Vanuatu Itinerary: 7 Days / 1 Week (Santo, Tanna & Port Vila)

This 1-week/7-day Vanuatu itinerary includes travel on several islands, as well as between them. You’ll be moving between Efate, Espiritu Santo and Tanna, so transport is a big part of the adventure rather than just a boring line in the itinerary. Convenient? Sometimes. Memorable? Absolutely.

Road Transport in Vanuatu

For the Santo and Efate portions of this itinerary, car hire is the easiest way to explore independently. On Santo, it gives you the freedom to follow the East Coast Road to blue holes, Champagne Beach and Port Olry. On Efate, a rental car is handy for the Efate Ring Road, south coast swimming holes, Havannah Harbour and island day trips.

Get advice from the 15 Best Car Rentals in Port Vila, Santo & Vanuatu. For shorter city stays, airport transfers, taxis and guided tours can also work well, especially around Port Vila and Luganville.

On Tanna, don’t plan on hiring a car; you can't. An alternative way to handle parts of this itinerary is to use guided tours and private transfers instead of driving yourself. Local guides and accommodation hosts are often the best way to reach cultural sites, waterfalls, boat landings and village experiences. Learn more in the 20 Best Sightseeing Tours in Vanuatu.

Interisland Transport in Vanuatu

Domestic flights are the fastest and most practical way to cover this itinerary. The Tanna, Port Vila and Santo routes are the more regular domestic connections, which is the main reason why we suggest these islands for as tight a schedule as 7 days. You're less likely to have cancellations or delays, but if you do, you return to Port Vila a day earlier to help mitigate. Check out our guide, Domestic Flights in Vanuatu: Your Guide to Interisland Flights for more details.

Alternatively, you can take a full-day ferry journey between Port Vila and Santo, which is better for the budget but not so good if you want to make the most of your time. Either way, you can learn more about it in How to Use the Ferry for Interisland Travel in Vanuatu.

For the bigger picture, check out 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: currency exchange, phone network desks, an information desk, and ATMs outside. We recommend using what you need here before crossing to the domestic terminal to catch your flight to Santo.

Starting with Santo gives this one-week itinerary a nice balance: you get blue holes, beaches and easy coastal exploring first, then move into Tanna’s wilder volcano landscapes before finishing in Port Vila for a smoother international departure. After landing at Santo-Pekoa International Airport, transfer to your accommodation and keep the rest of the day simple.

Santo Accommodation

For the easiest base over the next few days, we recommend staying along Santo’s lower east coast around Surunda and Turtle Bay. It’s not too far from the airport, puts you close to Santo’s famous blue holes and gives you access to resort restaurants without needing to drive back into town every night.

Otherwise, for an affordable and convenient stay after a big travel day, Luganville still works well, especially if you want easy access to shops, restaurants and transport connections.

Santo Budget Accommodation

• Tropicana Motel & Backpacker
• Kathy B Guesthouse
• Santo Heritage Lodge

Santo Mid-Range Accommodation

• Turtle Bay Lodge
• Dany Island
• Black Pearl Resort

Santo Luxury Accommodation

• Exclusive Sunrise Resort
• Barrier Beach Resort
• Lope Lope Beach Bungalows
• Bombua Beach House

… And that’s just a handful of accommodations and resorts available! Check out Where to Stay in Espiritu Santo: 45 Best Accommodations for the full comparison.

Dining Recommendations

Keep dining simple today. If you’re in or near Luganville, head to The Sandbar for an easy waterfront meal with harbour views, a relaxed setting and a menu that works well after a lazy Santo day.

If you’re staying on the East Coast, Waves Restaurant at Barrier Beach Resort is the more convenient choice, with resort dining close to Turtle Bay, so you don’t need to drive all the way back into town.

See The Food Guide to Espiritu Santo: Places to Eat & Food Tours for more details.

