Tuvalu destinations: where to go

Where you land

Funafuti is the capital atoll, home to the airport, the government, the main wharf and nearly all of the country's rooms. Most visitors spend their whole stay here, and that is no hardship: the lagoon is huge, the evenings on the runway are lively and the people are welcoming.

The protected lagoon

The Funafuti Conservation Area covers the western side of the lagoon and its reef, with uninhabited islets, turtles, seabirds and the clearest water in the country. A boat day trip here is the highlight of most trips.

The outer islands

Reaching the outer islands takes time, because the government ships run on a schedule that can stretch to weeks. The reward is village life almost untouched by tourism.

• Nanumea, the northernmost atoll, with a magnificent church and wartime relics.
• Nukufetau, a wide lagoon atoll with the remains of a Second World War airfield.
• Vaitupu, the largest island by land area and home of Motufoua Secondary School.

Putting it together

With a week, stay on Funafuti and give a full day to the Conservation Area. With two weeks or more and a flexible return date, add an outer island by ship. Use places to visit for specific stops and the free trip planner to fit your days around flights and boats.