers. It boasts shipwrecks for scuba diving, delightful beaches, coconut plantations, jungle and traditional villages where young men still engage in age-old rituals to celebrate their coming of age, and where women are provided with special places to stay for the time they menstruate. Champagne Beach can compete with any other beach in the South Pacific, and is therefore one of the most popular places to visit.
• Malekula - A good place to dive into the divers' cultural traditions of indigenous peoples of Vanuatu. This is a place where stories of cannibals and spirit caves come to life and a good chance to watch the ritual kastom dances of the locals, in this case, the Small Nambas and Big Nambas people.

A long list of countries are exempted from visas [1] , which includes all Commonwealth and EU member countries. All visitors must have a passport valid for a further 4 months and an onward ticket. On arrival, you will be allowed an initial stay of up to 30 days, extended one month at a time for up to 4 months.

• Vanuatu's main ports are Port-Vila on the island of Efate and Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo .
• Various cruise lines including P&O Australia operate regular cruises through Vanuatu waters.

Subsequent 11-night cruises explore the Banks Islands, then the isolated islands of central Vanuatu, depart from Port Vila via Tanna island to New Caledonia on 19 Oct.

The main international airport is in Port-Vila ( VLI  IATA ):

• Air Vanuatu [dead link] flies from Port-Vila to Australia ( Brisbane , Sydney , Melbourne ), New Zealand ( Auckland ), Fiji ( Nadi ) and New Caledonia ( Nouméa ).
• Fiji Airways flies from Port-Vila to Fiji (Nadi).
• Aircalin flies from Port-Vila to New Caledonia (Nouméa).
• Solomon Airlines flies from Port-Vila to the Solomon Islands ( Honiara ) and Fiji (Nadi).

There is another international airport in Luganville ( SON  IATA ) on Espiritu Santo .

• Air Vanuatu flies directly from both Sydney and Brisbane to Luganville. Both flights are codesharing flights with Qantas ].

By airplane

There are a few charter airlines, these are Unity Airlines, Sea Air and Air Safaris, however the national airline Air Vanuatu operates the domestic network.

Within Vanuatu, several companies provide boating service between the islands. These include Fresh Cargo, Ifira Shipping Agencies and Toara Coastal Shipping.

From the airport, walk across the parking lot to the street, then simply take a bus/van into Port Vila for much cheaper than a tourist taxi at the terminal. In Port Vila, the buses are private minivans operated as public transport, seating about 10 people, which largely traverse the main road picking up and dropping off on request. They are purchased by individuals and villages (communal revenue source), to operate as businesses. Wave at them to stop one heading in the direction you want to go (tell them - you'll get a 'yes' or 'no'). They actually only go one-way along the main street in Port Vila, then leave in all directions a few blocks away. They are plentiful within the city and outside the city you can usually arrange for a bus to meet you at a particular time. If one looks full, just wait for the next one. The buses are used by locals, but are very friendly, cheap, and easy to use by tourists. Fare is usually calculated per person. The cost is usually 150 vatu per person anywhere around Port Vila. If you are traveling a longer distance, the fare may rise to 300 - 500 vatu per person.

Taxis are plentiful within Port Vila. But the vans are MUCH cheaper. Just as reliable.

There are three official languages: English, French and Bislama. Bislama is a pidgin language, and now a creole in urban areas, which essentially combines a typically Melanesian grammar with a mostly English vocabulary. It is the only language that can be understood and spoken by the whole population of Vanuatu, generally as a second language.

It is a mixture of phonetic English woven in a loose French sentence structure spoken with ‘local sound' producing some comical outcomes e.g., ladies brassieres or bathing top is called "Basket blong titi"; no offense intended. An excellent Bislama dictionary is available from good bookshops: A New Bislama Dictionary , by the late Terry Crowley. Some common Bislama words/phrases include:

• Me / you - mi / yu
• Him / her / it (neither masculine nor feminine)
• this here - hem/ hemia
• Us /we / all of us - mifala / mifala evriwan
• You / you (plural) - yu / yufala
• I do not know/understand - mi no save
• See you later / ta ta - Lukim yu/ tata
• I am going now - ale (French derivation of allez) mi go
• One/ two / three - wan / tu / tri
• How much (is that) - hamas (long hem)
• Plenty or many - plenti
• Filled to capacity / overfilled - fulap / fulap tumas (too much)
• Day / evening / night - dei / sava (literally supper) / naet
• Hot / cold - hot / kol
• What / what is that - wanem / wanem ia (literally wanem here?)
• Why / why did you - frowanem (for why?)
• Please / thank you / sorry (very sorry) - plis / tangkyu / sori (sori tumas) - sorry too much
• Do you know - yu save (pronounced savee)

In addition, 113 indigenous languages are still actively spoken in Vanuatu. The density of languages per capita is the highest of any nation in the world, with an average of only 2,000 speakers per language. All of these vernacular languages belong to the Oceanic branch of the Austronesian family.

Vanuatu is not on the average traveler's destination wish list, except perhaps for those with a love for scuba diving, as divers have discovered the underwater treasures of this South Pacific archipelago a long time ago. However, even if you don't plan on touching this country's bright blue waters, it's a colourful mix of traditional Melanesian culture, friendly people, beautiful tropical beaches, active volcanoes and all the modern day facilities you'll need to have a great time.

