Hideaway Island, Efate, Photo: Simon_sees from Australia, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Vanuatu
Vanuatu, made simple: volcanoes, blue holes and kastom villages, without the worry
Vanuatu is a Y-shaped chain of more than eighty islands in the South Pacific, home to an active volcano you can stand beside, freshwater blue holes, a wartime wreck dive, and some of the strongest living traditions in the Pacific. This guide takes the guesswork out of entry, money, seasons, domestic flights and village etiquette, so you can land in Port Vila, hear your first "Halo!" and relax.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, money, health and the best season, answered
- LandingBauerfield International Airport and your first hour in Port Vila
- Your days in the islandsReefs, volcanoes, villages and food, planned around small planes and boats
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Vanuatu should feel as relaxed as island time. We answer the questions about flights between islands, kastom fees, cyclone season, cash and volcano visits before they start, so you arrive ready to find your Bliss.
Coming home from Noumea, Brisbane, Auckland or a seasonal work season abroad to see family? This guide was written with you in mind too.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your islandsPort Vila and Efate, Santo's beaches, Tanna's volcano or Pentecost's land divers: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, money, health and the best season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for reefs, villages, markets, food and stays.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape your days around domestic flight schedules and one or two bases.
Everything your Vanuatu trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Port Vila and Efate, Espiritu Santo, Tanna and Pentecost, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred blue holes, beaches, markets, nakamals, restaurants and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Port Vila and Santo and stays on every island.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Vanuatu trip
Port Vila, Santo and the volcano
Most first trips land in Port Vila on Efate, spend a few days on the lagoons, cascades and offshore islands, then fly north to Espiritu Santo for Champagne Beach, the blue holes and the SS President Coolidge, or south to Tanna to stand on the rim of Mount Yasur at dusk. In season, a day trip to Pentecost to watch the land divers is unforgettable.
- Mele Cascades and the Port Vila market
- Champagne Beach and the blue holes of Santo
- Mount Yasur at dusk on Tanna
- The Nagol land diving of Pentecost, April to June
Plan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Vanuatu's islands are linked by small planes and slow boats, schedules change, and weather can ground flights. Our free planner helps you match islands to your dates and leave enough slack for island time.
- The right islands for your season
- Realistic flight connections
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Vanuatu
From the capital Port Vila on Efate to the beaches and wrecks of Espiritu Santo, Tanna's volcano and the land divers of Pentecost.
Shefa Province, Efate island
Port Vila
The friendly harbour capital on Efate, with a great market, the national museum, cascades, lagoons and easy island day trips.
Read the guidePhoto: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Sanma Province, northern Vanuatu
Espiritu Santo
Vanuatu's largest island, with a legendary wreck dive, freshwater blue holes and some of the finest beaches in the Pacific.
Read the guidePhoto: Sarah Stewart, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Tafea Province, southern Vanuatu
Tanna
The southern island where you can watch Mount Yasur erupt at dusk and visit villages that still live by kastom.
Read the guidePhoto: Rolf Cosar, CC BY 2.5 , via Wikimedia Commons
Penama Province, central Vanuatu
Pentecost
A rugged, roadless island where men leap from wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles in the Nagol ritual.
Read the guidePhoto: DiscoveryCampervans, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Vanuatu worth visiting?
Yes. It combines reefs and lagoons with things you will not find elsewhere: an accessible active volcano, freshwater blue holes, one of the world's great wreck dives and living kastom culture. It is quieter and less developed than many Pacific destinations.
Do I need a visa for Vanuatu?
Many nationalities receive a visitor permit on arrival, but the rules and length of stay depend on your passport. Check the Vanuatu Department of Immigration website and your own government's travel advice before you book.
What currency is used in Vanuatu?
The vatu. Cards work in larger hotels, supermarkets and many restaurants in Port Vila and Luganville, but carry cash for markets, buses, kastom fees and outer islands, where ATMs are rare or absent.
What language do people speak?
Bislama, English and French are the official languages, and more than a hundred local languages are spoken. English is widely understood in tourism. Learn "Halo" (hello) and "Tank yu tumas" (thank you very much).
When is the best time to go?
May to October is the cooler, drier season. November to April is hot, humid and wet, and it is cyclone season, so travel insurance and flexible plans matter more then.
Is Vanuatu safe for tourists?
Generally yes, and people are famously friendly. Petty theft happens in Port Vila, and natural hazards such as cyclones, earthquakes and volcanic activity are the bigger risks. Read your government's current travel advice before you go.
Ready to find your Bliss in Vanuatu?
Use our free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question and we will point you to the right answer.