Vanuatu ✓ VISITEDVanuatuROAMSUN

Vanuatu✨ 10 best things to do in Vanuatu

Things to do in Vanuatu

1. Peer into Mount YasurStand on the rim of one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes on Tanna as it glows and roars after dark.
2. Dive the SS President CoolidgeExplore one of the world's largest accessible shipwrecks, a WWII troopship lying off Espiritu Santo.
3. Swim in a blue holePlunge into the impossibly clear, sapphire spring-fed pools of Espiritu Santo.
4. Watch the land diveSee men leap from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles in Pentecost's ancient naghol ceremony.
5. Relax on Champagne BeachLaze on powder-white sand beside water so clear it seems to sparkle.
6. Snorkel at Hideaway IslandSwim among reef fish off Efate and post a waterproof postcard from the island's famous underwater post office.
7. Visit a kastom villageLearn about traditional dance, sand drawing and customs on Tanna or Efate with local guides.
8. Hike to Mele CascadesClimb through a series of tiered turquoise waterfalls and pools just outside Port Vila.
9. Eat lap lapTaste the national dish of grated root vegetables and coconut cream baked in leaves.
10. Explore Port Vila's marketBrowse heaps of tropical fruit, kava roots and handicrafts at the bustling waterfront market house.

Vanuatu🗺️ Where to visit in Vanuatu

Where to go in Vanuatu

• 
  Port VilaEfate · capital & harbourA relaxed harbourside capital with markets, cafés and easy access to waterfalls, beaches and islands.
• 📍
  TannaSouthern islands · volcano & cultureHome to Mount Yasur and strong traditional villages, it is the country's most thrilling adventure destination.
• 📍
  Espiritu SantoNorthern islands · beaches & divingThe largest island, with blue holes, Champagne Beach and world-famous WWII wreck diving.
• 📍
  LuganvilleEspiritu Santo · WWII townA laid-back town full of wartime history, including Million Dollar Point where military equipment was dumped at sea.
• 📍
  PentecostCentral islands · land divingThe only place to witness the naghol land-diving ritual, held during the yam harvest season.
• 📍
  AmbrymCentral islands · volcanoes & sorceryA wild island known for its twin volcanic craters, carved tam-tam drums and rich traditions.
• 📍
  MalekulaCentral islands · cultureA culturally diverse island with remote villages, traditional dances and trekking.
• 📍
  Hideaway IslandEfate · marine reserveA small island near Port Vila with excellent snorkelling and the famous underwater post office.

Vanuatu🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Vanuatu

Best time to visit Vanuatu

Vanuatu has a warm tropical climate, with the northern islands like Espiritu Santo hotter and wetter than the south. The wet season runs roughly from November to April, while the dry, cooler months from May to October are the most comfortable.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Port Vila (approximate averages).

Vanuatu🎉 Festivals & events in Vanuatu

• April–June
  Naghol (Pentecost land diving)Men dive head-first from wooden towers held only by vines, a ritual linked to a good yam harvest.
• July
  Independence DayCelebrated on 30 July with parades, string-band music, sports and festivities across the islands.
• February
  John Frum DayOn 15 February villagers in Sulphur Bay on Tanna hold marching drills and celebrations honouring the John Frum movement.
• August (irregular years)
  Toka FestivalA spectacular gathering of dance and exchange held on Tanna, celebrating alliances between villages.

Vanuatu🧭 Vanuatu itinerary ideas

How many days in Vanuatu?

Vanuatu🎒 Backpacking Vanuatu – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $50–80 a day

• Shared minibuses marked with a 'B' on the number plate are the cheapest way around Port Vila – flag one down and tell the driver where you're going.
• Island bungalows and village guesthouses are a great budget option on Tanna, Santo and the outer islands.
• Eat at the Port Vila market house food stalls for filling, cheap local meals.
• Domestic flights fill up fast and schedules change, so book inter-island hops early and leave buffer days.
• Try kava at a local nakamal in the evening for a truly Ni-Vanuatu experience – but go easy, it's strong.

Vanuatu🛡️ Safety & money in Vanuatu

Emergency: 111 police · 112 ambulance · 113 fire

Vanuatu🛬 Getting to Vanuatu

Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila is the main gateway, with some international flights also reaching Luganville on Espiritu Santo. Cruise ships regularly call at Port Vila and other islands, but there are no land borders.

✈️ Cheap flights to Vanuatu: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Vanuatu💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Vanuatu

• Vanuatu has one of the highest densities of languages in the world, with more than a hundred spoken across its islands.
• The land-diving ritual of Pentecost is said to have inspired modern bungee jumping.
• Hideaway Island has an underwater post office where you can mail waterproof postcards.
• Sand drawing, a traditional art of continuous lines traced in sand, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
• Before independence, the islands were jointly ruled by Britain and France, which meant two of almost everything, from police to prisons.

Vanuatu❓ Vanuatu travel FAQ

Vanuatu travel questions