The many islands rimmed with perfect sandy beaches offer lovely Pacific views. The Bank Islands boast great beaches combined with rugged terrain. On the largest of the Banks Islands, Gaua , you'll find the Siri Waterfall , which gets its water from the country's biggest crater lake: Lake Letas . Head to the island of Tanna to see Mount Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano. A tourist favourite, Tanna is also home to waterfalls and men in penis sheaths and grass skirts. If you get the chance, stay to witness one of their ancient festivals or rituals.

Efate is the place where most visitors begin their encounter with Vanuatu and home to the country's friendly little capital, Port Vila . It strives to bring the best of the archipelago together and is the go-to place for fine wining and dining.

Other places well worth visiting include Aoba Island (known for the crater lakes on top of the large volcano that defines the islands) and Pentecost (the spiritual birthplace of bungee jumping). Last but not least, the active volcanoes, lava lakes and local villagers' artwork are a good reason to stay in one of the traditional style bungalows on Ambrym .

2022 - Just stop a van, ask the driver if he will be returning to your starting point. If so, get in (front seat if empty) and enjoy talking to many of the great and friendly locals riding the bus/van ( In my experience, they want to learn about you and your country and viewpoints). You'll go into small villages, to small homes as they drop a local off, see the real Vanuatu that nearly no one else ever does. Rent a vehicle, then driver yourself around the main island and back to Port Vila. GO SLOWLY, lots of small kids, people walking everywhere, and animals. Basically only one main road circles the island. Very hard to get 'lost'.

Take a local/locals' water taxi across the harbor to some other location in the Port Vila harbor.

There is a small take away restaurant by the supermarket, next to the public market. Look over the wall into the ocean, you'll be amazed by all the brightly colored and oddly shaped fish waiting to be fed rice and chicken bones, by the diners.

The local currency is the Ni-Vanuatu vatu (VT). (ISO currency code: VUV ). There are notes for 200 VT, 500 VT, 1000 VT, 2000 VT, 5000 VT, and 10,000 VT while coins include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 VT pieces. The current series of vatu banknotes is printed entirely on polymer. Two series of vatu coins are in circulation, the post-independence (1982) issues and the new 2015 issues.

Credit cards and debit cards on the major networks (Cirrus, Maestro, etc.) are accepted by many businesses in town.

ATMs are available in Port Vila, and include the Australian banks ANZ and Westpac. The National Bank of Vanuatu has a branch at the airport and is open for all flight arrivals. Otherwise, banking hours are from 08:30 to 15:00.

Tipping and gifts

Tipping is not expected in Vanuatu, nor is haggling or bargaining; it is not the custom and only encourages a "master-servant" relationship. However, gifts are very appreciated and the exchange of gifts for services rendered fits well into the local traditions. Western governments have a hard time coming to terms with this practice as it is interpreted as bribery and corruption. But in the Melanesian culture, this practice is a normal way to do business... well before the European colonisers introduced money.

A bag of rice to a village chief may be received with gratitude and dignity, but to offer triple the value in cash may be regarded as patronising, plus it will artificially inflate the price for the next traveller; set a wrong expectation, and rapidly destroy the genuine spontaneous friendship so easily given to you.

A nice gesture is to give phone cards or a T-shirt, or school pads, pens, etc. for the children.

There are two market areas along the foreshore in Port-Vila. The main market sells mostly food, and you can find all kinds of local produce there. Further north, near the beach, there is a row of grass-roofed market stalls that sell clothing, bags, sarongs and other items.

The woven grass bags and mats are widely available and very attractive.

There are many restaurants and eateries in Port-Vila, ranging from up-market places catering to tourists and expats, to more low-key establishments. The approximate cost of lunch would be around the 1000-1500 VT range, depending on where and what you eat. Some examples of prices:

• sandwiches, around 450-600 VT
• bacon and eggs, 750 VT
• burger with fries or salad, around 1000 VT
• main meal, e.g. steak or seafood, 1200-2000 VT
• large, fresh-squeezed fruit juice, around 500VT

The traditional dish which you will most likely be offered once during your stay is a root vegetable cake called lap lap. Essentially this is either manioc (cassava), sweet potato, taro or yam shaved into the middle of a banana leaf with island cabbage and sometimes a chicken wing on top. This is all wrapped up into a flat package and then cooked in hot stones underground till it all melts together into a cake. The best place to pick up some of this is at the food market in the town centre and should cost you about 100 VT.

Tuluk is a variation of lap lap with the cake rolled into a cylinder with meat in the middle. It tastes a lot like a sausage roll. You can find these again in the market (usually from mele village people) but they will be served from foam boxes to keep them warm.

Vanuatu's meat is renowned in the Melanesian region. At the airports, you will see signs reminding you to pack the 25 kg of meat permitted to other nearby island nations. The reason the meat tastes so good is that the livestock are naturally reared, with no feedlots or other mass production methods used in some Western countries. This results in a steak that is very good indeed.

As you may expect from an island nation, seafood is a common option and the quality is generally excellent. Reef fish are commonly found in restaurants, along with many varieties of prawns, lobster and the delectable coconut crab.

The coconut crab is only found in parts of the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean, and has been declining in numbers so rapidly that it is now a protected species in most areas. There is a minimum legal size requirement in Vanuatu of four centimetres, but the creature can grow to over 8 cm in length with a leg span of up to 90 cm. The crab gets its name as it climbs palms to cut down and eat coconuts; nothing to do with the flavour.

