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Melanesia

VanuatuTravel guide

Explore Vanuatu visa rules

Vanuatu is a country of more than 80 islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Its capital is Port Vila, and visitors come for beaches, traditional communities, volcanoes and diving.

Why go

  1. Sandy beaches and remote islands.

  2. Traditional Melanesian culture and village life.

  3. Mount Yasur, an active volcano on Tanna.

  4. Diving at the SS President Coolidge wreck on Espiritu Santo.

  5. Waterfalls, crater lakes and rugged island scenery.

Best time to go: July has lower humidity. July to December is the busiest period, while January to June is quieter and often discounted; cyclones can occur from December to March.

Getting there

By air

  • Port Vila's international airport (VLI) has connections from Brisbane, Sydney, Nadi, Honiara and Nouméa.
  • Luganville's international airport (SON) is on Espiritu Santo. In 2025, it offered one flight a week to Honiara and Brisbane.
  • Air Vanuatu went bankrupt in 2024 and later restarted limited domestic flights. As of 2025, it no longer operated international flights.

By sea

  • The main ports are Port Vila on Efate and Luganville on Espiritu Santo.
  • Cruises from Brisbane or Sydney commonly last 8–11 days. They often stop at Mystery Island and Port Vila, sometimes also visiting New Caledonia.

Getting around

  • Domestic flights

    Leave extra time in your plans because flights are limited. Regular scheduled services mainly link Port Vila, Luganville and Tanna. Air Vanuatu bookings must be made by phone, email or at an office. Online booking is no longer available. In 2025, fixed fares were 19,320 vatu from Port Vila to Santo and 17,600 vatu from Port Vila to Tanna. Charter airline packages are more reliable but expensive. A typical Mount Yasur day trip from Port Vila costs about 80,000 vatu per person.

  • Ferries

    Passenger and cargo ferries connect the islands, usually roughly weekly. Departures are irregular and delays are common. Operators include Vanuatu Ferry, Big Sista and Tanna Ferry. Check their Facebook pages for updates and call directly to book. Vanuatu Ferry serves all major islands and can be reached on 26872. Port Vila to Santo or Tanna takes about 24 hours and costs around 100 Australian dollars, paid in vatu cash. Facilities can be very basic. Bring food, water and a sleeping mat.

  • Public buses

    Buses are shared taxis that take passengers from point to point. They operate only in and around Port Vila and Luganville. There are no long-distance buses. There are few bus stops, and they are rarely used.

  • Rental cars and taxis

    Efate has a 140-kilometre paved road around the island. Rental cars offer flexibility and start at about 10,000 vatu a day. Drive on the right and watch for potholes, pedestrians and animals. Foreign driving licences are accepted for up to three months. After that, you need to convert to a Vanuatu licence. Hiring a taxi for the day costs little more than driving yourself. Espiritu Santo has about 60 kilometres of paved road between Luganville and Port Orly. Most other roads are rough gravel or dirt.

What to see and do

  • Mount Yasur, Tanna

    See an active volcano that is known for being easy to reach.

  • Siri Waterfall and Lake Letas, Gaua

    The waterfall is fed by Vanuatu's largest crater lake.

  • Port Vila, Efate

    The capital is the main starting point for visitors and has a wide choice of places to eat and drink.

  • Banks Islands

    Visit for sandy beaches and rugged scenery.

  • Aoba Island

    The island is known for crater lakes on top of its large volcano.

  • Pentecost

    See the island associated with traditional land jumping and the origins of bungee jumping.

Food and drink

  • French food

    French cooking is particularly common in Port Vila's restaurants.

  • Local beef and seafood

    Locally produced beef and seafood are among the cheaper foods available.

  • Tropical fruit and root vegetables

    These locally grown foods are generally cheap, though the range is limited.

  • Beef curry with taro

    A local dish combines Vanuatu beef curry, taro boiled in coconut milk and island vegetables.

