10 Best Places to Visit in Vanuatu

Havannah Harbour is one of the easiest places to experience the “real islands” of Vanuatu without travelling far from the main island of Efate. Sitting on the island’s northwest coast, this wide, sheltered stretch of water is the launching point for boat trips, snorkelling adventures, village visits and island-hopping days that feel wonderfully removed from the bustle of Port Vila.

What makes this place truly special is the cluster of islands scattered around the harbour and beyond. Eretoka and Lelepa Island are renowned for being part of the Chief Roi Mata’s Domain UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving the area a cultural depth that goes far beyond “pretty island day trip” territory.

Locals operate most tours here, with fishing and snorkelling trips making the most of the clear water, reefs and island scenery. The adventure extends across to Moso Island, where hidden caves and turtle nesting grounds add even more to the boat-tour fun (as if the turquoise water wasn’t already doing enough heavy lifting).

Over to the west, Nguna and Pele Islands bring even more variety. Nguna is ideal for hiking, with rewarding viewpoints from Mt Marou, while Pele offers dreamy white-sand beaches, local bungalow stays and even local-style beach clubs where Ni-Vanuatu hosts welcome you for the day. From what we’ve personally experienced across Vanuatu, this is exactly the kind of place that reminds you why island-hopping here is so special.

If Havannah Harbour is Vanuatu’s easy island-hopping introduction, the East Coast of Santo is where the country starts showing off. This is the side of Espiritu Santo where you’ll find those outrageously clear blue holes, white-sand beaches, river adventures and coastal villages that make you wonder why you didn’t add more days to your trip. Rookie error, honestly.

The big-name stops here are famous for good reason. Swim in the island’s blue holes, take the Mt Hope Waterfall Tour for a river-and-waterfall adventure, laze on Champagne Beach and continue north to Port Olry for calm water, island views and beachside dining. It’s one of Vanuatu’s most rewarding road trip routes, especially if you like your days to involve swimming multiple times (which, let’s face it, you probably do).

But this coast isn’t just about the obvious highlights. Hidden gems like Melon River add more of that “how is this not busier?” feeling, while stays at places like Turtle Bay Lodge put you close to blue holes, beaches and boat trips without needing to base yourself in town the whole time.

There are offshore adventures too, with island day trips such as Dany Island adding snorkelling, beaches and marine-life moments to the mix. Between the blue holes, waterfalls, beaches, rivers, resorts and offshore islands, the East Coast of Santo is easily one of the best places to see just how naturally spectacular Vanuatu can be.

You can plan the whole route with A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Espiritu Santo: One Day Itinerary.

South of Malekula, the Maskelyne Islands are for travellers who want Vanuatu to feel properly remote, local and unpolished in the best possible way. This is not the place for a quick resort transfer and a cocktail by noon. The real challenge is getting there, but that is also exactly why it feels so rewarding once you do.

The big drawcard here is the water. The Maskelynes are known for dugong snorkelling, outrigger canoe tours and quiet marine adventures led by local communities who know these islands, reefs and seagrass areas better than anyone. It’s the sort of place where the “tour” often feels less like a packaged activity and more like being invited into someone’s backyard (except the backyard has dugongs, which is a strong upgrade).

Just as memorable is the chance to experience real local life. Communities here embrace visitors through island bungalows, guided experiences and village-based hospitality, making the Maskelynes one of the best places in Vanuatu to slow down, connect with Ni-Vanuatu hosts and see daily island life without the resort filter.

Getting there takes planning, patience and probably a flexible attitude toward island transport, but that is part of the adventure. Start with our Malekula Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get There (& Around) to figure out the practical side before you go.

Reached by grassy airstrip or a two-hour boat ride from Lambubu Wharf, Southwest Bay is one of those Vanuatu places that makes you feel like you have properly left the easy route behind. Yachties have long loved its sheltered bays, but landlubbers should absolutely make the journey too, especially if they’re looking for culture, marine life and real local living in one memorable corner of Malekula.

This is the end point of the Manbush Trail, one of Vanuatu’s great overland adventures, but Southwest Bay is far more than a finish line. It’s known for giant clam sanctuaries, boat and outrigger tours into the Tisiriq Lagoon and nearby Tenstick Island, where the scenery does a very convincing job of rewarding the effort it took to get here.

Culture is another major reason to visit. Southwest Bay is famous for the Nalawan Festival, which brings together cultural performances from the renowned Small Nambas tribes. For travellers who want more than a beach stop, this is a powerful place to experience local traditions, village hospitality and daily island life without the resort polish.

Yes, it takes planning. Yes, you’ll need to be comfortable with small-plane or boat logistics. But that’s precisely what keeps Southwest Bay so special. From what we’ve experienced across Vanuatu, these are often the places that stay with you longest.

Tanna is the island that put Vanuatu on many travellers’ maps, thanks to Mt Yasur, often described as the world’s most accessible yet very active volcano. Standing near the crater as it rumbles, glows and throws sparks into the night is one of the South Pacific’s most unforgettable experiences. Subtle? Absolutely not. Spectacular? Very much so.

But Tanna is far more than its famous volcano, and anyone who only flies in for a quick day trip from Port Vila is seriously missing the point. The island is home to the Giant Banyan Tree, the Blue Cave and the beautiful coastline around Resolution Bay, giving you plenty of reasons to slow down and stay longer.