Kava is a local drink, made from the roots of the plant Piper methysticum , a type of pepper. Kava is intoxicating, but not like alcohol. Its effects are sedative. Some travellers have experienced a hangover from its consumption.

Kava is consumed in private homes and in local venues called Nakamal. Some of the resorts also offer kava on occasion for visitors to try.

Kava is served in a "shell" or small bowl. Drink the whole shell-ful down steadily, then spit. It's handy to have a soft drink on hand to rinse with afterwards, as the taste of kava is strong and not very pleasant.

It is worth noting that the kava available in Vanuatu is generally a much stronger variety than the kava found in other Pacific islands such as Fiji, where it is comparatively mild. Four or five large shells in a typical kava bar will leave the inexperienced drinker reeling (or worse) after a couple of hours, and it can take a day to recover.

Good advice to experience kava as pleasantly as possible is to go with an experienced drinker and follow their lead, take the small shells, and stop after an hour and a half. It's quite easy to find a local kava drinking buddy, just ask around your hotel and you'll find volunteers, maybe at the cost of a shell or two.

Kava bars (or Nakamals) are normally dark places with very dim or no lighting at all. This is because bright lights and kava intoxication do not go together well: so be careful with flash photography, which may not be received very well in such venues.

Alcoholic beverages are also widely available. Resorts, bars and restaurants serving tourists serve a wide range of drinks. The local beers are called Tusker and Vanuatu Bitter. Note that take-away alcohol sales are prohibited on Sundays.

There is a choice of all types of accommodation, including resorts in Port-Vila .

When visiting other islands or villages outside of the cities, there are many small guest houses that charge around 2000 VT per night and offer full service (meals, laundry, etc.)

Many of the motels in Port-Vila and Luganville also fall into the budget category, with prices around 2000 VT per night. There are a number of websites which list such motels.

Many people from overseas work in Vanuatu, either running their own businesses or employed by others.

Generally speaking, work permits are only available for positions where there are not enough ni-Vanuatu to meet demand.

There are many charitable organisations and NGOs operating in Vanuatu, and a strong community of volunteers in the area. If you are interested in volunteering in Vanuatu, the following organisations place volunteers there:

• Peace Corps
• VSO [dead link]
• Oxfam Australia

Vanuatu is, on the whole, a safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative, though crime rates are said to be increasing, particularly in Port Vila at night. Take the same precautions you would anywhere else.

There are no seriously poisonous snakes, spiders, or insects on Vanuatu. However, there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish. Saltwater crocodiles are present, but the likelihood of an attack is minimal.

Stay healthy

It is advisable to be immunised against Hepatitis A and B and typhoid fever before visiting Vanuatu.

Malaria is endemic within some areas of Vanuatu, but not Port-Vila . If you are venturing outside the resort areas, check with your doctor before you travel. Malaria may not be endemic but you may come in contact with mosquito carriers and visitors from outer islands who have malaria - particularly in the wet season and at the hospital.

Dengue fever is also mosquito vectored in Port-Vila and elsewhere particularly in the wet season. Be familiar with the symptoms as there is no cure all for dengue and malaria symptoms are intermittently leading to misdiagnosis. Many local clinics in the outer islands can test you for malaria.

Malaria preventative drugs have side effects which can cause problems in the sun, scuba diving, general stability and digestion.

Tap water in Port-Vila is clean and potable, but is best avoided elsewhere. Bottled water is not available outside the main cities. Fizzy drinks but not beer may be available outside the main cities. Giardiasis after using local water is rare. Tourism, cattle raising, and the rapidly rising population are placing stress on municipal water supplies.

Doctors used to treating common travel ailments are available in Port-Vila and Luganville . Any more serious problems may require some form of medical evacuation.

Be careful of any small cuts, scratches, or other sores you receive while travelling in Vanuatu. As in most tropical areas, small sores can easily become infected if you don't practice proper hygiene. Most of these things require common sense. Protect the wound with a sterile dressing and keep it dry.

Throughout Vanuatu, and especially outside of Port-Vila in the villages, life is strongly influenced by "kastom", a set of traditional customs and taboos that apply to all kinds of matters. Be aware of this, and respect locals' requests with regard to "kastom".

When visiting villages, women should dress modestly, wearing clothes that cover the shoulders and knees.

Christian religion is very strong. It seems common to invite and welcome visitors to attend local church services on a Sunday.

Revealing and sexy clothing (especially wearing beachwear in the capital) is not advisable, as over 100 years of missionary work has had its effect on the perception of what is considered as respectable attire in the islands. Regardless, it's considered disrespectful to the local people and can be interpreted by some indigenous inhabitants as an invitation for sex.

As Vanuatu is not a ‘fashion conscious' place no-one will notice or care if you were wearing the latest from 'the Paris Collection' or not. You are best off bringing a practical tropical wardrobe such as light cotton summer clothes that are easy to hand wash, a pullover and a lightweight waterproof wind jacket. If planning to go to the outer islands, bring a good flashlight (with spare batteries, you will use them), lightweight, walking shoes, sandals or good thongs (flip-flops or crocs) for wet weather and old clothes.

