Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, offers some of the most pristine beaches and secluded landscapes spread across lush terrains and expansive coastlines.
Translating to ‘our land forever’ in the local Melanesian languages, Vanuatu is a small country consisting of roughly 80 islands that stretch 1,300 kilometres, with a population of just about 300,000.
Blessed with a tropical climate, the weather promises to be pleasant year-round. Ideal conditions occur between April and October when temperatures stay between 18C and 28C.
Despite its favourable climate and vast expanses of unexplored natural landscape, Vanuatu attracts a surprisingly low number of tourists—as low as 65,000 in 2022.
By comparison, more popular destinations in the region, such as Fiji, see millions of tourists annually, leaving Vanuatu as the fifth least-visited country worldwide, following the likes of Samoa and Bhutan.
The country’s population consists of natives and people from Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, and Chinese communities, often expats who now live permanently on the islands.
With no Indigenous written language, French and English are considered ‘official’ due to British and French influences that remain from their joint administration of Vanuatu until its independence in 1980.
Its rich culture is marked by a blend of Melanesian culture and colonial history, with storytelling and dance at the core of the Ni-Vanuatu lifestyle. Unique to the islands, local festivals and traditions rely heavily on legends and myths, expressed through masks and tattoos that widely feature in Ni-Vanuatu rituals.
British travellers can fly to Australia or New Zealand to reach Vanuatu, followed by a shorter flight to the capital, Port Vila. For commuting within the country, Air Vanuatu has domestic flights connecting the many islands and is often the fastest way to travel besides taking boats.
Tourists can often witness eruptions of the active volcano Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, one of Vanuatu’s most dramatic natural attractions. For diving enthusiasts, the famous wreck of the SS President Coolidge offers an unforgettable experience and is often cited as among the best-preserved underwater sites worldwide.
A Tripadvisor user raved: “This would go on the top of my list for wreck dives.
“It’s even better if you dive after you learn a lot about the story of the Coolidge and the captain who died on the ship saving other crews. The passageway to the lady is very spooky, and you must be well-experienced to go through the dark, small hallways, but it is a fascinating experience to do once in life.”
For those who prefer a slower holiday, Vanuatu’s beaches, especially those on the stunning Pentecost Island, remain serenely uncrowded.
Bordered by stretches of white sand and clear, warm waters, once inland, tourists can explore rainforests and waterfalls or discover the traditional ways of life in Ni-Vanuatu villages.
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