  • Fresh fruit juice

    A large freshly squeezed juice costs about 500 vatu.

  • Kava

    Vanuatuan kava is available in bottled form.

Money

Vanuatu vatu (VUV), written as VT.

  • Vatu are difficult to exchange outside Vanuatu. Exchange only what you need, as exchange costs are high.
  • Many businesses in Port Vila accept major credit and debit cards, but cards are rarely accepted elsewhere. Expect a processing charge of 3–5%.
  • Cash machines are available in Port Vila and Luganville. Banks charge 700 vatu per withdrawal with a foreign card.
  • Wanfuteng Bank supports only Chinese card networks such as UnionPay.

Tipping: Tipping is not expected, and bargaining is not customary. Gifts such as phone cards, T-shirts, school pads and pens are appreciated.

Typical costs

  • A basic burger-and-fries meal cost about 2,000 vatu in 2025.
  • A mid-range resort cost about 20,000 vatu or more per night in 2025.
  • A sit-down restaurant lunch is about 1,500–2,000 vatu.
  • Sandwiches are about 450–600 vatu, and bacon and eggs about 750 vatu.
  • A steak or seafood main meal is about 2,000–3,000 vatu.
  • A large fresh fruit juice is about 500 vatu.

Language

  • English is an official language and is increasingly used, especially in Port Vila.
  • French is an official language and is spoken by about 35% of the population.
  • Bislama is an official language understood throughout the country. Learn some basics if travelling beyond Port Vila.
  • Vanuatu also has 113 actively spoken indigenous languages.
Mi no save tok Bislama
I can't speak Bislama.
Kaikai
Eat.

Staying safe

  • Vanuatu is generally safe and friendly. Take normal precautions, especially in Port Vila at night, where crime is reported to be increasing.
  • Cyclones can occur from December to March. Follow instructions from local authorities.
  • Watch for poisonous sea animals when swimming, snorkelling or diving. Stonefish are the most dangerous mentioned.
  • Saltwater crocodiles may remain on the eastern coast of Vanua Lava, although attacks are very unlikely.

Local customs

Do

  • Respect kastom, the traditional customs and rules that guide local life. Follow local requests, especially in villages.
  • Women visiting villages should cover their shoulders and knees.
  • Speak calmly and be patient. Raised voices and direct eye contact may be seen as intimidating.
  • Ask open questions, such as asking where a road goes. People may agree with a suggested answer to avoid contradicting you.
  • Consider practical gifts such as T-shirts, phone cards, school pads or pens. Sharing and giving are part of daily life.
  • Understand that people turning their backs to a bus are telling the driver they do not need a ride.

Don't

  • Avoid revealing clothing and beachwear in Port Vila.
  • Do not shout at or verbally abuse people. Anger can lead to silence, lack of cooperation or violence.
  • Do not assume that a nod or agreement means someone has understood you.
  • Do not bargain or assume that tips are expected.
  • Do not assume that same-sex hand-holding signals a romantic relationship. Public hand-holding between men and women is uncommon.

Staying healthy

  • Vaccination against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid is advised before visiting.
  • Malaria occurs in some areas, though not in Port Vila. Speak to your doctor before travelling outside resort areas.
  • Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes in Port Vila and elsewhere, especially in the wet season. Its symptoms can be confused with malaria.
  • Malaria prevention medicines can have side effects affecting sun exposure, diving, balance and digestion. Discuss these with your doctor.

Where to stay

  • Port Vila has accommodation across all price ranges.
  • Tanna and Santo have a few hotels and resorts aimed at visitors.
  • Elsewhere, accommodation is mainly basic guesthouses.
  • Traditional-style bungalows are an option on Ambrym.

Outdoor adventures in Vanuatu

Vanuatu has sandy beaches, active volcanoes, waterfalls and crater lakes across more than 80 islands. Scuba diving is a major draw, especially the SS President Coolidge wreck off Espiritu Santo.