When exploring the outer islands take all the older clothes you can carry, wear them and give them away to the islanders when you are finished wearing them. You and your children will be aptly rewarded in other ways. Instead of dumping your worn clothes in a charity collection bin at your local shopping centre, your children will interact with the very people who would be the recipients of those clothes (most NiVanuatu people buy these second-hand clothes from shops in Port-Vila).

Sharing and giving is a natural course of daily life in Vanuatu. The T-shirt you give to one person will be worn by all his friends as well. Three T-shirts on top of each other will be their winter outfit. You will provide them things that are hard for them to obtain, save them the expense of buying clothes (basic wages are quite low in Vanuatu) and you will depart with priceless memories, plus have more in your luggage for purchased local arts and crafts.

Communicating with NiVanuatu people :

• In Vanuatu, the display of anger, displeasure or irritability at a person or situation will reduce the recipient to a stony silence with a lack of co-operation or empathy to your point of view. Please be patient as it is a waste of time complaining. It will have no bearing on the outcome. And if you are verbally abusive, you will generate one of three responses: smiling, subdued laughter, or a fist in your face.
• Don't ask a question with the answer built into it. Locals will always agree in order not to contradict you. "Is this the road to X?" will generate a Yes. Try: "Where is the road to X..?", and you might get a different answer.
• Direct eye contact or raised voice level contact may be interpreted as intimidation. A local person's voice level combined with body language may be directly opposite to Europeans. He or she may nod agreement with everything you say in order not to offend you but may not have understood a word you have said.
• If you're in a bus and people on the footpath are turning their backs to you, don't be offended: they're simply letting the driver know that they don't require him to stop. There are few bus stops in Vanuatu, and those that exist don't get much use.
• If you see men or women holding hands, it's not what you may think. Men hold hands with other men, or women with women, because there is no sexual connotation attached to it. However, you will very rarely see a man holding a woman's hand in public because this would be considered as a public exhibition of sexual relations.

Photography

The Vanuatu people are a delight to photograph, friendly, co-operative and photogenic especially the children who are simply gorgeous. Yes, they love to be photographed but do not offer to pay to photograph local people as this will quickly discourage spontaneity and encourage commercialisation. Always ask before taking photos of local people.

In some cases, some people may be reluctant to be photographed for reasons that you may never know. It is prudent to enquire as to the fee for photographing cultural festivities as they are sometimes very high. The reasoning behind this is they put on the show, people take photos and make money selling these photos of their show, so they want to be paid accordingly. Shooting an exploding volcano at night calls for at least 800 as a setting and a tripod is essential for good images.

The international country code for Vanuatu is +678. To dial overseas from within Vanuatu dial 00 followed by the relevant country code and phone number.

Emergency phone numbers: Ambulance (22-100); Fire (22-333); and Police (22-222).

Vanuatu has GSM mobile coverage in Port-Vila and most GSM mobile phones roam seamlessly. You can buy special visitor SIM cards from TVI , which offer considerable discounts over roaming charges. Available at any post office.

International roaming from New Zealand and Australia is available. Telecom Vanuatu has a package called ‘Smile Visitor' which consists of a sim card with a pre-purchased credit. This can be purchased at the Vanuatu Telecom Office in town. Telephone: +678 081111. Email: [email protected]

Digicel is giving Telecom some overdue competition. Digicel offer a range of packages, and are widely available.

Radio and television

Many international radio stations such as Radio Australia, BBC World Service, Radio France International and China Radio International can be heard on FM radio in Port-Vila and in some other locations.

The national broadcaster, Radio Vanuatu is mostly broadcast in Bislama, but sometimes is in English and French. It is also available on AM and SW.

Distant AM broadcasts from Australia, New Caledonia and Fiji may also be heard.

Local and international TV broadcasts are available, but the national broadcaster 'Television Blong Vanuatu' is the only free-to air option.

Other broadcasts can be found on Telsat's Digital Pay TV service or via satellite.

Internet cafes can be found in Luganville & Port-Vila. You may also find that some post offices will also provide some kind of Internet facilities, and can be found on the main streets in Port-Vila and Luganville as well as on Espiritu Santo.

Postal services

Postal services to mainland Europe can take up to 7 days. You can send letters and postcards from mailboxes in the streets, however the incoming postal service can be patchy, especially for parcels, so don't rely on people sending you things while you're staying in 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

Every weekend is an adventure

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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Visiting Vanuatu: Things To Know Before You Go

16 nov 2023 29 jan 2020 | danielle.

It may be more low-key than some of its glitzy South Pacific neighbours, but humble Vanuatu offers adventure and chillax in equal plenty.

In this post, we’ve pulled together the pre-trip considerations and important things to know for visiting Vanuatu and exploring this unassumingly awesome corner of the South Pacific.

Why visit Vanuatu?

Beach lover? How about some pristine white sand and crystal clear water, pretty much to yourself? Adventure mad? Canyoning, trekking and kayaking awaits, along with the roiling, steaming heights of Mt Yasur volcano. For scuba junkies, Vanuatu is home to one of the world’s best shipwreck dives, along with fantastic reef and WWII relic dive sites.

Vanuatu’s culture is a story 2,500 years in the making, and the opportunities to experience and immerse in the vibrant traditions of the ni-Vanuatu people are many.

We decided to focus our first Vanuatu odyssey on just one of its 83 islands, and we’re glad we did. While it was the world class scuba diving in Vanuatu that first drew us in, we were blown away by how much there was to do on the island of Espiritu Santo alone.