Today is the classic Santo east coast road trip, linking together blue holes, beach stops and, if you’re feeling energetic, the full journey up to Port Olry. This is one of the easiest self-drive days of the itinerary, with plenty of reasons to stop, swim and pretend you’re “just checking the map” when really you’re drying off between dips.

Santo’s complete guide highlights the island’s blue holes, Champagne Beach, Lonnoc Beach and Port Olry Beach as some of the top experiences on the island, so today is your chance to tick off a few of the big names without making the day feel rushed.

Things to Do on Santo’s East Coast

Pick your stops depending on where you’re staying, how early you start and how many swimming holes one person can reasonably handle in a day.

• Riri Blue Hole - A beautiful freshwater swimming stop and one of the classic blue hole experiences on Santo.
• Matevulu Blue Hole - Another famous blue hole, also a good option if you’re staying around Turtle Bay or want to add a kayaking-style side adventure.
• Santo’s Blue Hole - Add this to your blue-hole-hopping mission if you want one more swim before committing to the beach section of the day.
• Champagne Beach - The headline beach stop, known for its white sand and bright blue water. Go for a swim, relax on the sand and enjoy not having to explain why you’re taking another photo of the same beach.
• Lonnoc Beach - A quieter nearby option if you want another beach stop before continuing north. The upper east coast around Lonnoc and Port Olry is especially good for swimming, snorkelling and relaxing.
• Port Olry Beach - Continue all the way to the end of the road for one of Santo’s most rewarding coastal stops. The road trip alone is worth it, and Port Olry adds village scenery, beach time and lunch potential into the mix.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do on the island, which we cover extensively in the 30 Best Things to Do on Espiritu Santo.

Dining Recommendations

If you finish the day back in Luganville, Deco Stop Lodge is a good dinner option in town and is listed among Santo’s recommended cafés and restaurants.

If you make it all the way to Port Olry, keep things simple and eat at Chez Louis Restaurant on the beach before heading back. It’s one of the recommended dining stops for the Port Olry area.

Learn more about these gems in the 10 Best Restaurants in Espiritu Santo.

It’s your last full day on Santo, so this is the time to pick whatever is still sitting at the top of your bucket list. Go big, go gentle or go back to the resort and call it “strategic recovery”. All are valid.

Things to Do on Your Last Day in Santo

Choose one main activity today, especially if you’re booking a full-day tour.

• Millennium Cave Tour - The big adventure option, combining cultural immersion, cave exploration, canyoning, jungle walking and river swimming through Santo’s rugged interior. It’s a full-day experience and not for the faint-hearted, but it’s one of the island’s major land adventures.
• Santo Heritage Tours’ Mt Hope Waterfall Tour - A gentler adventure if you still want rivers, scenery and a waterfall without the same physical demands as Millennium Cave. The tour includes river floating, rural scenery and a visit to Mt Hope Waterfall.
• Tuffuntari Waterfall - Head west from Luganville to cool off at this waterfall, a good choice if you want a nature stop without making the day too complicated.
• Pacific Reef Sport Fishing - Head out from Surunda for a half-day or full-day game fishing charter targeting species such as dogtooth tuna, giant trevally, yellowfin tuna, mahimahi, wahoo and jobfish. Accommodation transfers are included.
• The South Pacific WWII Museum - A solid rainy-day or low-effort town option in Luganville, especially if Santo’s World War Two history has caught your interest.
• Aore Island or Dany Island - For one last offshore escape, spend the day across the water for snorkelling, island scenery and a slower finish to the trip.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do on the island, which we cover extensively in the 30 Best Things to Do on Espiritu Santo.

Dining Recommendations

For your final Santo dinner, Smugglers Seafood Restaurant & Bar on the Luganville waterfront is an easy choice if you want to stay in town and keep the evening relaxed.