  • SS President Coolidge wreck

    Scuba divingEspiritu Santo, Sanma

    Visit Espiritu Santo to dive at the wreck. No operator or booking details are given.

    • Beware of poisonous marine animals, especially stonefish.
    • Ask your doctor about malaria medicines before diving, as some can cause problems.

  • Champagne Beach

    BeacheEspiritu Santo, Sanma

    Visit Champagne Beach on Espiritu Santo. Local transport and access details are not specified.

    • If entering the water, beware of poisonous marine animals, especially stonefish.

  • Mount Yasur volcano visit

    More to doTanna, Tafea

    Head to Tanna to see Mount Yasur. Transport, guide and booking details are not specified.

  • Siri Waterfall and Lake Letas

    More to doGaua, Banks Islands, Torba

    Visit Gaua in the Banks Islands. No route, transport or guide details are given for the waterfall or lake.

  • Ambrym volcanoes and lava lakes

    More to doAmbrym, Malampa

    Visit Ambrym, where traditional-style bungalows provide a place to stay. Routes and arrangements for visiting the volcanoes are not specified.

  • Aoba crater lakes

    More to doAoba (Ambae), Penama

    Visit Aoba Island to see its volcanic landscape. No route or guide arrangements are specified for reaching the crater lakes.

  • Pentecost land-jumping celebrations

    More to doPentecost, Penama

    Visit Pentecost to watch celebrations around the annual land-jumping rituals. Dates and visitor arrangements are not specified.

Airports, metros and trains in Vanuatu

Airports with scheduled flights

  • VLIBauerfield International AirportPort VilaMain international airport

People and safety in Vanuatu

Religion

Most people are Christian. Mostly one faith.

  • Christian93%
  • Folk religions4%
  • Other1%
  • No religion1%

LGBT+ travellers

Legal

  • Same-sex marriage is not recognised.
  • Some laws protect against discrimination.

Women travellers

Ranked #115 of 181 countries for women's safety, inclusion and justice.

70% of women say they feel safe walking alone at night where they live.

Who can visit without a visa

Travellers from 119 of 198 countries can visit Vanuatu easily: no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Visa not required119
  • eVisa35
  • Visa required44

Who can visit easily, by part of the world

For each part of the world: how many countries' travellers can come easily. Easy means no visa, a visa at the airport, or a short online form.

  • Oceania13 of 13 countries
  • Europe39 of 46 countries
  • Americas21 of 35 countries
  • Asia25 of 50 countries
  • Africa21 of 54 countries

Questions

When is Vanuatu quieter and cheaper to visit?

January to June is the quietest period, and travel businesses often offer discounts. It is more humid, and cyclone season overlaps from December to March.

Can I book domestic flights without using the internet?

Yes. Air Vanuatu bookings must be made by phone, email or at an office, as online booking is no longer available.

What should I bring for an island ferry trip?

Bring food, water and a sleeping mat because facilities can be very basic. Port Vila to Santo or Tanna takes about 24 hours.

Can I rely on paying by card?

Many businesses in Port Vila accept cards, but they are rarely accepted elsewhere. Card payments usually have a 3–5% processing charge.

Will I be able to use English?

English is an official language and is increasingly used in Port Vila. Bislama basics are useful when travelling beyond the capital.

Can I drink the tap water?

Tap water in Port Vila is drinkable, but it is best avoided elsewhere. Bottled water is not available outside the main cities.

What should I wear in villages?

Dress modestly, and women should cover their shoulders and knees. Light cotton clothes that are easy to hand-wash are practical.

Do I need to leave tips?

Tipping is not expected. Practical gifts are appreciated, and bargaining is not customary.

Where can I find accommodation?

Port Vila has options across all price ranges, while Tanna and Santo have a few hotels and resorts. Other islands mainly have basic guesthouses.

Can I drive with my foreign licence?

Foreign licences are accepted for up to three months. Drive on the right and watch for potholes, pedestrians and animals.

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