Where to Stay in Espiritu Santo: 45 Best Accommodations

Luganville serves as the bustling main town of Espiritu Santo and you'll likely find yourself arriving here first. We've found that whilst the town itself might appeal more to business travellers, it's actually a brilliant base for exploring everything the island has to offer.

You'll love how easy it is to get around from here; car rentals, taxis and local tour guides are all readily available. Just across the Segond Channel, you can hop on day tours to Aore Island.

From what we've experienced, pretty much everything you'll want to do in Santo is accessible from Luganville. The only trade-off? You won't wake up to the most idyllic beach views. But that's a small price to pay for the convenience.

More About Staying in Luganville

What's Luganville good for? Shopping, museum, dining, island day trips, proximity to the south coast and transport to outer islands.

What to do there? South Pacific WWII Museum, Santo Fire Walks, Leweton Cultural Experience, Million Dollar Point, SS President Coolidge dive site, Luganville Market, Aore Island and Malo Island day trips.

Where to eat? The Sandbar, Attar Bakery & Cafe, The Tu Restaurant & Bar, Smugglers Seafood Restaurant & Bar, Deco Stop Restaurant, Bombua Beach House & Restaurant and more! See The Food Guide to Santo LINK#D053 for more details.

The Best Guesthouses in Luganville

• Santo Heritage Lodge - Modern, locally run lodge with ensuite rooms and apartments - $$
• Tropicana Motel & Backpacker - Budget guesthouse with a variety of room configurations - $
• President Coolidge Motel - Self-contained rooms close to dive shops and Million Dollar Point - $$
• Organic Inn - Peaceful modern motel that's locally run on the edge of town - $$
• Indigenous Motel - Modern stay with a range of room configurations - $$
• Kathy B Guesthouse - A variety of double and twin rooms with access to self-catering facilities - $
• Pui Lodge & Tours - Basic accommodation near the airport, known for its kastom village tours - $

The Best Resorts in Luganville

• Deco Stop Lodge - Boutique lodge with excellent views, a restaurant and pool - $$$
• Beachfront Resort - Three-star bungalows set in expansive lawns with a pool and restaurant - $$
• Bombua Beach House - Upmarket villas with private pools - $$$$
• Santo Seaside Villas - Affordable self-contained beach houses - $$

See the 50 Best Resorts & Hotels in Vanuatu for more information on these properties.

The Best Hotels in Luganville

• The Espiritu - Upmarket hotel with a restaurant and pool - $$$
• Hotel Santo - Affordable hotel with a retro design and fabulous restaurant - $$
• Luganvilla Business Hotel & Restaurant - Modern hotel rooms and an on-site lap pool - $$

Just off the coast of Luganville, Aore Island has become something of a developer's paradise, judging by the impressive number of holiday accommodations scattered across its shores. It's the perfect place to stay if you want that authentic island getaway feeling without straying too far from the airport.

Getting around is refreshingly simple here. The dirt road that circles the island is ideal for cycling, and several resorts rent out bikes to guests (which we highly recommend for exploring at your own pace).

What we love most is how connected you'll feel to Luganville despite being on a separate island. A couple of resorts offer complimentary boat transfers to the mainland, whilst local boats shuttle back and forth throughout the day for a very reasonable fee.

It's that sweet spot between island isolation and mainland convenience; you'll get your tropical escape without any of the hassle.

More About Staying on Aore Island

What's Aore Island good for? Proximity to Luganville while experiencing peacefulness and superior beaches.

What to do there? Aore Adventure Sports (scuba diving), cycling, snorkelling, cultural shows and dining at different resorts.

Where to eat? Freshwater Plantation Restaurant, Aore Island Resort and more! See The Food Guide to Santo LINK#D053 for more details.

The Best Resorts on Aore Island

• Ratua Private Island Resort - Rustic bungalows in a luxury resort setting - $$$$
• Aore Island Resort - Comprehensive resort with regular ferries and a range of activities - $$$$
• Freshwater Plantation Farmstay - Affordable units with an on-site restaurant and regular ferry - $$
• Aore Breeze - Modern beach bungalows with access to good snorkelling - $$

The Best Holiday Homes on Aore Island

• Aore Hibiscus - Great-value stay in peaceful gardens for couples or families - $$
• Sails Beach House - Stylish three-bedroom home with kayaks and snorkelling gear - $$$
• Aoredise - Two-bedroom home with kayaks, SUPs and bikes - $$$
• Aore Paradise - Design-driven two-bedroom villa with a sunset deck and cabana. Bikes included. - $$$

Malo Island is your true Ni-Vanuatu experience, a world away from the more developed Luganville or resorts of the east coast. You'll love staying with locals in bungalow accommodation where the standards are among some of the highest in Vanuatu.

We're talking ensuite bathrooms in many cases, well-constructed buildings with attention to detail, colourful décor and locations either on the beach or among the lushest of tropical gardens. From what we've experienced, hosts will reward anyone who makes the effort to venture this far with unmatched hospitality through local meals and more.

