The Complete Guide to the Ports of Call in Vanuatu

The busiest and most visited port of call in Vanuatu, Port Vila and Efate offer a handy mix of capital-city browsing, waterfront dining, cultural stops and island adventures. This is the sort of port where you can keep things easy around town or spend the day chasing waterfalls, blue swimming holes and snorkelling spots.

Port Vila - The Capital of Vanuatu

For those who don’t want to venture too far from the ship (or too far from an iced coffee, which is fair), Port Vila has its own selection of markets, museums, food stops and waterfront experiences.

Start with Port Vila Central Market, the obvious place for fresh local produce and casual food stalls, then wander along the waterfront to the Handicraft Market for souvenirs. Nearby, the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, also known as the National Museum of Vanuatu, gives a much deeper look into the country’s traditions, artefacts, tamtam drums, canoes, pottery and cultural displays.

If you’d rather get on the water without committing to a full island mission, Watersports Port Vila operates from Nambawan Cafe on the waterfront next to the Handicraft Market, while 83 Islands Distillery offers tours and tastings of locally crafted rum and gin on the outskirts of town.

Plan more of your visit with The Complete Travel Guide to Port Vila & Efate and find places to eat in The Food Guide to Port Vila & Efate: Places to Eat & Food Tours.

Must-Dos on Efate

If you have time to explore beyond the capital, which most cruise passengers do, here are some of the places well worth visiting and things well worth doing:

• Swing into the milky-blue waters of Blue Lagoon, one of Efate’s best-known swimming spots, with picnic tables, changing rooms, toilets, decking areas and rope swings at the more developed access points.
• Swim among the jungle pools of Rarru Cascades, where a short 5-10 minute walk leads to small cascades, swimming areas, a rope swing and a wide waterfall of around 3 m (10 ft).
• Snorkel and dine at Top Rock on Efate’s east coast, where clear water, canyon access, tropical fish, possible turtle sightings and a clifftop restaurant make a solid half-day outing.
• Marvel at the aqua pools of Mele Cascades, with its calcium-sculpted rocks, jungle setting and lower swimming section close to Port Vila.
• Post mail from the underwater postbox at Hideaway Island, a classic little Vanuatu novelty that pairs nicely with swimming or snorkelling.
• Soak up the history of Chief Roi Mata’s Domain, one of Efate’s standout cultural and historical sites.
• Head to Eden on the River for more river swimming and soft-adventure-style island scenery.

For more details about these activities, as well as many more experiences, check out the 35 Best Things to Do in Port Vila & Efate.

The Best Port Vila and Efate Tours for Cruise Ship Passengers

Take the hassle out of exploring Efate by joining one of the guided tours departing from Port Vila! If the shore excursions offered by your cruise ship are a bit out of your price range (which, let’s be honest, can happen), then these are some of the best tours to take you around the island which you can book yourself.

Some of the best Port Vila and Efate tours for cruise ship passengers include:

• Vila Hope Tours & Transfers – Their "Port Full-Day Tour" is a six-hour option covering the Blue Lagoon, Turtle Sanctuary, Rarru Waterfalls and market shopping, with meals, snacks, entry fees and transfers included.
• Atmosphere Tours & Transfers – Their "Half-Day Blue Lagoon, Eden and Shopping Tour" is a convenient four-hour excursion for cruisers who want a mix of swimming, nature and shopping without committing to a full day.
• Yumi Tours – Their "Hideaway Island Combo Tour" is listed as good for cruise ships and includes accommodation/wharf transfers, making it a handy option for snorkelling, beach time and the famous underwater post office.
• Bountiful Tours & Transfers – Their "Private Tropical Trio Excursion" and private minivan hire suit travellers who prefer a more flexible excursion style around Efate.
• Lavanua Tours & Transfers – Their "Full Day Cascades, Turtle & Blue Lagoon Tour" is another full-day land-based option for cruisers wanting swimming holes, turtles and waterfalls in one organised day.
• Manusale Tours – Their "Tropical Splash Tour" is listed among the shore excursions for Port Vila and Efate, making it another cruise-focused option to consider.
• Vanuatu Ecotours – Their "Port Vila Highlights Tour" is a shorter sightseeing-style option for passengers wanting a guided introduction to the capital and surrounds.
• Port Vila Tours – Their "Mele Village Tour" adds a cultural angle to a cruise day, with a focus on village life close to Port Vila.
• Sammy's Port Vila Tours & Transfers – Sammy offers a range of sightseeing tours that are ideal for cruise passengers, from visiting Eton Beach, Pepeyo Culture Village and Rarru Cascades to adding quad bike combos.
• Masua Tours & Transfers - Make your tour short and sweet with the two-hour Ekasup Cultural Village tour, getting you back to Port Vila on time for more city sightseeing.

