Vanuatu Places: 25 Best Places to Visit in Vanuatu. Vanuatu is an archipelago nation in the South Pacific Ocean. Spanning 1,300 kilometers, Vanuatu is made up of 80 islands. The islands are home to a variety of diving activities, including snorkeling at coral reefs, diving in underwater caverns, and exploring wrecks, including the SS President Coolidge, a World War II-era troopship.
Efate is the capital of Vanuatu, which is also the country’s economic center. Port Vila, also known as Harborside, is located on one of the island’s many islands. Port Vila is home to Vanuatu’s National Museum, which showcases the Melanesian culture of Vanuatu.
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1. Mount Yasur
Mount Yasur is an active stratovolcano on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu. It is situated 361 m above sea level, off the coast of Sulphur Bay. Mount Yasur is located northeast of the much larger Mount Tukosmerea, which erupted during the Pleistocene Epoch. Mount Yasur has a largely unexplored pyroclastic crater with a diameter of 400 m.
The stratovolcano is a result of the eastward-moving Indo-Australian Plate subducting under the westward-moving Pacific Plate. The volcano has been erupting almost continuously for centuries, although it can be approached safely most of the time. Its eruptions are classified as strombolian or Vulcanian.A large lava plain runs across the base of the mountain.
It is said that the glow of the volcano attracted Captain James Cook to the island on his first European voyage to Vanuatu in 1774. Today, Mount Yasur is a sacred site for the John Frum cargo cult, a group of people who believe that John Frum, the deified messenger predicted the arrival of American forces on the island. – Vanuatu Places
2. Matevulu Blue Hole
Matevulu is the closest Blue Hole to Turtle Bay Lodge. It has a stunning rope swing accessed via a ladder up a huge banyan tree, and you can kayak from Turtle Bay Lodge to this blue hole. You can hire a single kayaker a double and spend half a day getting there and back and enjoying the Blue Hole itself.
Like all Blue Holes, Matevulu requires an entry fee. However, the entry fee for Matevulu is included in your kayak hire and is paid by Turtle Bay Lodge. – Vanuatu Places
3. Pentecost
Pentecost is an island in the 83 islands of Vanuatu, part of the South Pacific nation. It is located about 190 kilometers north of the capital, Port Vila. In French, the island is called Pentecôte, and in Bislama, it is called Pentikos.In its native languages, the island was known by various names, including Vanu aroaroa, though these names are no longer used.
Pentecost has been called Raga, or Araga, which is a tribal name that originates in the north of Vanuatu but is now widely used throughout the island. Whitsuntide Island is sometimes referred to as Pentecost in old sources. – Vanuatu Places
4. Mele Cascades
Located 20 minutes from Efate town, the waterfalls are one of the most visited natural attractions in Efate. A visit takes just over 2 hours and includes bathroom facilities, a sitting area, and a small cafe/bar on site for food and beverages.
The area is locally owned and operated. The revenue generated helps pay salaries for local staff, maintain and maintain the area, support community development in surrounding villages, and sponsor social activities, especially football development programs for young people.
Efate is going through the worst El Nino in its history and the once beautiful waterfalls have very low water levels. This is causing a drastic water shortage in the villages and their inhabitants. Shutting down the business would be a huge loss for many. – Vanuatu Places
5. Benbow and Marum
Mount Benbow and Mt Marum are other places to visit for volcanic adventures in Vanuatu. The twin volcanoes are mostly covered by a low level of volcanic ash and smoke, but on a clear day, you will be able to see a spectacular live crater and a molten lava show.
Hiking the volcanoes in Vanuatu is not for the faint of heart. You must be physically fit and able to walk on steep terrain. It is recommended to wear skin protection and to drink plenty of water during the hike.
There are three routes to hike the volcanoes. The first is north of Ranon and Ranvetlam, the second from Port Vatu and Lalinda, and the third from Endu. – Vanuatu Places
6. Millennium Cave
The journey to the Millennium Cave is only a 45-minute bumpy ride from the small village of Funasperf to the country’s largest cave. It takes 1.5 hours to reach the cave, traversing a forest, bamboo bridges, steep boulders, and small waterfalls, and wading through a dark and watery cave.
The Millennium Cave is one of Vanuatu’s most challenging and rewarding trekking experiences, offering an incredible and awe-inspiring view of nature along the way. – Vanuatu Places
7. Luganville
Luganville is the second-largest city of Vanuatu, after the capital, Port Vila, with a population of 18.062 at the 2020 census. The inhabitants of Vanuatu’s northern islands who consider Luganville their capital, especially the indigenous population, call it “Santo”; the rural inhabitants of the island call it Kanal. Luganville was a major base for American forces during World War II.
