Vanuatu Itinerary: 5 Days (Port Vila & Tanna)

This five-day Vanuatu itinerary keeps transport simple, focusing on Port Vila on Efate and Tanna. You’ll still be travelling on islands and between islands, but without adding too many domestic connections into a short trip. Sensible? Yes. Still exciting? Also yes.

Road Transport in Vanuatu

For the Port Vila and Efate portion of this itinerary, car hire is the easiest way to explore independently, especially if you want to head along the south and east coast to places like Blue Lagoon, Rarru Cascades, cultural villages and beach stops. Get advice from the 15 Best Car Rentals in Port Vila, Santo & Vanuatu.

If you don’t want to drive, taxis, local buses, airport transfers and guided sightseeing tours can all work well around Port Vila. For a short stay, a guided tour can be the easiest way to see several stops without spending half the day working out directions, parking and whether that road is meant to look like that. Learn more in the 20 Best Sightseeing Tours in Vanuatu and 10 Best Airport Transfers in Vanuatu.

On Tanna, don’t plan on hiring a car; you can’t. Local guides, accommodation hosts and organised tours are the way to reach Mt Yasur, cultural villages, waterfalls and other island highlights. This also makes sense with only a couple of days on the island, as your hosts can help line up transfers, meals and activities without wasting precious volcano time.

Interisland Transport in Vanuatu

Domestic flights are the fastest and most practical way to travel between Port Vila and Tanna on a five-day itinerary. You’ll fly from Port Vila to Tanna for the volcano portion of the trip, then return via Port Vila when leaving Vanuatu.

Because this itinerary is short, ferries are not really worth considering unless you have a lot more flexibility. Stick with flights, build in sensible connection times and confirm your domestic travel close to departure.

For more details, see Domestic Flights in Vanuatu: Your Guide to Interisland Flights and Vanuatu Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get Around Vanuatu.

Welcome to Vanuatu! After the arrivals process of going through Immigration, Customs and Biosecurity, you’ll step into the small arrivals area of Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila. And we do mean small, which is exactly what you want after several hours folded into an aeroplane seat.

The useful stuff is all close by: car rental offices, currency exchange, phone network desks, tour and transfer booths, an information desk, ATMs and taxis outside. In other words, everything you need to get moving, get connected and get to your accommodation without needing a full airport survival strategy.

Since it’s your first day in Vanuatu, take it easy and get settled at your chosen accommodation. After check-in, relax by the pool, wander along the waterfront, have a low-effort lunch and ease into “island time”. We’ll go over a few things you can do in Port Vila tomorrow.

Port Vila Budget Accommodation

• Retreat Seaside
• Travellers Motel
• Lagoon Gardens

Port Vila Mid-Range Accommodation

• E Nauwi Beach Resort
• Mangoes Resort
• Poppy’s on the Lagoon

Port Vila Luxury Accommodation

• Villa 25
• The Havannah
• Eratap Beach Resort

… And that’s just a handful of accommodations and resorts available! Check out Where to Stay in Port Vila & Efate: The Best Accommodations for a complete comparison.

Dining Recommendations

For an easy first meal, Nambawan Café is a handy waterfront choice in the heart of town, open for breakfast, lunch and an early dinner with harbour views. It’s also open daily from 6 am to around 7:30/8 pm, making it useful no matter how your flight timing behaves.

For something more polished, LaLaLa Restaurant & Bar at Le Petit Village offers Mediterranean-style dining in a prime waterfront position near town. It’s open from 10 am to 9:30 pm Monday to Saturday and closed Sundays, except when cruise ships are in port.

Check out more recommendations in the 20 Best Restaurants in Port Vila & Efate.

It’s time to explore Efate beyond Port Vila, and the south coast is an easy place to start. This side of the island has some of the best road conditions on the Efate Ring Road, with many of its highlights around 20 minutes from town, so it’s a manageable first road trip before the wilder island-hopping days ahead.

For today’s main splash, choose between the waterfall pools of Rarru Cascades or the milky-blue swimming hole of Blue Lagoon. Rarru is all jungle paths, cascading pools and rope-swing energy, while Blue Lagoon has decking, changing rooms, toilets and rope swings around its famously bright water.

