Vanuatu Travel
Vanuatu Islands Travel Specialists
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Our comprehensive vanuatu islands travel guide was last updated in August 2008. Researched by Ian Osborn (Rough Guide to Fiji author), it includes a detailed island by island travel guide PLUS detailed vanuatu accommodation reviews, sightseeing holidays, honeymoon and wedding venues, backpacking and adventure travel.

Vanuatu Travel Snapshot
Country Facts Total islands: 83 Total land mass: 12,189 km² Capital: Port Vila Main Island: Efate Int'l Airport: Bauerfield, Port Vila Population: 215,000 Language: Bislama, English, French and 100 local dialects Tourists: 52,000 per year Accommodations: 50 Money: V$ (vatu)	Travel Highlights 1) Mt. Yasur Volcano, Tanna 2) Port Vila Harbour 3) Wreck Diving, Espiritu Santo 4) Kastom Villages 5) Pentecost Land Diving 6) Beach Resorts, Efate 7) Nekowiar Festival, Tanna 8) Kava Drinking, Port Vila 9) Swim with Dugong, Epi 10) Hiking, Espiritu Santo

Vanuatu Travel Overview

Vanuatu, known as New Hebrides under the joint British and French rule prior to 1980, is a collection of ten large islands and many smaller islands in the South West Pacific. The Melanesian inhabitants live an extremely traditional lifestyle evolving around fishing, planting and drinking kava.


The scenic town of Port Vila sits overlooking a horseshoe bay on the main island of Efate with tiny offshore Iririki Island and Erakor Lagoon the main concentration of tourism resorts. Outside of Port Vila, rural landscapes, extremely traditional villages and dirt roads take over and there is virtually no tourist accommodation except for a couple of secluded beach resorts. There are only three islands with decent tourist infrastructure - The main island of Efate with the capital Port Vila is the countries main centre of tourism with beach resorts and town hotels; Tanna is known for its active and often dramatic volcanic activity as well as its traditional villages and ancient ceremonies; Espiritu Santo has excellent scuba diving, especially the SS President Coolidge Wreck and some good hiking through high mountain ranges. The only other island with instant tourism appeal is Pentecost, world famous for its extraordinary land diving ceremony between April and June but these events are primarily visited on an organized day tour package from Port Vila.

There are guesthouses throughout the islands, many operated by government for its travelling missions, and the islands are well networked by plane. Those with the time and inclination to explore this remote and traditional region will return home with strong and fond memories.

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