And when we say it's far, it's only a 15-20 minute boat ride and 10-minute drive from Luganville (so really not that far at all!).

More About Staying at Malo Island

What's Malo Island good for? Authentic homestays, swimming and relaxing!

What to do there? Malo Blue Hole, swimming at the beach, snorkelling, cultural immersion and more.

Where to eat? Bungalow hosts provide all meals, or self-catering is an option at some accommodations! See The Food Guide to Santo LINK#D053 for more details.

The Best Bungalows on Malo Island

• Birihia Sea Side Bungalows - Vibrant bungalows with private and dorm options, right on the beach - $
• Javiko Bungalow - Large garden bungalow with an ensuite bathroom - $
• Tawai Guesthouse - Self-contained holiday home-style stay with two bedrooms - $
• Pandanus Guesthouse - Colourful bungalows with shared bathrooms and meals available - $

Stretching along the lower east coast of Santo, Surunda and Turtle Bay offer stunning beachfront accommodations without being ridiculously far from the airport. You're in the perfect spot to explore the famous blue holes of Santo, and your accommodation can easily connect you with local tour operators for canyoning and scuba diving trips.

What's more, the resort restaurants here serve up delicious meals, giving you a little diversity when it comes to gastronomical experiences.

More About Staying in Surunda and Turtle Bay

What's Surunda and Turtle Bay good for? Swimming, snorkelling, blue holes, scuba diving and relaxing!

What to do there? Nanda/Santo's/Jackie's Blue Hole, Matevulu Blue Hole, Riri Blue Hole, Turtle Bay Lodge Dive Centre, Dany Island Day Trip, Mt Hope Waterfall Tour with Santo Heritage Tours, and more.

Where to eat? Salty Dog Restaurant, Waves Restaurant, Black Pearl Resort Restaurant and more! See The Food Guide to Santo LINK#D053 for more details.

The Best Resorts in Surunda and Turtle Bay

• Turtle Bay Lodge - Comprehensive resort with dive shop, restaurant and more - $$$
• Exclusive Sunrise Resort - Adults-only resort right on the beach - $$$$
• Barrier Beach Resort - Couple-centric resort known for its weddings, spa and breakfast - $$$$
• Turtle Bay Beach House - Affordable units right by the lagoon - $
• Dany Island - Private island resort with good beaches and surf - $$$
• Black Pearl Resort - Spacious bungalows on the beach with a popular restaurant - $$$

The Best Boutique Bungalows in Surunda and Turtle Bay

• Lope Lope Beach Bungalows - Two family-friendly villas with pool access - $$$$
• Hidden Cove Eco Retreat - Glamping tent accommodation in an attractive rock pool setting - $$$$
• Garden Reef Bungalows - Budget bungalows ideally located in Turtle Bay - $

The upper east coast of Santo is home to the Hog Harbour, where most accommodation sits along Lonnoc Beach, and Port Olry at the end of the road, and you'll love what this stretch of coastline has to offer.

While it's famous for Champagne Beach, don't miss the other magnificent stretches of sand like Lonnoc Beach and Port Olry Beach. Each has its own charm and unbelievably blue waters that'll have you questioning whether you're still on Earth.

Speaking of Port Olry, the road trip alone is well worth the journey. If the pristine beaches don't win you over, perhaps a drink at Chez Louis Restaurant will do the trick, or maybe some horseback riding through the coastal scenery.

The accommodation up this way brings you right into the warm hearts of locals, where bungalows are a bit more basic but comfortable and authentic, with characterful treehouses and bamboo constructions that can't help but make you smile.

We'd strongly recommend having a car if you're staying up this way. The drive from the airport takes about 1 hr 20 mins, but trust us, every minute of that scenic route is worth it.

More About Staying at Lonnoc Beach and Port Olry

What's Lonnoc Beach and Port Olry good for? Swimming, snorkelling, horse riding, cultural experiences and relaxing!

What to do there? Loru Conservation Area, Champagne Beach, Lonnoc Beach, Port Olry Beach, Santo Saddles Horse Riding and more.

Where to eat? Chez Louis Restaurant, Lonnoc Eco Beach Bungalows, Joylitas Restaurant at Champagne Beach and more! See The Food Guide to Santo LINK#D053 for more details.

The Best Budget Bungalows in Hog Harbour and Port Olry

• Serenity Treehouse & Bungalows - Rustic accommodation with the option to stay in a treehouse - $$
• Lonnoc Bamboo Bungalows - Bamboo-constructed bungalows with open garden showers - $
• Lonnoc Eco Beach Bungalows - Ensuite bungalows with a restaurant and tours - $
• Towoc Bungalows - Stone-constructed bungalows with an on-site restaurant - $
• Hideaway Paradise Beach Bungalow - Off-the-grid treehouse with access to excellent snorkelling - $
• Little Bay Bungalows - Locally run beach bungalows with breakfast - $
• Lonnoc Ocean View Bungalows - Local bungalows with kayaks and beach access - $
• Lonnoc Beach Lodge - Local bungalows with large family rooms and units for couples - $