Vanuatu 2025: The Ultimate Guide to Volcanoes, Villages & Island Magic

Welcome to Vanuatu

With its raw natural beauty and deep traditional culture, Vanuatu is where fire meets ocean, and ancient customs meet eco-adventure. Home to active volcanoes, traditional “kastom” villages, underwater museums, and turquoise blue holes, Vanuatu offers far more than just beaches.

Located in the South Pacific east of Australia, this volcanic archipelago of 83 islands is a perfect blend of offbeat, thrilling, and soul-healing.

In 2025, Vanuatu remains one of the most underrated destinations in the world — and one of the most rewarding.

🌋 Top Reasons to Visit Vanuatu in 2025

• 🌋 See an Active Volcano up-close at Mount Yasur on Tanna Island

• 🌴 Experience Kastom Culture in ancient villages untouched by time

• 🌊 Snorkel Blue Holes & Reefs across Efate, Santo, and outer islands

• 🏝️ Go Island Hopping to find hidden beaches and eco-lodges

• 🐚 Dive WWII Wrecks, including the famous SS President Coolidge

• 💃 Join a Rom Dance or land-diving ritual — the origin of bungee jumping!

📍 Best Islands to Explore

🌋 Tanna Island

• Home to Mount Yasur, one of the world’s most accessible active volcanoes.

• Visit kastom villages to witness ancient Vanuatu traditions.

• Black sand beaches and treehouse lodges overlooking jungle and fire.

Must-do: Mount Yasur sunset eruption tour.

🏖️ Efate (Port Vila)

• Main island and international gateway.

• Chill in Mele Cascades, dive in the Underwater Post Office, or enjoy bustling Port Vila market.

• Base for kayaking, sunset cruises, and day trips to nearby islands.

Must-do: Swim in the Blue Lagoon east of Efate.

🌊 Espiritu Santo

• The largest island and diving capital of Vanuatu.

• Dive the SS President Coolidge or snorkel Million Dollar Point.

• Relax at Champagne Beach, often called the best beach in the Pacific.

Must-do: Canoe to Riri Blue Hole.

🌿 Pentecost Island

• Famous for Naghol (land diving) — the ancestral version of bungee jumping.

• Remote and rustic — best visited during April–June for diving rituals.

Must-do: Witness a land dive from bamboo towers!

📅 Best Time to Visit Vanuatu

• 🟢 Dry Season (May–October): Cool, sunny, perfect for hiking, volcano visits, and water adventures.

• 🔵 Wet Season (November–April): Lush and quieter, but watch for cyclones and high humidity.

🛏️ Where to Stay in Vanuatu

🍛 What to Eat in Vanuatu

• 🥥 Laplap – National dish made from grated root vegetables and coconut, cooked in earth ovens.

• 🐟 Tuluk – Taro dough stuffed with meat or fish.

• 🥭 Seasonal Fruits – Pawpaw, breadfruit, and wild guava.

• 🍹 Kava – Traditional root drink that relaxes the body and mind. Try it in a nakamal (kava bar)!

✈️ Getting to Vanuatu

• Main Airport: Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) – Port Vila

• Direct Flights From:

  • Brisbane & Sydney (Australia)

  • Auckland (New Zealand)

  • Nadi (Fiji)

  • Nouméa (New Caledonia)

Local flights via Air Vanuatu connect to outer islands like Tanna and Santo.

🧭 Top Things to Do in Vanuatu

🌋 1. Watch Mount Yasur Erupt

• Stand on the rim and watch lava explode into the night sky.

• An unforgettable sensory overload — thunder, ash, fire, and wind.

🏝️ 2. Swim in Blue Holes

• Found mainly on Espiritu Santo, these natural freshwater pools are impossibly blue and refreshing.

• Canoe through jungle rivers to reach them.

🌊 3. Dive WWII Wrecks

• Vanuatu was a major US base during World War II.

• Dive the massive SS President Coolidge and Million Dollar Point, where surplus equipment was dumped.

🌿 4. Hike Through Rainforests & Waterfalls

• Efate’s Mele Cascades offer waterfalls and jungle pools near Port Vila.

• Tanna’s inland forests hold caves, hot springs, and ancient trees.

💃 5. Join a Kastom Festival

• Vanuatu’s culture is still deeply rooted in custom law (kastom).

• Attend a Rom Dance, a yam harvest ritual, or witness land diving.

🗣️ Local Language & Culture

• Main languages: Bislama, English, French

• Over 100 local languages — one of the most linguistically diverse countries on Earth.

• Always greet with a smile and respect local customs.

• Learn a few words:

  • Halo! – Hello

  • Tank yu tumas – Thank you very much

  • Mi stap gud – I’m good