Vanuatu

Vanuatu Flag

 

Why visit Vanuatu?

For the traveler seeking to enjoy active volcanoes, beaches, blue holes, boutique hotels, canoeing, deep sea fishing, hiking, history, islands, native culture, rainforests, romance, sailing, scenery, scuba diving, tribal villages, tropical forests, and water sports.

At a Glance

• Souvenirs to Buy: Art, chocolate, coffee, fans, mats, oil, rum, shells, tea towels, wood carvings, woven handbags, and woven trays.
• Local Cuisine to Try: Laplap (breadfruit). Tuluk (traditional).
• Local Drink to Try: Kava (traditional). Tusker (beer).

Fun Facts

• Late Prince Philip (1921 - 2021), Duke of Edinburgh after visiting the Tanna Island with his new wife the late, Elizabeth II (1926 - 2022), Queen of the United Kingdom (1952 - 2022) was revered as a God amongst the Villagers of the Yaohnanen Tribe believing the ancient story that a pale skin son of a mountain spirit to venture across the seas to look for a powerful woman to marry. 
• Highest point is Mount Tabwemasana (6,165 ft) on the island of Espiritu Santo.
  
• Home to indigenous flying fox (Pteropus Anetianus). 
• Possibly four adult saltwater crocodiles reside in mangroves (Vanuatu).
  
• Economy relies on agriculture, offshore financial services, raising cattle, and tourism.
  
• Has one of the largest shipwrecks in the world from World War II (Espiritu Santo island).
  
• Where the 9th Season of Reality TV show, Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire was filmed.
• Bislama is creole spoken natively in urban areas.
  
• Most Presbyterian country in the world.
• Home to the only Flowerpot Snake (Efat).
  
• Culturally pigs with rounded tusks symbolize wealth.
  
• Meals are cooked using hot stones, boiling or steaming.
• Island of Pentecost tradition of land diving (bungee jumping) 98 feet from a wooden tower with their ankles tied to vines.
• Their 83 relatively small islands form the shape of a Y.
• Tusk pigs are considered a symbol of wealth.
  
• Villages female and only sections.

Special Holidays/Occasions

• Annual Events: (February) Ladies Classic Fishing Championship,
  Telecom Volcano Run, (April) Nagol Land Diving, Pentecost Land Dive, Vanuatu Pacific Swim, (May) Full Moon Sail, (June) Fête de la Musique, National Sand Drawing Festival, (July) Fanla North Ambrym Arts Festival, North Ambrym Magic Festival, Yam & Magic Festival, Vanuatu Round Island Relay, (August) Back to My Roots Festival, Lamap Art & Cultural Festival, (September) Toka Festival, and (November) Saint Andrew Festival.
• Holidays: New Year's Day, Father Walter Lini Day, Custom Chief's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Children's Day, Independence Day, Feast of Assumption, Constitution Day, National Unity Day, Christmas, and Family Day.

Good to Know

• Official languages are Bislama, English and French.
  
• Amongst the most natural disaster prone countries in the world.
  
• Scuba Diving offers caves, coral reefs, sunken sail ship, and sunken ocean liner.
• Port Vila has an open air market.
  
• Luganville and Port Vila offer adequate hospitals.
  
• Serious medical emergencies require evacuation to Australia or New Zealand.
  
• Rainy Season is between January - April.
• Largest towns are Luganville (Espiritu Santo) and Port Vila (Efate).
  
• Shorelines are mostly rocky.
• Dry Season is June - November.
  
• Cyclone Season is November - April.
  
• Avoid public displays of affection.
  
• Some islands has no police presence.
  
• Same sex relations are criminal.
  
• Has no capital gains tax, income tax, inheritance tax, or withholding tax. 
• Islands argest to smallest: Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erronmango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae (aka: Aoba, Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maewo, Malo and Aneityum (aka: Anatom).
• Animal species and plants are limited. 
• Tourism industry is unevenly regulated and safety inspections do not commonly occur. 
  
• Customs Authority is strict against importing and exporting certain prescription drugs, exotic animals, firearms, food items, sexually explicit material, and wooden artifacts.
  
• Roads are narrow and in poor conditions.
  
• Only Luganville and Port Vila have paved roads.
  

This international destination requires:

• A valid passport with six months of validity and one blank page for entry stamp.
• Tourist VISA not required for visits under 12 months.
• Required Vaccination from select countries. 
• Currency Restrictions for Entry/Exit: $10,000USD.

Subject to cyclones, damaging winds, earthquakes, flash flooding, hurricanes, landslides, rough seas, tsunami, and volcanic eruptions.

• Best Time to Visit: May - October
• Coolest Months: April - September
• Hottest Months: December - April
• Peak Season: December - January & June - August

Your Must-See & Do

• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Chief Roi Mata’s Domain and Roi Mata.

Iririki Island Resort, Port Vila, Vanuatu. Photo Credit: aaziz7/Pixabay 

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                                        All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Subject to change without notice.