Here’s a video we put together of our favourite highlights on Santo as a taster:

This may well be your biggest challenge once you decide to visit Vanuatu: what will you do with the time you have?

In the meantime, let’s get started with the things you need to know before visiting Vanuatu.

Where should you go in Vanuatu?

The Republic of Vanuatu is made up of 83 separate islands scattered over a distance of some 1,300 kilometres. That’s a lot of isle-and-ocean to navigate.

That said, only 65 or so of the islands are actually inhabited, and most tourists really only make it to a handful of them. With just ten days for our first Vanuatu visit, we opted to spend all our time on just one island – Espiritu Santo. At a glance though, these are some of the more popular islands for a trip to Vanuatu:

• Efate is Vanuatu’s main island and home to the capital, Port Vila. Most visitors start (and stay) here as it offers a good sampler of the archipelago, with waterfalls and beaches, cultural experiences, island day trips, nice snorkelling and diving, and the biggest concentration of shopping and dining.
• Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu’s biggest island and an adventure hub, with jungle trekking, river kayaking, pristine beaches, beautiful blue holes, and great reef and wreck scuba diving sites, including the world’s largest accessible shipwreck, the SS Coolidge. You can visit villages for cultural tours here too. Luganville is its main town.
• Tanna Island offers yet more diving and rainforest adventures, coffee plantations, upscale resorts, and a Vanuatu showpiece: the very accessible, very active Mt Yasur volcano.
• Pentecost Island is famous for the heart-in-mouth rite of passage naghol – a forerunner of bungee, where men leap from wooden towers with vines attached to their legs. It takes place between May and July.
• Maleluka Island is for cultural discovery, a place to learn about ancient islander traditions, including a not-so-distant cannibal past.

Do you need a visa for Vanuatu?

If you’re a citizen of a Commonwealth or EU country, or the US, you don’t need a visa to visit Vanuatu; you just need a passport with at least six months’ validity and an onward ticket. You get a 30-day stay on arrival, and this can be extended up to four months once you’re there.

There are a number of countries, however, that do require a visa for visiting Vanuatu – check out this link for more info.

How do you travel to Vanuatu?

There are two international airports in Vanuatu: Bauerfield International Airport near Port Vila on the main island of Efate, and Pekoa International Airport near Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.

Most international flights land at Port Vila, with domestic transfers to the other islands from there. You can reach Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, direct from Sydney and Brisbane in Australia, Auckland in New Zealand, Nadi in Fiji and Noumea in New Caledonia. There’s also a direct flight from Brisbane to the island of Espiritu Santo.

We took a 3.5 hour flight from Sydney to Port Vila, then a 50-minute domestic flight to Santo.

Airport taxes

There’s an international departure tax of VT2,500 (around USD$20) and an Air Vanuatu domestic departure tax of VT400 (appx USD$3.50). These are included in your airfare.

There’s also a separate domestic departure fee of VT200 (USD$1.70) for any flight out of the domestic airports at Port Vila, Santo, Emae, Epi and Tongoa. This is paid at the airport. We saw signs for it at the domestic airport in Port Vila, but it turns out you don’t need to pay this fee if you’re in transit.

Airport services

There’s very little going on at the international airports in Port Vila and Santo. The domestic airports are right next door.

We had an early morning flight out of Santo and there was a little café there serving food and coffee.

On our way home, we had a five hour layover in Port Vila. Given the very limited food choices at the airport, we decided to take a taxi into town to check out the markets and have something to eat (try the waterside Nambawan Café – a great spot to while away the time with nice meals and drinks).

We negotiated with our cabbie to come back and collect us a few hours later – total cost was VT3,000 (around USD$25). There were buses running into town from the airport which would be much cheaper, but less certain on the return.

How do you get between Vanuatu’s islands?

Getting between Vanuatu’s islands requires planning and time, so it pays to be realistic about how much you can see with the time you have.

Air is by far the quickest way to get around the Vanuatu archipelago, though we’re generally talking small prop planes that book up quickly, so don’t leave planning to the last minute.

There are some charter companies flying the domestic routes, but Air Vanuatu is the main player on the domestic run between the islands (it has 24 internal destinations bookable online).

While it’s the fastest mode of transport, it’s worth noting that Vanuatu’s domestic flight program is notoriously unreliable (for a range of reasons), so give yourself plenty of time if you’re connecting with other flights or activities.

We worked out pretty quickly that time moves at a different pace in Vanuatu, and there’s no point stressing about slow moving check-ins and delayed flights. The locals definitely aren’t.

Boat is another way to travel between the islands but you will need (lots of) time and patience. For example, the two passenger ferries plying the route between Port Vila and Santo (a 50-minute flight) take around 24 hours. More if they decide to stop in at other ports on the way.

To be honest, the more we read about travelling between the islands by boat, unless your travels are open-ended, and you don’t mind very basic conditions, unpredictable schedules and potentially rough seas, take a plane.

What about getting around once you’re on an island?

Getting around once you’re on an island is easy. On Santo, we made regular use of the taxis doing the main run to and from town. Taxis (usually little tin boxes with a sign on their roof) charged a flat fee of VT200 (around USD$1.70) for both of us – we made a point of checking this whenever we got in though. Apparently it’s more like VT500 (USD$4.30) in Port Vila.