If you’re staying on the East Coast, head to The Salty Dog Bar & Restaurant at Turtle Bay Lodge for relaxed resort dining that covers fresh seafood, Santo beef, homemade pizzas, burgers, vegetarian options, kids’ meals and proper desserts, so it works whether you want a light bite or a full sit-down dinner.

Afterwards, try a local nakamal such as the Canal View Kava Bars for one last taste of Santo’s evening rhythm. See The Food Guide to Espiritu Santo: Places to Eat & Food Tours for more details.

Today, swap Santo’s blue holes for Tanna’s volcanic drama. Travel from Santo to Tanna LINK#D071, connecting through Port Vila, then transfer to your accommodation once you arrive.

After Santo’s easier roads and resort comforts, Tanna is a different kind of island experience: more rugged, more host-led and more about guided touring than doing everything independently. Once you arrive, make Mt Yasur your first mission if flight times allow. 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.

Things to Do on Tanna

You’ll have more time on Tanna tomorrow, so today is mostly about getting settled and experiencing the volcano.

• 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.
• Yakel Tribe Village – Add a cultural village visit to learn about traditional ways of life, often paired with Mt Yasur or Blue Cave tours.
• 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.

Of course, there’s a lot more to do on the island, which we cover extensively in the 15 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.

After yesterday’s volcano mission, use today to see more of Tanna at a slightly gentler pace, or as gentle as an island of ash plains, jungle roads, giant trees and cultural encounters can be.

Tanna is one of those places where your accommodation host or tour operator becomes part of the itinerary, helping you link together the experiences that make sense from your base. The island’s own things-to-do guide highlights how easily attractions like the Giant Banyan Tree, Blue Cave, Yakel, Mt Yasur and John Frum cultural sites can be arranged through local hosts and guided tours.

Things to Do on Tanna

Since you tackled Mt Yasur yesterday, consider adding one or two of the following experiences today:

• Giant Banyan Tree – Stand beneath one of Tanna’s most impressive natural landmarks, a huge banyan with roots and branches that feel more like a forest than a single tree.
• 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.

Dining Recommendations

As with yesterday, meals on Tanna are usually arranged through your accommodation, particularly if you’re staying in bungalows or lodges outside Lenakel.

Keep things easy tonight by dining where you’re staying and letting your hosts know ahead of time if you have dietary requirements. See The Food Guide to Tanna LINK#D062 for more details.

Today, fly from Tanna back to Port Vila, where the trip shifts from ash plains and volcano touring to an easy final day on Efate.

If your flight arrives early enough, head out toward Efate’s east and south coast for one last swim stop, cultural experience or relaxed beachside lunch. This side of the island has some of the better road conditions on the Efate Ring Road, with many highlights around 20 minutes from town, so it’s a manageable final outing before tomorrow’s departure.

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.

Port Vila Accommodation

Port Vila and Efate have the widest choice of accommodations. Here are a few goodies to get you started:

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

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.

For your final dinner in Port Vila, keep things easy on the waterfront with Nambawan Café or make it a little more polished with LaLaLa Restaurant & Bar. See The Food Guide to Efate for more details.

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

This is the final day of your one-week Vanuatu itinerary, so take one last look at the harbour, pack the damp swimwear you definitely meant to dry yesterday and make your way to Bauerfield International Airport.

Finishing in Port Vila keeps the departure day simple, which is exactly what you want after a week of domestic flights, blue holes, volcano dust and island road trips. The departure guide recommends arriving at Bauerfield International Airport around two hours before your scheduled flight. Check-in is straightforward: show your passport and booking reference or e-ticket, drop your larger luggage and continue through security.

Before you fly, use up or exchange any leftover Vanuatu Vatu, pack anything that won’t pass airport security into your checked luggage and check your duty-free allowance for the country you’re travelling 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. Seven days, three very different island experiences, one active volcano, cultural encounters, blue holes, beaches and probably a bag that is now 40% sand. For more departure details, see Leaving Vanuatu: Departure Tips & Checklist.

And it's lukim yu from Vanuatu!