For more information about these tours, refer to the 10 Best Shore Excursions in Vanuatu and 20 Best Day Tours in Port Vila & Efate.

How to Tour Port Vila and Efate Independently

If you’d rather make your own way around Port Vila and Efate, you have a few good options: public buses, car rental, scooter hire or the cruise-focused hop-on hop-off shuttle. In other words, you’re not completely tied to the cruise ship’s excursion desk (although your ship will probably not tell you that quite so enthusiastically).

Public buses are especially useful for getting around Port Vila and its suburbs, which is handy if you want to visit places like chocolate factories, the distillery, Mele Bay, Vanuatu Zipline or other attractions just outside the city centre. Find out more about how the system works in The Bus Guide to Vanuatu.

For cruise passengers, Gateway Shore Tours Vila offers a hop-on hop-off service that makes independent sightseeing much easier. This stress-free transport option connects seven of the city’s top stops, allowing you to explore without a rigid schedule. Your all-day pass covers Warwick Resort, Erakor Island Resort, the National Museum, City Lookout, Tana Russet Mall, Pikinini Bar and Downtown Duty Free. For more beach time, upgrade to the combo package, including return shuttles to Honeymoon Beach. Find their yellow marquee booth outside the cruise port.

Car rental is also readily available in Port Vila. Book directly with rental companies to ask whether they deliver to the cruise port, which is usually free of charge if offered. Otherwise, it’s typically an easy and affordable bus ride into town to reach the rental depots. See your options in the 15 Best Car Rentals in Vanuatu.

Scooter hire is another option in Port Vila, with some rental depots within walking distance of the port. We recommend sticking to the east coast route toward Blue Lagoon, where road conditions are generally more suitable for scooters. Learn more about what to expect in The Guide to Scooter Hire in Vanuatu.

Finally, if you need inspiration for an itinerary for exploring Efate in a day, then we have just the guide for you! Check it out in A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Efate: One Day Itinerary.

The cruise port for Espiritu Santo (or simply "Santo") is Luganville, the island’s main town and the most practical starting point for a day ashore. If you’re staying close to town, highlights include Luganville Market and The South Pacific WWII Museum, but Santo’s big-hitter sights are mostly found outside town, especially along the East Coast.

This is where you’ll find the dreamy blue holes, white-sand beaches, offshore islands and WW2 sites that make Santo one of Vanuatu’s most rewarding cruise stops. In other words, this is a port where it pays to have transport sorted, because the good stuff is calling from beyond the wharf.

Plan more of your visit with The Complete Travel Guide to Espiritu Santo.

Must-Dos on Santo

If you have time to explore beyond Luganville, here are some of the places well worth visiting and things well worth doing:

• Swim in the famous blue holes, including Santo’s Blue Hole and Matevulu Blue Hole, where clear freshwater pools, jungle surroundings, swings, slides or canoe access make them some of the island’s most memorable stops.
• Take a peaceful canoe ride to Riri Blue Hole, where the water shifts from emerald green to bright blue as you paddle through mangrove-lined waterways.
• Spend the day on Aore Island or Dany Island for a more island-hopping-style day
• Scuba dive among coral reefs and the SS President Coolidge, one of Santo’s best-known WW2-related dive experiences.
• Scuba dive, snorkel or reef-walk at Million Dollar Point, another of Santo’s fascinating WW2 sites.
• Relax on Champagne Beach or head next door to Lonnoc Beach, a quieter alternative with white sand, turquoise water and views of Elephant Island.
• Cool off at Tuffuntari Waterfall, one of the waterfall stops to add to a wider Santo road trip.
• Take a road trip to Port Olry Beach, the East Coast’s grand finale and a good excuse to explore the coastal highlights along the way.
• Experience local culture at Leweton Cultural Village or take part in Ni-Van culture at Santo Fire Walks.
• Go canyoning, swimming and hiking with Millennium Cave Tours, one for cruisers with enough time and an appetite for adventure.
• Float to Mt Hope Waterfall with Santo Heritage Tours.

For more ideas, check out 30 Best Things to Do on Espiritu Santo.