If they’ve got room, taxis will stop even if they already have passengers, so we often found we were sharing with others, which was a nice way to get chatting with the locals.

Mini-buses are also common and can be flagged down anywhere – they have a B at the start of the number plate. On Santo, the fare was VT100 (about USD$0.85) per person for a short trip in town and from VT200 if travelling out of town (apparently it’s around VT150 in Port Vila).

On a couple of occasions, we unintentionally hitched when people stopped to offer us a lift while we were walking. We’ve read that in these cases, the ride is usually free unless the driver has to go out of their way to drop you off. In our case, they did go out of their way, so we negotiated a fare, which was the same as a taxi trip. Ask before you get in if you’re unsure.

We love the freedom that comes with hiring a car and Vanuatu was no exception, especially with Santo’s famous East Coast Road to explore.

Car hire certainly isn’t the only option for exploring the East Coast Road – you can hire a local to take you in their car, or join a guided tour taking in some of the key destinations. For us though, hiring a car was the perfect opportunity to explore this stunning coastal region at our own pace over a couple of days.

There are a couple of car hire companies in both Port Vila on Efate, and Luganville on Santo. We hired a zippy little SUV for two days for around VT18,000 (around USD$155). Vanuatu car hire isn’t a cheap option, and there are additional fees, like parking at Champagne Beach (VT2,000) and petrol, which all adds up. Still, we loved being able to stop where and when we wanted.

Public and private land in Vanuatu Land in Vanuatu is either public land owned by the Government, or ‘kastom’ land which is privately owned by ni-Van traditional owners. Visiting ‘kastom’ land requires permission from the land owners (you’ll often see ‘tabu’ signs at the entry to properties – it’s the origin of our word ‘taboo’ and means what it suggests – don’t go in without invitation). There are specific places that can be visited by tourists, and these are managed by their kastom owners. You’ll often find there’s a local payment for visiting these places, which goes directly to the community. At first we were a bit dubious about handing over cash to random people at the entrance to certain places, but we soon discovered this is normal and there’s a trust system at work. If you pay someone an entry fee, just ask their name so if you’re later asked by someone else, you can tell them who you paid. If you want to get off the regular tourist trail, tour operators have often negotiated with kastom owners to access special places you won’t otherwise get to see.

What language do the people of Vanuatu speak?

The people of Vanuatu are called ni-Vanuatu (ni-Van for short), and while there are more than 100 local languages across the archipelago, the three official Vanuatu languages are Bislama, English and French.

Bislama is a form of pidgin English specific to the ni-Van and it’s the language you’ll hear most often, though just about everyone we met spoke English.

If you want to try a couple of Bislama words and phrases, good morning is  ‘gudmoning’, how are you is ‘olsem wanem?’ and thank you is ‘tangkyu tumas’.

When is the best time to visit Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is in the tropics so it gets plenty of sunshine throughout the year. Still, the best time to visit is said to be between April and October . This is winter/spring, when temps are in the low to mid 20s.

The wet season, from around November to March, is hot and humid. Temps are in the high 20s to low 30s. In true tropical fashion, downpours are heavy but brief. This is also cyclone season in the Pacific though, so if you’re planning a trip to Vanuatu at this time of year, keep an eye on the weather reports.

Peak season in Vanuatu is from June to August and mid-December to the end of January. The New Zealand and Australian school holidays are particularly busy, so check ahead as prices go up during these periods.

Our Vanuatu visit was in late October and while the daytime temps were in the high 20s, lovely cool southerlies would pick up each afternoon to cool the air, and we had occasional overnight rains. Most days started overcast, clearing in the afternoons to deliver stunning blue skies.

As scuba divers, sea temps are always an important consideration for us too (we’re no fans of chilly diving). Vanuatu’s waters range from around 22 to 28 degrees throughout the year, and averaged around 26 degrees for our dives in October, which suited us just fine.

Money matters

Vanuatu’s currency is the ni-Vanuatu vatu . You may see it written up as VUV or VT. It comes in coins and notes.

• Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 100.
• Notes are in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 5000 & 10000.

It’s good to have low denominations to hand for getting around and making local purchases.

We found most restaurants in town accepted credit cards, as did the supermarkets and our accommodation. Outside of the main towns and resorts though, have cash handy.

ATMs and banks

There are banks in Port Vila and Luganville, and easily accessible ATMs in both towns. You’ll also find ATMs at the airports, and money changers.

We made a point of getting money out from the ATM at the airport in Santo when we arrived, so we wouldn’t have to fuss once we got to our accommodation.  

Is Vanuatu expensive?

While we’ve definitely been to more expensive destinations, we wouldn’t describe Vanuatu as a budget holiday. We found restaurant meals, car hire, entry fees and experiences to be similarly priced to Australia.

If you’re visiting lots of local sites in a day, entry fees can add up. These fees go directly to the community though and are an important contribution we can make as tourists.

Staying in a mid-range hotel bungalow with brekkie included, eating out some nights and buying other meals from the supermarket, using local transport and paying various entry fees, we spent an average of USD$155 per day for the two of us. Car hire, tours and scuba diving were extra.

There are lots of ways to save dollars while in Vanauatu; read on for suggestions about saving when it comes to accommodation, eating and drinking.

What is Vanuatu accommodation like?

You might be thinking Vanuatu is a luxury South Pacific holiday destination, but the country actually caters to range of budgets when it comes to accommodation.