The main street through Luganville is Boulevard Higginson, which is mainly filled with tourist shops and general stores. During World War II, the Americans used Luganville as a military base. Boulevard Higginson was unusually wide due to the occupation; a base commander claimed that four tanks could not drive along the road at the same time. At one end of the boulevard is the port of Luganville, one of the island’s two main ports. – Vanuatu Places
8. National Museum of Vanuatu
The Vanuatu National Museum is located in Vanuatu’s capital city, Port Vila. It specializes in exhibits of culture and history related to the South Pacific’s Vanuatu group of islands. It stands out from other Pacific national museums for rejecting many European museology ideas and developing innovative ways of working that respect kastom traditions.
The Vanuatu Cultural Center was established in 1959. Initially, it was intended to be a National Museum. By 1960, the Board of Management consisted of members from the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. Initially, the museum focused on exhibitions, mainly collections created by colonizers.
The museum’s first location was on the Port Vila waterfront. In 1989, the museum’s management changed hands from Kirk Huffman to the British-born, Ni’Vanuatu-based, Jackie Keitad. – Vanuatu Places
9. Port Vila
Port Vila, also known as “Port-Vila” or simply “Vila”, is the capital city and largest city in Vanuatu, located on Efate island. It has a population of 49,034 according to the 2020 census. In 2020, it had a population of 16.3%.
Port Vila is an economic and commercial hub on the south shore of the island, which is part of Shefa Province. – Vanuatu Places
10. Champagne Beach
Champagne Beach is one of Vanuatu’s most popular beaches, and it’s easy to see why. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the island’s day-to-day life and head to this idyllic stretch of white-sand beaches, turquoise turquoise water, and lush rainforests.
Spend a few days here and you’ll be able to see some of the world’s most beautiful sea turtles, as well as parrot fish, swimming in its picturesque reefs.
While there are plenty of other beaches in the country, Champagne Beach stands out from the rest due to its unique volcanic activity, which makes its waters frothy and fizzy. – Vanuatu Places
11. Ekasup Cultural Village
This working village provides interesting insights into cultural ceremonies and traditional systems. The villagers are always happy to show you different aspects of the local culture, such as the use of native herbs for medicinal purposes, the preservation of food, and the use of spider webs for fishing and hunting traps. You can also attend local feasts, including kava, dancing, and music. You can also buy various traditional handicrafts. – Vanuatu Places
12. Loru Conservation Area
Loru Conservation Area covers an area of 220 hectares and is home to one of the last pieces of lowland jungle left on the east coast of Santo. The area offers some of the best nature walks in the area, with plenty of coconut crab and a bat cave which the villagers use as a shelter for bats in the event of a cyclone. The guided walk takes about 30 minutes. If you have reached the area without a guide, contact Kal. From East Coast Rd, turn right at the guidepost and drive 4km on a dirt road to the Kole 1 village. – Vanuatu Places
13. Erakor Island
Erakor Island Resort & Spa offers beautiful villas with private terraces overlooking the sea. The property has a restaurant, a bar, a day spa, and a tour desk. The Aqua Waterfront restaurant serves a buffet breakfast with a variety of seafood and meats for lunch & dinner. A Melanesian feast is held once a week where local cuisine is served, traditional music is played and fire dancing is performed.
At Essence Day Spa, you can enjoy a massage, manicure, or pedicure. You can also use the free kayak, snorkel, and beach volleyball equipment. The tour desk at Erakor can organize fishing, horse riding, or cruises to the local islands. All villas have a fan, fridge, and tea / coffee-making facilities, some even have a spa bath. Erakor Resort & spa is 15 15-minute drive from Port Vila. – Vanuatu Places
14. Efate
Efate, French: Éfaté, is a French Polynesian island located in the Pacific Ocean in the Shefa Province of Vanuatu. In Vanuatu, the island is also referred to as “Île Vate”.
In 1774, Captain James Cook named the island Sandwich Island “in honor of the Earl of Sandwich” on his voyage on HMS Resolution. Efate served as a U.S. military base during World War II.
Port Vila, the largest human settlement on the island and Vanuatu’s capital was heavily damaged by Cyclone Pam on March 13, 2015. – Vanuatu Places
15. Hideaway Island
About 100m offshore from Mele Beach is Hideaway Island, which isn’t very well hidden but is one of Villa’s most popular spots for snorkeling, diving, or just dining lunch at the resort on the island.
The free ferry departs from outside the Beach Bar on most days and once you’re on the island, you’ll be able to snorkel around the marine sanctuary, take a dive, and send off waterproof postcards from the only submerged post office in the world. – Vanuatu Places
16. Port Resolution
Tanna’s best port is this idyllic bay, with its dramatic cliffs and easy access to some of east Tanna’s best beaches. The small village of Iupuow has an elementary shop, a market, and a few basic restaurants. On the right, a road leads up to the original cliff-top ‘yacht club’ and a marine sanctuary, Yewao Point, where you can go snorkeling in the calm waters just before the reef comes down.
