31 Ways to Travel More Sustainably in Vanuatu

Travelling during the low season offers a more sustainable, affordable and peaceful experience in Vanuatu.

Plan your trip between November and April to enjoy fewer crowds, lower prices and reduced strain on local resources.

Most travellers to Vanuatu base themselves on Efate, home to Port Vila and the country’s main international gateway. While Efate offers plenty to see and do, concentrating tourism in one area can put pressure on local infrastructure and resources.

To travel more sustainably, consider exploring less-visited islands and regions such as Tanna, Espiritu Santo beyond Luganville, Malekula, Pentecost or Ambrym. These areas offer equally breathtaking landscapes, from active volcanoes and blue holes to kastom villages and remote beaches, while helping spread tourism income more evenly across the country and reducing overcrowding in popular hubs.

It is no secret that your flight to Vanuatu will have the largest carbon impact of your trip.

Consider extending your stay (or waiting until you can) to make the most of the heavy environmental cost of your flight.

Plan a longer trip with the help of our Vanuatu Itinerary: 14 Days / 2 Weeks LINK#TI045.

Reusables, such as metal straws, water bottles and shopping bags, can help save dozens of plastic from going into landfills. By packing your own (and making sure you use them), you'll help reduce the need for single-use items during your trip and keep your waste to a minimum.

Sadly, there's still plastic everywhere, so reusables will come in handy here.

More advice on using reusable water bottles can be found toward the end of this listicle!

Shampoo bars are both a great way to save money on haircare (they last much longer) and reduce the amount of plastic used. Plus, this will also help you avoid the use of mini-toiletries in your resort that are extremely plastic-inefficient.

We like New Zealand-made Ethique shampoo bars.

You'll easily find brands all over the world and even in Vanuatu.

When exploring Vanuatu, avoid littering by packing a small bag to take your rubbish with you.

Know that aerosol sprays, batteries and many plastics, for example, are not properly recycled in Vanuatu, so take them back home where you are more likely to recycle them properly (or avoid bringing them at all).

Standard sunscreens are made with oxybenzone and octinoxate which are harmful to Vanuatu's coral ecosystems. Use reef-safe sunscreen to enjoy Vanuatu's amazing coral reefs without damaging them.

Check out our favourites in The Best Sunscreens for Vanuatu + Sun Protection Tips.

DEET is the main component of standard insect repellents that contaminate soil and waterways and isn’t all that great for you either. Use lemon and eucalyptus sprays, and cover your arms and legs.

You can check our 10 Best Natural Insect Repellents for Vanuatu for our recommendations.

Travel pamphlets and brochures are everywhere in Vanuatu, and many of them are super useful.

On departure, what about leaving them behind in your accommodation’s lobby, for example, so they can be used a second time?

Vanuatu has a range of public transport options that are both affordable and a more sustainable way to get around. Local buses, minibuses, and “bus taxis” connect major towns and some outer islands, offering a chance to experience local life while reducing your carbon footprint.

Even though vehicles may be older and less modern than private cars, they still produce fewer emissions per passenger than individual car or taxi travel. For longer distances between islands, consider ferries and inter-island boats, which are often more eco-friendly than small aircraft.

See all of your options for travelling in the Vanuatu Transport Guide: 10 Best Ways to Get Around Vanuatu LINK#T036.

Vanuatu is becoming increasingly accessible for eco-friendly travel, with scooters and bicycles offering a low-impact way to explore the islands. The larger islands like Efate and Santo are perfect for cycling, allowing you to enjoy coastal roads, villages, and lush landscapes at your own pace.

Learn more about where to hire bicycles in The Ultimate Guide to Cycling in Vanuatu LINK#TTD061.

For short distances or island-hopping, scooters are available for hire and consume far less fuel than private cars or 4WDs, making them a greener alternative.

Find out more about where to hire scooters in Scooter Hire in Vanuatu: Where to Rent, Cost & More LINK#T032.

While private taxis are convenient for getting around Vanuatu, especially from Bauerfield Airport (Port Vila) or Santo-Pekoa International Airport (Espiritu Santo), booking a shared shuttle service with your accommodation is a more sustainable choice.

Shared transfers reduce carbon emissions per passenger by grouping travellers together, while still getting you to your hotel comfortably.

Learn more about your airport transfer options in the 10 Best Airport Transfers in Vanuatu.

Pretty much every airline offers options to offset the carbon footprint of your flight, however, most are not so transparent and are questionable in how much real "carbon off-setting" they actually achieve.

We always recommend looking into your own choice of carbon off-setting. If you haven't got the time, we recommend myclimate.org or flygrn.com which offer better options than those offered by most airlines.

It is no secret that flying direct can save you a lot of time. But did you know that it also results in a lower carbon footprint? Making your total flight time shorter reduces the carbon footprint of your trip and we’re all better for it.

Check out where you can take direct flights to Vanuatu using Which Airlines Fly Directly to Vanuatu? LINK#T027

Vanuatu has a great selection of locally run B&Bs and homestays that use fewer resources than large hotels. These smaller stays often have a lower environmental impact and directly support the local community.

Learn more about the accommodations available in Where to Stay in Vanuatu LINK#A059. More specifically, see guesthouses in 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Vanuatu LINK#A017.

Admittedly, it's a minuscule selection of accommodations in Vanuatu that actively tries to make a significant effort to offer its clientele a more sustainable stay.