Yes, there are some stunning waters-edge resorts and boutique stays, with the accompanying price tags. But there are also regular hotels, self-catering holiday rentals, hostels and simple beach shacks. You can also experience local life and culture with a stay in a traditional ni-Van village .

We even met a guy who was travelling with a tent and seeking permission from landowners to camp where he could.

We were keen on spreading our tourist dollar around, so on Santo we stayed at a hotel within walking distance of Luganville with a basic kitchenette. That way we could try different eateries, as well as pick up stuff from the local market and supermarket.

Vanuatu food and drink

Many ni-Van grow their own food or source it locally – be sure to visit a local market for a sense of Vanuatu food, and the sheer diversity and colour of the fruits and veg grown here (the markets in Port Vila and Luganville are on every day).

Poulet fish is a tasty white fish that turns up often on menus. Randomly, and unbeknown to us before our visit, Vanuatu beef is also considered top notch. Unsurprising, when you see the country’s chilled out cows grazing beneath palm trees on the coconut plantations.

Speaking of coconuts, you’ll also find coconut crab – the world’s largest land-based invertebrate – a prized entry on some menus. However, it can take more than 40 years for these giants to reach full size, and they’re now an endangered species . Please don’t buy it.  

Everything not grown or sourced locally has to be shipped in and the prices reflect it: we found the cost of food and drink in the restaurants and supermarkets to be similar to home.

We balanced our budget by eating out some nights and picking up items from the market and supermarket on others.

The Market Meal Booths at the market in Luganville are said to be a cheap and easy way to eat local. We didn’t get to try them alas as the markets were in the process of moving to a new location and the booths didn’t appear to be open.

When it comes to booze, it’s way cheaper to buy from the supermarket than at restaurants – literally half the price in the case of beer. We made a point of enjoying some supermarket-bought local craft beers on our balcony in the evenings rather than buying them in restaurants.

Is there wifi?

Wifi was available at our hotel free of charge, and this is apparently the norm, though some places do charge extra. We also found various cafes and restaurants had wifi for customers.

On the whole though, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the internet was generally patchy and slow. We took the cue and enjoyed a semi-digital detox instead.

How do I organise tours?

While we tend to travel independently, there are certain activities and experiences in Vanuatu that can only be done on an organised tour. With the kastom land ownership, tours also give you a chance to get off the tourist trail to see and experience parts of the islands and village life and culture that you wouldn’t otherwise get to.  

There are plenty of great tours and activities on offer around Vanuatu, from cultural shows in local villages and kayaking adventures , to volcano hikes and the epic Millennium Cave tour on Santo (check out our video above for scenes from this fantastic daytrip).

It’s very easy to organise tours – either direct with tour agencies in the main towns, or via your accommodation. This site is also a great starting point for checking out the huge range of tour options across Vanuatu.

What health risks should you be aware of?

Like any destination, there are health matters you should be aware of before you travel to Vanuatu, and vaccinations that you should check are up to date. You should always have travel insurance.

Malaria is present in Vanuatu so discuss your options with your doctor before you go, along with any vaccinations you may need. Pack repellent with DEET, and long sleeves and pants.

DEET is also useful for other bitey insects, like ticks. I (Dan) was bitten by a tick while on a trek in the jungle on Santo. As it was on my back and we weren’t sure about removing it safely, we visited a local medical clinic in Luganville to get it dealt with. It was a simple and straightforward process and the cost was similar to what we would pay to visit a doctor in Australia.

Can you drink the tap water? According to SmartTraveller , it’s safe to drink the tap water in Port Vila and Luganville, but outside these areas you should boil the water first or drink bottled water. If you’re staying in a resort, check with them whether the tap water is ok. To avoid single use plastic, we suggest packing a steripen, or take a water bottle with a built-in purification system.

Where can I buy souvenirs?

The ni-Van make beautiful handicrafts, artworks, jewellery and clothes – buying from locals at the markets ensures your dollars are going direct to the community.

On Santo, check out the Luganville Women’s Handicraft shed off Main Street by the water, and Mama Handicraft back on Main Street.

In Port Vila, head to the Haos Blong Handikraft market by the waterfront near Numbawan Cafe.

There are some things to watch out for and know: Haggling isn’t a thing in Vanuatu. If you’re travelling via (or to) Australia as part of your Vanuatu trip, be aware that quarantine laws are extremely strict. There’s information available at the handicraft markets in Port Vila and Luganville that tells you what to look for when buying souvenirs.

You’ll also see shells and shell products. As with anywhere, avoid buying these if you can; they belong in the sea.

Packing essentials for visiting Vanuatu

Here are some key take-outs from our trip to help you pack for a perfect Vanuatu adventure:

• As a tropical destination, light and airy clothes are a must.
• Long pants and sleeves are good for evenings when mosquitos come out to bite.
• DEET repellent is also critical for keeping bitey beasties at bay.
• Sunscreen is vital, especially this close to the equator; if you’re swimming in the sea, aim for a reef-friendly sunscreen.
• Wear a hat and sunnies when you’re out during the day.
• With reefs to explore, dugongs to spot and blue holes to delve into, don’t forget to pack your snorkel and mask (and an underwater camera).
• Reef shoes are great for beach, sea and river adventures.
• Pack Plug Type I – the two and three-pin plugs used in Australia and New Zealand. Bring a global adaptor too, just in case.
• Bring a water bottle with built-in purifier , a steripen or water purification tablets, particularly if you’re staying outside of Port Vila and Luganville or a resort.

