Travel to Port Vila - Vanuatu
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Vanuatu is a country in the South West Pacific Ocean, about 800 km west of Fiji and 1770 km east of Australia. Vanuatu consists of a chain of 13 main islands and many other small islets spread from north to south over 650 km in a shape resembling the letter Y.
Port Vila is the capital city of Vanuatu. It is located on the south coast of the island of Éfaté. It is the country's political, economic and commercial center, and residents of many islands move there to find a livelihood. About 45,000 residents live there. The city is located in the southwest of the island in Mélé Bay.
Éfaté is the main island of Vanuatu, located in the middle of the island chain. Its area is 915 sq. km. It is a volcanic island mostly covered by rain forest. The weather in the area is tropical: hot and humid.
The main spoken language in Vanuatu (which is also one of the official languages in the country) is Bislama, which is a type of broken English combined with Creole. Most residents also speak English or French (both additional official languages of Vanuatu).
Port Vila has an international airport and a sea port, which is both a commercial port and a port for cruise ships.
In 2015, a cyclone hit the city hard. Recently, in early April 2020, another cyclone hit, of the highest degree: degree five on the main island and caused severe damage. All the damage is still unknown and how much time will be required to restore the area, so anyone planning to visit Vanuatu is recommended to check before arriving which tourist sites are active and what their condition is. Many earthquakes have also hit the area and caused damage in the past.
Port Vila is a compact but vibrant city. It is surrounded by lagoons, beaches and islets. The city center, located a short drive from the cruise port, is full of shops, including many duty-free shops, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and markets.
Recommended Hotels in Port Vila:
A high-quality resort with 1-3 bedroom villas, some with a private pool, located across from the beach with ocean views. The price includes breakfast and free use of water sports equipment, including kayaks, snorkeling and surfing. The resort has a spa, restaurant, lounge bar and an outdoor pool. Guests have free access to motorized boats with an operator and free transfers around the island and to Castaway Island. There is a free shuttle service to/from the airport as well as to downtown Port Vila. All villas are luxurious and include a private balcony with sun loungers and ocean views. Free internet and parking.
A 5-star boutique hotel with its own private white sand beach. The hotel has a large and beautiful pool overlooking the ocean. The hotel has a luxury spa, bar, restaurant and offers free bicycles and snorkeling equipment for its guests and several sports facilities. The hotel has villas in several sizes suitable for 2-6 adults. Some have a small pool. Free internet and parking.
A resort located on a small island only a 3-minute ferry ride from Port Vila and spread over about 280 dunams of tropical landscapes. The resort has two outdoor swimming pools, a private beach, a spa and a casino. The resort has 4 restaurants, a bar and a cafe. There is a kids' club. Use of non-motorized water sports facilities is free for hotel guests. The hotel has apartments, bungalows (including on the water line), villas and penthouse suites intended for 2-6 adults.
Video of a trip in Port Vila and its surroundings:
Attractions and Guided Tours in Port Vila
Guided Tours from GetYourGuide:
Attractions near Port Vila:
In Port Vila and within a driving distance of up to an hour from it, there are plenty of diverse tourist sites including nature sites, beaches and local culture.
The leading attractions are cultural centers of the local tribes. There are several cultural centers where you learn about the customs and lifestyle of the locals.
Particularly recommended:
Pepeyo Cultural and Educational Tour
A driving distance of about 20 minutes from Port Vila, near the village of Teouma, you reach a village located in the heart of a lush tropical rainforest where you meet the local natives, adults and children in traditional clothes who tell and demonstrate their way of life to this day.
In the village, a guided tour is held where they demonstrate how they cultivate the land and what typical crops they grow (popular crops are yam, taro and kava), how they preserve food, how they fish, what their houses look like, etc. Additionally, they demonstrate walking on hot volcanic rocks, which is the typical initiation activity for boys when they reach maturity.
Finally, a musical performance with many participants is held, combining singing and playing local instruments made of bottles and bamboos. A fascinating encounter with charming people who try to preserve their culture and pass it on to future generations.
Blue Lagoon
A natural pool with clear turquoise water located in the east of the island. Its length is 60-70 meters and the maximum water depth is 30 meters.
The lagoon is located near the sea and connected to the ocean, so at high tide the lagoon water is salty and at low tide fresh water. The lagoon is surrounded by dense vegetation including trees with natural "Tarzan" ropes from which the local children jump into the refreshing water. The place has changing rooms, shade sheds and toilets.
Nawie Beach Turtle Sanctuary
At the river mouth in a recommended beach for swimming with a restaurant and toilets is a turtle sanctuary where you can see small turtles a few weeks and months old in their breeding pools and swim with giant turtles in a quiet lagoon adjacent to the sea.
♦ Recommended tours from Port Vila to purchase from Viator:
Rarru Rentapao Waterfall & River
An easy and comfortable hiking trail along the Rentapao River near the village of Teouma. Along the river are small waterfalls and on the sides of the trail is tropical vegetation, including fruit trees and many flowers.
At the end of the trail is a natural pool with clear water into which small waterfalls flow. Further on (requires walking on a slippery and not very safe path after rain) are additional waterfalls, less accessible. You can jump like Tarzan on a rope into the pool waters. You can go kayaking in the river to the natural pool.