By picking accommodations that positively impact their surroundings, you’ll turn your trip into something good for you, the local community and the planet.

Hotel laundries are notoriously heavy on chemical detergent and water usage, so consider keeping your towel for a few days.

All you’ve got to do is hang your towel to dry instead of leaving it on the floor; the housekeeping staff will get the message.

Rooms can be cooled in a matter of minutes using the air conditioning, so there’s no need to let it run all day.

Before heading out, do a quick check around your room and turn off all the appliances to help decrease the power consumption during your stay.

Air-conditioning machines have to work extra hard when set in larger spaces… And there is no larger space than the great Vanuatu outdoors!

Make sure to keep your doors and windows closed when cranking up the A/C in your room. It will significantly reduce your power usage. Better yet, switch off the A/C, open the doors and windows at the front and back of the bungalow and use nature's A/C: the ocean breeze!

Instead of using mini-toiletries in your accommodation that are extremely plastic-inefficient, use your own soap (and reusable soapbox for easy travel)! Not only will it reduce waste, but it means that you can stick to your loved and trusted brand and avoid any nasty surprises.

If you choose to use the mini-toiletries included in your resort’s room, take them with you when you leave. No matter how much of it you have used, it will be discarded by the housekeeping staff and that’d be a shame.

Many of Vanuatu’s beaches are public, but some resorts, eco-tourism sites, or cultural villages charge a small fee for access. Paying these fees helps support local communities, preserve natural areas, and maintain cultural sites.

Rather than seeing it as a cost, consider it a contribution to protecting Vanuatu’s stunning beaches and unique landscapes.

Learn more about customary entry fees in our guide to Ni-Vanuatu Etiquette: Vanuatu Customs & Traditions LINK#TT053.

Some Vanuatu tour operators make a significant effort to offer travellers a more sustainable experience.

By picking tour operators that positively impact their surroundings, you’ll turn your trip into something good for you and the planet.

Learn more about the best tour operators in the 10 Best Snorkelling Tours in Vanuatu LINK#TTD101.

Many souvenirs in Vanuatu, especially in larger markets or tourist shops, are imported rather than locally made.

To support local artisans and reduce your environmental impact, ask which products are crafted in Vanuatu, such as handwoven baskets, wood carvings, shell jewelry, and traditional mats, and choose sustainable, locally made gifts instead of mass-produced plastic items.

Check out some local gifts in the 10 Best Souvenirs & Gifts from Vanuatu LINK#TTD092.

Going on a walk LINK#TTD130, snorkelling LINK#TTD099 and relaxing by the beach are not just some of the most memorable experiences in Vanuatu, but they are also some of the most sustainable.

The scenery above and below the surface is, arguably, the country’s biggest selling point, so why not enjoy it without the fluff of, say, a motor-powered tour?

Speaking of snorkelling and relaxing at the beach, another thing to be mindful of when looking to travel more sustainably in Vanuatu is how you impact coral. Try not to stand on coral or break any with your fins; it takes years to regrow.

Enjoy coral from a safe distance. Besides, there is some marine life you will not want to touch anyway, as outlined in our Vanuatu Safety Tips: Is it Safe to Travel to Vanuatu? LINK#TT046

Visitors to Vanuatu may be surprised by the occasional litter along roads and beaches, an issue that communities are actively addressing.

Public education and local waste management initiatives take time, but positive efforts are visible, especially between villages, where cleanup drives are often led by the local chiefs and community groups.

If you see stray litter, do your part, pick it up and dispose of it properly. This helps keep Vanuatu’s islands clean, beautiful, and safer for both people and wildlife.

In Vanuatu, many restaurants and cafés still rely heavily on plastic straws, utensils, and single-use containers. Even when biodegradable options are offered, they often end up in landfill anyway, where they break down slowly or not at all.

It can feel a little awkward declining plastic items, but politely saying “no thanks” to extra cutlery, straws, or bags you don’t need makes a real difference. Bring your own reusable alternatives, or drink straight from the cup when possible.

Locals and staff are used to visitors doing this, and you’ll likely find it easy to adopt these simple, sustainable habits while dining across Vanuatu.

When travelling, there’s no need to have the same imported treats from home. Try something local! Fresh locally sourced ingredients are better for the environment than those that had to travel far (and emit a lot of carbon) to get here.

Plus, you’ll hardly regret trying some of the local delicacies!

Check out some local eats in the 10 Best Foodie Experiences in Vanuatu LINK#TTD042 and Traditional Ni-Vanuatu Food: 20 Foods to Try in Vanuatu LINK#TTD044.

Travelling is a great opportunity to try new things. You may have heard that plant-based food is easier on the planet, so why not give a shot at a vegetarian meal or two during your trip?

You may discover something new and delicious. Plus, it will help reduce your impact in a multitude of ways. See some fantastic options in our guide, Vanuatu for Vegans & Vegetarians + 10 Best Restaurants LINK#TTD054.

Water is a bit of a tricky one when it comes to sustainability when travelling in Vanuatu. Using a normal reusable water bottle and refilling it at any old tap in Vanuatu could well lead to some health issues, so buying bottled water might seem like the only safe solution.

However, our team travel the islands without having to buy bottled water thanks to water purification bottles like Lifestraw. They might be expensive upfront, but they pay for themselves time and time again (and eliminate the stress of finding shops when you're parched).

See Is the Water Safe to Drink in Vanuatu? LINK#TT044 for a much deeper dive into the subject.