Got a question we haven’t answered here? Ask away below and we’ll see if we can help. Happy Vanuatu trip planning!

2 thoughts on “Visiting Vanuatu: Things To Know Before You Go”

Am interested to visit your country this year October up to December Christmas holidays

Thanks David, I hope you make it to Vanuatu at some point – be sure to check health and entry requirements before you travel given the current COVID situation.

All the best, John and Danielle

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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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• Let me know in the comments:

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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Plan Your Trip

Getting ready to travel to Vanuatu?

When planning your Vanuatu holiday, be sure to have a good look through all that our site has to offer. Vanuatu hotels have great deals to help get you started with planning your adventure. Be sure to also take a look at the collection of information below, including how to get here, our travel tips, FAQs and e-brochures. We want you to have the best possible experience while in Vanuatu, so our website has a tool helping you to build your own itinerary, ensuring you connect with who you want to meet, where you want to go, and what you want to do, so your trip runs smoothly and you have an adventure of a lifetime holidaying in Vanuatu. Of course, should you have any questions at all during your planning, don't hesitate to get in touch .

Getting to Vanuatu

Airport transfers, catching the local bus, travel tips, health & safety, itineraries, digital brochures, 10 reasons to visit.

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Vanuatu travel guide

Vanuatu tourism | vanuatu guide, you're going to love vanuatu.

Vanuatu is an archipelago of around 80 islands that are easily accessible to each other and give visitors plenty of opportunity to explore volcanoes, jungles, underwater worlds and idyllic beaches.

What to do in Vanuatu

1. visit mele cascades.

The waterfall known as Mele Cascades, located just outside Port Vila, consists of a series of clear blue pools and smaller waterfalls that can be climbed. The main falls at the top cascade 115 ft into a plunge pool below.

2. Learn About Local Traditions

Take a tour to Ekasup Cultural Village where the way of life in a traditional village in Vanuatu can be witnessed. Learn about the food and watch traditional dances performed by the locals of the village.

3. Dive in a Shipwreck

Hop from Grande Terre to Santo island and take a boat out to dive and explore the wreck of the ocean liner President Coolidge and the destroyer USS Tucker, both of which sank in 1942 and are now home to a wealth of marine wildlife.

4. Explore the Local Markets

Go to the seafront in Port Vila and spend some time exploring the markets where there is a wide array of fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers and various local delicacies to eat as well as arts and crafts created locally.

5. Climb a Volcano

Mount Benbow and Mount Marum are active volcanoes on the island of Ambrym in Vanuatu. Take a guided climb to the top on a clear day and look down into a crater of glowing magma.

When to visit Vanuatu

The best time to visit Vanuatu is between May and September when the weather is dry and temperatures range from 64°F to 82°F. This is the high season on the island, so for those who don't mind a bit of rain, better prices can be found during the rainy season from November to March.

How to Get to Vanuatu

Entry requirements.

Passport holders from the EU, Canada, UK, USA and Australia, as well as various visitors from Asia, Africa and South America, will need to hold a passport that is valid for at least six months from date of departure from Vanuatu and a valid return or onward ticket. With this in place, it is not necessary to get a visa to stay in Vanuatu for a period of up to 30 days.

Air Vanuatu is the national carrier, which operates flights from various Australian cities into Bauerfield International Airport 15min outside the capital Port Vila on the island of Efate. International carriers landing at Vanuatu include Qantas, Air New Zealand and Fiji Air.

Vanuatu is on the itinerary of various cruise liners, such as P&O Cruise, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruises, which all stop at Port Vila.

Popular airports in Vanuatu

Popular airlines serving vanuatu, where to stay in vanuatu.

On Grande Terre, especially around Port Vila, choose from family-friendly resorts with all-inclusive facilities to keep the family active or couples-only resorts to take a break away from it all. The smaller islands of Santo and Tanna have fewer resorts but there are budget and midrange guesthouses and beach bungalows to choose from.

Where to stay in popular areas of Vanuatu

Most booked hotels in vanuatu, how to get around vanuatu, public transportation.

Public transport in Port Vila, Malekula and Luganville consists mostly of local buses that run a door-to-door service. Etafe has an informal network of buses that transports people to various destinations.

Cars can be rented in Port Vila or in Luganville from Santo Car Hire.

Travel between islands on Big Sista Cruise or Vanuatu Ferry, both of which run between Port Vila on Grande Terre and Luganville on Santo.

Flying is a quick and easy way to get around the islands of Vanuatu and domestic flights are operated by Air Vanuatu. There are also various charter companies, such as Air Safaris and Air Taxi, that operate flights between islands.

Best car rental deals in Vanuatu

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

The Cost of Living in Vanuatu

Cost of living in Vanuatu is relatively high. A gallon of milk and a dozen eggs will cost in the range of 1,344 VUV (11.80 USD) while eating at a slightly cheaper restaurant will cost around 2,000 VUV (26.30 USD) per person. Visa and Mastercard are accepted, although these will incur charges. Money can be withdrawn from ATMs at the airport and outside supermarkets and banks.

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?

Pin for Later – Vanuatu Travel Guide

Thanks for reading my Vanuatu travel guide!

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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