Another road leads to beautiful white sand and a prime surfing beach, where you can enjoy deep swells for 2.5 km to the Yankaren para. Port resolution is 8km from the volcano gate. A truck runs a return tour from Port Resolution to Lenakele or organizes a charter from Port Resolution on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. – Vanuatu Places
17. Malekula
Malekula is shaped like a sitting dog. It has two uplands connected by ‘the dog’s neck’ and is one of Vanuatu’s best tourist attractions. The highlands climb to more than 800m and are crisscrossed with slender valleys. The Big Nambas had such a reputation that no tourists thought to enter their zone. Even police operations that came to punish them for killing businessmen were ambushed and dispersed. They had a stone fireplace where unwelcome intruders were ceremoniously cooked and consumed.
The big Nambas perform erpnavet or grade-taking rituals, which are preceded by long rehearsals. The men wear a large purple pandanus fiber around their penis, protected by a fat bark belt, and the testicles are exposed. The small Nambas wear a leaf of dried fiber around their penis and push into the bark belt. Their semiautonomous communities are built around tam-tams, ready-to-pound rhythm, and dance places. – Vanuatu Places
18. oyster island
Oyster Island is a mix of traditional bungalows, the best of which are on the waterfront, and very well-maintained units. The resort has only 32 beds, which adds to the sense of exclusivity, but also a warm, sensible family atmosphere.
A wide range of excursions are offered, including the well-regarded Mount Hope Waterfall excursion. Much of the food in the restaurant comes from the island’s hinterland, including fresh oysters, which you can call to order just a few hours before the Sunday lunch buffet. – Vanuatu Places
19. Eden on the River
Located on the island of Efate, Eden on the River is about 20 minutes southwest of Vanuatu’s capital city, Port Vila. Most travelers prefer to arrive by car, although some excursions offer round-trip transportation for even more convenience. Alternatively, you can book transfers directly to and from Port Vila at an additional cost. – Vanuatu Places
20. Club Hippique Adventure Park
Located 15 minutes outside of Port Vila on a picturesque beachfront property, Club Hippique boasts acres of tropical plantations and rainforests for you to enjoy. – Vanuatu Places
21. SS President Coolidge
SS President Coolidge is one of the most famous shipwrecks in Vanuatu. This WWII relic is the largest easily accessible shipwreck on the island of Santo. It is known for its well-preserved artifacts such as the “barber’s chair” and the “coral-encrusted guns”. The wreck also hosts a variety of marine life, including lionfish, “scorpionfish” and “giant clams” which can be found in the nooks and crevices of the ship.
If you are looking to explore this remarkable site by diving, you can hire one of our diving guides from one of our outfits. You can explore the remains at depths between 20 and 70 meters in the daytime or even at night, depending on your diving experience. Before diving, it is important to consider your dive time so that you are prepared for a safe dive. – Vanuatu Places
22. Port Vila Market
The Port Vila markets are a great place to sample local and hyper-local food – whether you’re stopping for lunch or grabbing some snacks to take back to your accommodation. A big meal will cost around AUD$5 and you’ll get the chance to sample the best of local food – why not make your food tour by going from one food stand to the next?
Don’t forget to check out the newly opened specialty handicraft markets beside the traditional market. These sell hand-carved carvings and artisan jewelry made by locals and villagers. Don’t miss out on browsing the unique plants too. You could easily spend a full day between the two markets, especially when you sample the different tastes and flavors from the food stalls. – Vanuatu Places
23. Sulphur Bay
Sulphur Bay is a bay located on the eastern shore of Tanna Island, Vanuatu. It is located close to Mount Yasur, which is known as the world’s most accessible volcano.
The first part of Vanuatu to be visited by Westerners was Sulphur Bay, which was discovered by James Cook who was captivated by the natural beauty of Mount Yasur in 1774.
Today, the area is home to the John Frum Cargo cult, a group of people who believe that their savior, American World War II hero, John Frum, and his men live in the vicinity of Mount Yasur. – Vanuatu Places
24. Louniel Beach
Situated at the center of a long stretch of beaches on the northeast side of the island, Louniel Beach is known for its black sand beaches, similar to those found on the northern west coast of New Zealand’s north island such as Piha or Muriwai.
The coastline is dotted with large Coconut palms and Pandanus trees. The beach has rolling surf like other New Zealand beaches, but due to its tropical climate, the water temperature is much higher.
The beach is not flat, but rather falls away relatively quickly allowing swimming close to shore. The black sand is like powder snow, and you can sink to some depth in some places.
There are many underwater volcanic fumarole formations just out to sea, which result in different parts of the beach covered in pumice beads in a wavy pattern. A full-length walk along Louniel Beach takes about an hour, and it reveals a side of Tanna that most visitors don’t get to see. – Vanuatu Places
25. Beach Bumming
Let’s be honest, white sand beaches are one of the first things that come to mind when you think of a South Pacific Island vacation. Fortunately, Vanuatu has many white sand beaches to choose from. Champagne Beach is considered to be Vanuatu’s best white sand beach, and it’s easy to see why.
Champagne Beach is the epitome of white sand beaches. It’s the kind of beach where all your worries seem to go away as soon as you step foot on the sand. Lonnoc Beach, on the other hand, is one of the lesser-known white sand beaches in Vanuatu, but it’s just as beautiful and you may have it all to yourselves. – Vanuatu Places