Things to Do on Efate’s South Coast

You don’t need to do everything on this list, because that would turn your relaxing island day into an endurance event with swim stops. Pick a few depending on your pace, whether you have a rental car or whether you’ve booked a tour.

• Rarru Cascades – Swim in jungle pools, follow the short pathways between cascades and make the most of one of Efate’s most photogenic waterfall stops.
• Blue Lagoon – A classic Efate swimming hole with bright blue water, rope swings and easy facilities for a refreshing half-day stop.
• Eden on the River – A family-friendly option on the Rentapao River, with natural pools, rainforest, inflatable tubes, gardens, walking trails, tropical minigolf and a playground.
• Vanuatu Ecotours’ Kayaking Tour – Paddle the Rentapao River on a guided kayaking adventure, a good choice if you want nature without navigating the roads yourself.
• 83 Islands Distillery – Join the one-hour "Distillery Experience" to follow the rum-making process from sugarcane to tasting, with plenty of craftsmanship along the way.
• Aelan Chocolate Makers – Take the 30-minute bean-to-bar chocolate tour, finishing with tastings of locally inspired flavours like coconut, chilli, nangai, ginger, turmeric, kava, coffee and sea salt.
• Pepeyo Cultural & Educational Village – Experience one of Efate’s most comprehensive culture tours, with Futuna Island traditions, demonstrations, performances and firewalking.
• Jiarofa Culture Village – Another cultural option in the Teouma and southeast coast area, especially if you want to add village and agriculture-focused experiences to the day.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do on Efate, which we cover extensively in the 35 Best Things to Do in Port Vila & Efate.

Dining Recommendations

There are restaurants and fast-food-style options available at Blue Lagoon, making it easy to turn your swim stop into lunch without adding another detour.

Otherwise, Banana Bay Beach Club is a popular lunch stop along the south coast, especially if you’re continuing around the Efate Ring Road and want a relaxed beachside break.

See The Food Guide to Efate for more details.

A real island experience awaits north of Efate, where the sheltered waters of Havannah Harbour open out to offshore islands, quiet beaches, snorkelling spots and local boat tours.

This is the day to swap Port Vila’s bustle for the islands of Pele, Nguna, Moso, Lelepa or Eretoka. The offshore islands north of Efate offer some of the island group’s best beaches, snorkelling, fishing and local experiences, while Nguna adds volcanic hiking into the mix.

Boat Trips and Island Day Tours from Havannah

Choose one main experience for today, as boat trips can easily take up the best part of the day (and that’s exactly the point).

• Pele Island Beach & Snorkeling Tours – Head to Pele for white-sand beaches, clear water and locally run snorkelling experiences.
• Moso Island Day Tours – Visit Moso for snorkelling, island scenery and local experiences, with the island known for secret caves and turtle nesting areas.
• Sailing Vanuatu – Set sail around Havannah Harbour for a more relaxed day on the water, with sheltered conditions that make this part of Efate ideal for sailing and snorkelling.
• Mt Marou Adventure Tours – Take a guided hike on Nguna Island, where extinct volcanic cones reward walkers with huge views over the offshore islands.
• Chief Roi Mata’s Domain – Explore the UNESCO-connected history of Lelepa and Eretoka, also known as Artok or Hat Island, through ancient sites, village experiences and local storytelling.
• Stay Overnight on an Island – Turn this day into an overnight escape with local bungalows such as JJ’s Bungalows, Enoch’s Sunset Bungalows or Kemo Bungalows on Pele Island, or Island Breeze Bungalow, Mangamus Bungalow and Turtle Beach Bungalows on Nguna Island.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do around this part of Efate, which we cover extensively in the 15 Best Day Cruises & Island-Hopping Tours in Vanuatu and 20 Best Island Day Trips in Vanuatu.

Dining Recommendations

Food is often included on full-day island tours, so check what’s provided when booking.

Otherwise, Wahoo Seafood & Grill in Havannah is a strong choice for fresh waterfront dining, with seafood, wood-fired pizzas and convenient jetty access for visitors arriving by boat.

For a low-fuss picnic lunch, pick up a baguette or pastry from Le Fournil de Vila in Port Vila before you head north. See The Food Guide to Efate for more details.

Today, take a short domestic flight from Efate to Tanna LINK#D071, where the trip shifts from coastal day trips to volcanic drama.

