Everything to Pack Into A Week-Long Getaway in Vanuatu
Vanuatu rewards those who are willing to slow down, but the Pacific island nation is close enough for a short and sweet escape. Direct flights from Australia mean that volcanic hikes, blue holes, reef dives and Kastom traditions are just a few hours away — no longer than flying from Melbourne to Perth.
If you’re only working with a few days – say, a cleverly timed long weekend – our advice is to stick to a province. You’ll likely land on two islands: Efate, home to the capital city of Port Vila, or occasionally, Espiritu Santo. Pick Efate for an accessible mix of food, culture and day trips and Espiritu Santo for its quiet romance, or head afield to Tanna and beyond for wilder adventures.
Still, a week-long stay in Vanuatu is best for exploring its 83 islands. We’ve partnered with Vanuatu Tourism Office to round up nine unmissable sights and experiences worth carving out seven days for.
Swim in as many brilliant blue holes as possible
The freshwater swimming holes in Vanuatu have the geological quirk of being absurdly blue, with Espiritu Santo being home to most of them. A turquoise oasis is framed by lush jungle and a wooden deck designed for easy dips. Riri Blue Hole is known as the prettiest (and most petite) pool around. The nearby Nanda Blue Hole is great for spotting marine life.
Over in Tanna, dive through a hidden underwater tunnel to enter the mystical Blue Cave. For a more manageable entry, Blue Lagoon in Efate is popular for its overhanging rope swings and unusual blend of freshwater and seawater.
Visit Mount Yasur
Mount Yasur is the perfect starting point for anyone dipping their toes into Vanuatu’s volcanic side. Rising from the ash plains of Tanna Island, Mount Yasur offers bucket list-worthy views — think sweeping grey dunes, blackened earth, and amber skies. It’s also the world’s most walkable active volcano, so you don’t need ropes, crampons, or a death wish. Just pack a solid pair of shoes and the nerve to stand at the rim of something that’s been erupting for centuries.
Adventurers with the time and stamina for multi-day hikes might want to make the pilgrimage to the 21 other volcanoes around Vanuatu’s islands.
Horseriding in the ocean
Sure, you can dive into the ocean. Or you can ride a horse into it.
For something that feels remarkably untamed, saddle up with Santo Horse Adventures, a horse-sanctuary-turned-riding-school. Wander Espiritu Santo’s untouched beauty by following a trail through coconut plantations, rainforests, and mangroves before finally arriving at a stretch of pristine white sand and sea. Horses love relaxing in the warm ocean shallows as much as their riders do, so be sure to guide them in for a splash.
If you’re stationed in Port Vila, save some time for a sunset ride along Etmat Bay. Horses from Club Hippique will trot you through different tours around the island, with BBQ lunches and charcuterie boards included to round out an effortless adventure.
Step into Kastom villages and culture
The Ni-Van people speak over 113 distinct dialects and come from countless tribes, each carrying their own ancient rituals, celebrations, and ways of life. Kastom — the local term for the traditional customs passed down over millennia — is very much alive, and visitors are welcome to visit or even stay overnight.
Espiritu Santo is home to many kastom villages. Leweton Cultural Village is a great stop to witness rituals such as fire-making and kava ceremonies. The hypnotic tam-tam drumming might draw you in, but stay for the mesmerising water music as they move their hands beneath the water creating an amazing range of sounds. Originally from Gaua in the Banks Islands, this sacred practice can only be performed by women and they’ve brought it to Espiritu Santo.
Wherever you are, ask your guides for cultural tours and you’ll uncover unique histories and beliefs all around – Ekasep Cultural Village shares spooky tales of cannibalism, while Espiritu Santo’s inland tribes trace ancestral stories through sand drawing, a tradition so significant it’s UNESCO-listed.
Eat laplap, Vanuatu’s national dish
Roam the local markets until you find laplap, Vanuatu’s crowning casserole wrapped in banana leaves. A hand-grated vegetable paste is made from tropical roots like banana or taro, layered with meat and baked with fresh coconut cream. Keep it an out for its cousins, tuluk and simboro, too.
Expect plenty of fresh seafood, local beef, and French-inspired pastries from bakeries like Le Fournil de Vila. After dark, head to a nakamal (kava bar) for a shell of the earthy traditional drink enjoyed across the Pacific, or crack open a locally brewed Tusker lager. If you like to explore through your stomach, a food tour or cooking class is well worth booking.
Dive with dugongs
No trip to Vanuatu is complete without getting underwater. From kaleidoscopic coral reefs to ghostly WWII shipwrecks, the warm waters here are an explorer’s dream. Dugongs love hanging out here too – you’ll spot them drifting through the shallows and snacking on seagrass.
The Maskelyne Islands are a favourite spot to slip in alongside these gentle giants, and the east coast of Santo offers another chance to catch them in their element. Revered by some tribes as spiritual guardians and omens of ocean health, sharing the water with these majestic creatures is an experience that stays with you long after drying off.
Visit Vanuatu Tourism Office’s website to plan your itinerary.