Which is Better, Port Vila or Santo?

Port Vila is the easiest place to start a trip to Vanuatu and here are the main reasons why: it’s the capital, it sits on Efate and it gives you quick access to the international airport, resorts, restaurants, markets, tour operators and day trips. But hey, we bet “easy airport logistics” isn’t exactly what got you dreaming of a South Pacific escape, so let’s get down to the real reasons why you’ll want to choose Port Vila over Santo…

Although Port Vila is often treated as the arrival point for international flights to Vanuatu, it would be a shame to hop straight onto the next plane without giving Efate some time. Port Vila has that rare South Pacific mix of convenience and adventure, with harbourfront dining, cafés, markets and resorts in town, while waterfalls, swimming holes, offshore islands, cultural experiences and coastal road trips wait just beyond it.

Tourist activities range from snorkelling at island hideaways to swimming under cascades, learning about kastom traditions and exploring scenic spots around the island. Port Vila also has the edge when it comes to more organised, man-made tourism activities, such as ziplines, quad biking and sailing cruises, giving you more of that “book it and go” holiday convenience than you’ll typically find on Santo.

Other Port Vila highlights include the Blue Lagoon, Rarru Cascades, Eden on the River, Hideaway Island, Mele Cascades and Chief Roi Mata’s Domain. Needless to say, you’ll struggle to get bored here without turning your itinerary into a military operation. We've only just touched the surface here, but you can dive deeper into the details in the 35 Best Things to Do in Port Vila & Efate.

There is also one of the most varied accommodation scenes in Vanuatu, from harbour-view hotels and family-friendly resorts to apartments, island bungalows, villas and budget stays. Port Vila and the Pango Peninsula work well for shopping, dining, harbour views and easy access to tours, while Mele Bay, Havannah Harbour, Erakor, Teouma and the southeast coast give you more beachy or peaceful options. Have a browse of Where to Stay in Port Vila & Efate: The Best Accommodations for more of an idea.

So, if you’re looking for ease, a good balance of adventure and relaxation, a wide range of things to do and plenty of accommodation choices, choose Port Vila and Efate. Start your travel planning with The Complete Travel Guide to Port Vila & Efate.

Espiritu Santo, or Santo as everyone tends to call it once syllables become too much effort on island time, is Vanuatu’s largest island and the one to choose if you want your trip to feel more adventurous, spacious and spectacularly outdoorsy. It has a main town in Luganville, an airport nearby and enough natural attractions to make “just one more day” sound entirely reasonable.

Very different from Port Vila, Santo feels less like a capital-base holiday and more like an island adventure with proper postcard moments. Think clear blue holes under the jungle canopy, white-sand beaches, offshore islands, caves, waterfalls, WW2 sites and relaxed places to stay by the water. While Port Vila has more manmade tourism activities, Santo has the edge when it comes to naturally stunning attractions, especially its famous blue holes and wild inland adventures.

Tourist activities range from swimming at Santo's many blue holes to scuba diving the SS President Coolidge, snorkelling or reef-walking at Million Dollar Point, visiting Leweton Cultural Village and taking on the canyoning, swimming and hiking adventure of Millennium Cave Tours.

There’s also more scope here for full-on adventure experiences, such as the jungle, river and waterfall journey of the Mt Hope Waterfall Tour, so Santo is a strong choice if you want your holiday to feel a little less packaged and a little more expedition-worthy. Add in Champagne Beach, Lonnoc Beach, Tuffuntari Waterfall, Aore Island and Dany Island and, well, Santo is not exactly short on ways to fill a day. Find out more about these adventures in the 30 Best Things to Do on Espiritu Santo.

Although the tourism industry is smaller than in Port Vila, there is still a good range of accommodation, with stays spread between Luganville, Aore and Malo Islands, beachfront areas, blue-hole hideaways, private islands and boutique resorts. The focus is often on setting and character rather than big-city convenience, which suits travellers who want to slow down without doing absolutely nothing the whole time. Have a browse of Where to Stay on Espiritu Santo: The Best Santo Accommodations for more of an idea.

So, if you’re looking for blue holes, beaches, diving, WW2 history, island road trips, naturally beautiful sights and bigger adventure days, choose Santo. Start your travel planning with The Complete Travel Guide to Espiritu Santo.

Ideally, visit both. Port Vila and Santo show two very different sides of Vanuatu, with Port Vila giving you convenience, restaurants, resorts and ready-made activities, while Santo delivers some of the country’s most naturally stunning scenery, from blue holes and beaches to caves, waterfalls and WW2 history.

If you have enough time and budget for an extra domestic flight, we highly recommend visiting both to keep your trip varied. Start in Port Vila for an easy arrival, a few organised tours, sailing cruises, quad biking, ziplines and island day trips, then continue to Santo for blue holes, beach time, diving and bigger adventure days like the “Millennium Cave Tour” or “Mt Hope Waterfall Tour”.

If you only have a short time in Vanuatu, this is where you’ll perhaps need to make a choice. Stay in Port Vila if you want the easiest logistics, more accommodation choice, better access to restaurants and markets and a wider range of manmade tourism activities. Stay on Santo if you prefer natural beauty, quieter island stays, more adventurous tours and those “how is the water actually that blue?” moments.

All in all, choose Port Vila for ease and variety, and choose Santo for nature and adventure. Or, if you can, choose both. Very diplomatic of us, we know, but in this case, it’s also the best answer.

Now, the real question: which of the other 83 islands in Vanuatu should you visit?...