The Best Santo Tours for Cruise Ship Passengers

Take the guesswork out of exploring Santo by joining a guided tour from Luganville. Santo’s highlights are more spread out than they look on a map, with beaches, blue holes, WW2 sites and waterfall adventures sitting well beyond the cruise port, so having a local driver-guide can save a lot of precious shore time.

Some of the best Santo tours for cruise ship passengers include:

• Atmosphere Tours & Transfers – Their Santo day tour covers the Blue Hole, Champagne Beach and Million Dollar Point, with accommodation/wharf transfers included from Luganville and Port Vila operations listed in the source. This is a strong option if you want a classic Santo highlights loop without piecing together transport yourself.
• Paradise Tours – A Santo-based operator offering nine guided tours, including a full-day trip to Champagne Beach and one of the blue holes, a half-day Million Dollar Point tour, and a South Santo Waterfall Trek. Their team offers French and English-speaking guides and is noted as working with expedition cruise ships and luxury resorts, making them one of the most cruise-relevant options in the list.
• Santo Heritage Tours – Their flagship "Santo Highlights Tour" visits Champagne Beach, Port Olry and Matevulu Blue Hole, with entrance fees included. They also offer shorter options such as the "Blue Hole Tour", one-hour cultural village tours, the "Mt Hope Waterfall Tour", "Lowetheweth Secret Trekking & Snorkelling Tours" and WW2 relics tours to sites such as Million Dollar Point and B17 plane wrecks.
• Adventure Vacation Santo Tours – A flexible option for passengers wanting to cover Santo’s main highlights with a local guide. Their full-day tours typically include Champagne Beach, Port Olry and the blue holes, while half-day options focus on blue hole swimming and Million Dollar Point. Transport and light refreshments are included, although entrance fees and meals are paid separately.
• Dany Island – The "Dany Island Day Trip" gives cruise passengers a private-island-style day with bus/minivan transfers from the wharf, barbecue meals, snorkelling equipment, kayaks and surfboards included.

For more tour ideas, check out the the 10 Best Shore Excursions in Vanuatu and 20 Best Sightseeing Tours in Vanuatu.

How to Tour Santo Independently

If you’d rather make your own way around Santo, hiring a car is the most practical option for getting beyond Luganville and out to the blue holes, beaches, WW2 sites and East Coast highlights. Car rentals are available in Luganville, with some companies able to deliver vehicles to or near the wharf, usually for free when booked in advance.

Fleets can be limited, so book early rather than hoping for the best on the day (island life is wonderful, but it is not always famous for its spare rental cars). Find out more in the 15 Best Car Rentals in Vanuatu.

Taxi drivers also wait at the port, often almost too eagerly. They’re fine for short trips around town, but service standards can vary and prices may be higher than expected, so Santo has a bit more of a wild west feel when it comes to portside transport. For the best experience and best value, we recommend booking a tour or excursion ahead of time with a reputable company instead. See The Guide to Taxis in Vanuatu for more advice.

Finally, if you need inspiration for an itinerary for exploring Santo in a day, then we have just the guide for you! Check it out in A Self-Guided Day Trip Around Espiritu Santo.

Rarely visited by travellers other than those arriving by cruise ship, Mystery Island is a real privilege to visit. This small, sandy island sits just off Aneityum, giving cruise passengers a wonderfully easy South Pacific beach day with clear water, local hospitality and very little need for complicated logistics.

Local villagers from neighbouring Aneityum boat over on ship days to operate the island’s amenities, markets and activities. The experience is relaxed, welcoming and simple: white sand, turquoise water, a few stalls and the sort of “how is this real?” scenery that tends to stick in the memory.

The waters surrounding Mystery Island are one of its biggest draws, with coral reefs and marine life just offshore, including the chance to spot sea turtles. You can snorkel straight from the beach or join a short boat trip to nearby reefs, then dry off with a gentle wander around the island. At only around 1.5 km (0.9 mi) across, it’s easy to follow the sandy perimeter or grassy, tree-lined tracks in less than an hour.

Back near the jetty, the local marketplace brings a colourful dose of island life, with handmade coconut oil, vanilla, wood carvings and woven crafts for sale. Singing and dancing are often part of the cruise-day atmosphere, while occasional boat trips across to Aneityum offer cultural village visits and a glimpse of life on the larger island next door.

See which cruises visit Mystery Island in the 15 Best Cruises That Go to Vanuatu.