Culture is just as big a part of the experience. From the traditions shared at Yakel Kastom Village to the island’s well-known cargo cults, Tanna offers a fascinating look at the diversity of Ni-Vanuatu life, belief and custom. It’s one of those places where the landscape is dramatic, the culture is deeply distinctive and the itinerary really deserves more than a rushed volcano-and-back mission.

Make the most of it with The Complete Travel Guide to Tanna LINK#D071.

Yes, we know, this is the third time Malekula has appeared on this list, but hear us out. This is a huge island, and each region feels like a completely different destination, so Lakatoro and Walarano more than earn their place.

Collectively, this northeast corner of Malekula gives you a handy mix of access and authenticity. Lakatoro is the island’s main administrative hub, making it one of the more practical bases on Malekula, but the real magic begins once you look offshore. Nearby islands like Uri Island offer bungalow stays that feel like the South Pacific dream, with local hosts, quiet water and that “why didn’t we come here sooner?” kind of atmosphere.

Travel further north and you reach historically and culturally rich Walarano, a village named after the two islands off its shores. Stays such as Nawori Sea View Bungalows can organise guided experiences to Wala Island’s ancient nasara, the ceremonial areas that help tell the story of the island’s past, as well as cannibal tours to the graves of old chiefs. We won’t give away some of the eerie sights here, but let’s just say Malekula does not do boring history.

The snorkelling off Wala Island is another reason to linger, while the Small Nambas Cultural Experience is based in this area too, making it one of Vanuatu’s most famous culture village experiences. Between the offshore islands, village stays, cultural sites, guided tours and local hospitality, Lakatoro and Walarano are ideal for travellers who want Malekula with depth, not just a dot on the map.

Pentecost is famous for naghol, or land diving, where men leap from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles. It’s one of Vanuatu’s most powerful and world-famous traditions, and yes, it really is as breathtaking as it sounds (and no, we don’t recommend trying this one at home).

Travellers can fly in and out from Port Vila to watch land diving during the April to June season, making it possible to experience Pentecost’s headline cultural event without committing to a long island stay. Even then, the island remains far less visited than Vanuatu’s main holiday hotspots, which only adds to its appeal.

Outside of land diving season, Pentecost rewards curious travellers with waterfalls, villages, forested hills and a much quieter look at everyday life in Vanuatu. It’s not a destination built around ticking off polished attractions. Instead, Pentecost is about understanding why this island holds such a powerful place in the country’s cultural identity.

For travellers who want culture, remoteness and a story they’ll be telling for years, Pentecost is one of Vanuatu’s most unforgettable places to visit.

Dark, dramatic and deeply cultural, Ambrym is one of Vanuatu’s most intriguing islands. It’s known for volcanic landscapes, black-sand beaches, wood carving, kastom ceremonies and the famous rom dance, making it a place where nature and culture feel especially close.

Ambrym’s volcanic treks to areas associated with Mt Benbow and Mt Marum have long attracted adventurous travellers, although access depends on safety, conditions and local guidance. In other words, this is not the island for a casual “we’ll just wander up there after breakfast” approach.

Even without a full volcano trek, the island’s ash plains, villages and powerful cultural traditions make Ambrym feel like nowhere else in Vanuatu. It’s raw, atmospheric and deeply tied to local identity, which is exactly why it belongs on the list for travellers looking beyond the easy holiday islands.

For more destinations like Ambrym, check out the 10 Less-Travelled Islands in Vanuatu.

Get real Ni-Vanuatu living and hospitality within easy reach of one of Vanuatu’s most visited islands at Malo Island, just off Espiritu Santo. It’s close enough to Santo to feel manageable, but far enough away to give you that slower, village-based island experience that many travellers hope to find in Vanuatu.

Malo has a number of well-maintained bungalows with lovely local hosts, some right by the beach for decent snorkelling and beachcombing away from the crowds, while others are tucked into the bush for a quieter stay. Either way, this is the kind of place where the accommodation is less about resort polish and more about being welcomed into island life.

One of the coolest features of Malo is the Malo Blue Hole, arguably the least crowded and least explored blue hole in the Santo area. Getting there is part of the fun, with a boat ride up the river to a stunning lake before continuing to the freshwater spring itself. Blue holes without the crowds? Yes please, we’ll take several.

For travellers who want Santo’s beauty but with more local connection, peaceful bungalows and a side of freshwater swimming that feels wonderfully off the beaten track, Malo Island is well worth the short hop.

Formerly known as Santa Maria, Gaua is one of the most rewarding islands in the Banks Islands for adventurous travellers. Remote, volcanic and culturally rich, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve reached one of Vanuatu’s wilder edges, without the polished holiday-island feel. And honestly, that’s a big part of the appeal.

The island is best known for Lake Letas, Vanuatu’s largest freshwater lake, sitting in the crater at the centre of the island. Rising from its eastern side is Mt Garet, an active volcano that gives Gaua its dramatic, untamed character. Lakes, volcanoes and remote island trekking? Yes, Gaua came prepared.

Culture is another major reason to visit. Gaua is famous for traditional water music performed by local women (seriously, you have to hear and see it to believe it).

For travellers who like their island adventures with freshwater lakes, volcanic landscapes, village hospitality and a strong sense of cultural identity, Gaua is a powerful finale to this list.