Once you arrive, make Mt Yasur a must-do mission. The volcano is the island’s headline experience and is best seen later in the day when the glowing eruptions show against the dark sky. Tanna is also not really a “hire a car and wing it” island, with the Tanna things-to-do guide noting that there are no vehicle rentals and no easy way to explore the natural wonders independently, so arrange transfers and tours through your accommodation or a local operator.

Things to Do on Tanna

There's good reason to ensure you get to Tanna as early in the day as possible to experience some of these amazing things to do:

• Mt Yasur – Take an afternoon or evening volcano tour for the classic Tanna experience. Tours also include sunrise options and longer hiking experiences around the volcano.
• Blue Cave – A striking coastal cave experience that can be combined with village and volcano touring if you’re booking a fuller Tanna package.
• Hot Springs – Some Tanna tours include hot springs, giving you a geothermal warm-up before or after the volcano.
• Volcano Hiking – More active travellers can look at the "Hiking Around Mt Yasur and Tanna Island" experience
• Lamakara Village – Learn about the John Frum cargo cult, one of Tanna’s most fascinating cultural stories.
• Louniel Waterfall – Cool off with a rainforest waterfall stop, especially welcome if yesterday’s volcano dust is still following you around.
• Port Resolution – Visit one of Tanna’s most scenic coastal areas for beaches, snorkelling and village scenery.
• Blue Hole 1 & 2 – Add a swim or snorkelling stop if conditions and your tour timing allow.
• Volcano Island Divers – Explore Tanna’s underwater world with a dive operator if you’d like a sea-based contrast to all the ash, jungle and cultural touring.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do on the island, which we cover extensively in the 20 Best Things to Do on Tanna.

Tanna Accommodation

Where you stay matters on Tanna, especially when transfers, meals and activities are often arranged through your accommodation. The Mt Yasur area is a practical base for volcano viewing, traditional village visits, cultural experiences and access to the island’s natural attractions.

Tanna Budget Accommodation

• Castle Tree House and Bungalow
• Tanna Fireworks Homestay
• My Little Paradise

Tanna Mid-Range Accommodation

• Alofa Beach Bungalows
• Friendly Beach Bungalow
• Tanna Chez Nous Bungalows and Tours

Tanna Luxury Accommodation

• White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa
• Rockwater Resort

… And that’s just a handful of accommodations and resorts available! Check out Where to Stay on Tanna: 20 Best Accommodations for a complete comparison.

Dining Recommendations

Dining on Tanna is usually arranged through your accommodation, especially around the volcano side of the island where guesthouse and eco-lodge meals are part of the experience rather than an afterthought.

Expect local-style meals, fresh produce, seafood where available and traditional dishes such as laplap. See The Food Guide to Tanna LINK#D062 for more details.

This is the final day of your five-day Vanuatu itinerary, so don’t try to turn it into a full island expedition. Tanna is beautiful, but it is also not the place to play “how many attractions can we squeeze in before a flight?” with too much confidence.

Depending on your flight time, you may be able to fit in one last short Tanna experience before heading to the airport. Giant Banyan Tree is one of Tanna’s most impressive natural landmarks, with a vast network of roots and branches that feels more like walking into a forest than standing under a single tree. Alternatively, Yakel Kastom Village offers an authentic insight into traditional ways of life on Tanna. Just keep timing realistic, arrange transport through your accommodation or tour operator and don’t forget that luggage, check-in and island roads all have their own opinions.

After that, fly from Tanna back to Port Vila and connect to your international flight from Bauerfield International Airport. If your international departure is later in the day, allow a sensible connection time in Port Vila rather than relying on the tightest possible transfer. This is your departure day, not the final challenge in an island-themed escape room.

Before leaving Vanuatu, use up or exchange any leftover Vanuatu Vatu, pack anything that won’t pass airport security into your checked luggage and check the duty-free allowance for the country you’re flying to. Souvenirs such as mats, basketware, wooden carvings, seashells and feathers may need to be declared, inspected, treated or certified on arrival, especially in Australia or New Zealand.

And that’s it: five days, two islands, one very active volcano, cultural encounters, Port Vila waterfront time and probably at least one item of clothing still carrying a suspicious amount of ash. For more departure details, see Leaving Vanuatu: Departure Tips & Checklist.

And it's lukim yu from Vanuatu!