Vanuatu: A Hidden Gem of the South Pacific

With my then 6-year-old son, I set off on an unforgettable two-month-long trip to several islands in that part of the world. Just the two of us, a 42-litre backpack, and boundless enthusiasm. We visited Singapore, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and finally Vanuatu, where we explored the islands of Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo in about two weeks. It's hard to choose just one adjective to describe our experience. It was truly magical, unforgettable, unrepeatable, beautiful, wild, and at the same time very simple and authentic.

Interesting facts about Vanuatu

Vanuatu is known for its extraordinary cultural diversity, as in addition to the official languages (English, French, and Bislama), over 100 others are spoken here. It is also considered the cradle of modern bungee jumping. On Pentecost Island, they still perform extreme rituals, known as Naghol, where locals jump headfirst from towers up to 30 metres high.

Near the city of Port Vila, there is the only fully functioning underwater post office in the world, and there are excellent opportunities for diving and snorkelling everywhere. You can easily explore remains from World War II at the iconic underwater site Million Dollar Point. On the islands, there are numerous waterfalls and beautiful freshwater sinkholes of special blue shades, and let's not forget the mighty Yasur volcano, which is considered one of the most easily accessible active volcanoes in the world.

What we saw and did during our trip

We flew from Fiji to the main island of Vanuatu, Efate, but we didn't plan to stay here too long, as we wanted to spend as much time as possible in the wildest locations on the other islands. So, the next day we flew to the island of Tanna, whose trademark is the active volcano Yasur. On Tanna, we had the most authentic experiences, including spending two days with the local Yakel village community, where we slept in a simple hut, showered under a waterfall, communicated with our hands, helped with preparing meals, tried to teach the children card games, and climbed trees with them, although quite unsuccessfully. Of course, one day in the late afternoon we also climbed the erupting volcano.

We left Tanna with full hearts, but Espiritu Santo gave us something that Tanna did not, and that is beautiful paradise beaches. We spent several nights in a tent right on the beach, in the very northeastern part of the island, where the road ends, in the small town called Port Olry. Here we really recharged our batteries and enjoyed everything that comes with such a destination. Peace, warm sea, fresh coconuts, delicious fish dinners, daydreaming and evening conversations under millions of bright stars. We also swam in a couple of freshwater sinkholes, visited a few other bays along the east coast, and strolled around Luganville, the largest town on the island. Before returning home, we had a little more fun on the island of Efate, visiting markets and exploring Vanuatu's most populated and developed island.

As usual, we tried to travel as sustainably as possible. For accommodation, we chose smaller, private accommodations instead of large hotel complexes, and when we had to go on an excursion as part of an organised group, we chose private providers and directly supported the local population this way. We often stopped at the local market instead of a restaurant, and we bought as little plastic packaging and single-use products as possible, as recycling and garbage disposal are often a problem on the islands. We also made sure to use mineral sunscreen without nanoparticles, which does not damage coral reefs and marine organisms.

Who do I recommend this trip for?

Vanuatu is special and perhaps not for everyone. It is still largely untouched, quite remote and wild. Those who do not visit it as part of a cruise and stay on the islands for a longer period will be rewarded with unforgettable experiences and memories. Those who are looking for wild, lesser-known destinations that offer unique cultural experiences, the most beautiful white sandy beaches with turquoise sea and unspoiled nature have hit the jackpot here and despite the long journey to reach Vanuatu, it is still very much worth it.

You can read more about Vanuatu and our trip to the South Pacific on my blog.