Vanuatu
Oceania · Port Vila · VU
Vanuatu is the thrilling archipelago nation of the south-west Pacific, a volcanic chain of more than eighty islands that stretches through the Coral Sea between the Solomons and New Caledonia, one of the most culturally intact countries of the entire Pacific. The former New Hebrides, once shared by the French and the British, is today the independent republic of Vanuatu, a land of the active volcanoes with their roaring lava lakes, the dense rainforests of the interior and the remarkable villages of the custom where the culture of the Nimangki still governs the islands. The capital of the Port Vila, set around one of the loveliest natural harbours of the Pacific on the island of Efate, is the gentle modern gateway of the country, while the roaring summit of the Yasur volcano on the island of Tanna and the custom villages and the sand drawings carry the deep traditional soul of the nation. Beautiful, volcanic and profoundly traditional, Vanuatu is the living volcano of the Pacific culture.
Overview
Vanuatu is a country in Oceania. Its capital is Port Vila and the international dialling code is +678. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Bislama, English and French. Local currency is the Vanuatu Vatu (VUV). We also list 1 city in Vanuatu: Port Vila.
The Volcano of the Yasur and the Fires of the Tanna
The volcano of the Yasur, the magnificent constantly active cone that stands on the south-eastern coast of the island of the Tanna, is the great natural attraction of the country, an accessible living volcano where the visitors climb to the rim of the crater and stand awed as the explosions of the molten rock roar and throw their fire into the night sky. The mountain, sacred to the people of the Tanna, vents its tremendous red-lit booms every few minutes, and the spectacle of the eruptions, ringed by the flashing orange and the drifting showers of the lava bombs, is one of the greatest active-volcano experiences available anywhere on earth. The track up the black volcanic ash of the mountain, and the villages of the Tanna that guard its approach, give the deep fire of the islands their unforgettable nightly performance.
The Capital of the Port Vila and the Harbour of the Efate
The capital of the Port Vila, the friendly, pretty town that curves around its superb natural harbour on the south-west coast of the island of the Efate, is the charming heart of the modern country, a waterfront city of the small markets, the artisan shops and the wooden cafés that anchors the tourism and the government of the nation. The markets of the town with their tropical fruit and their woven baskets, the cultural centre of the country with its story of the custom and the land, and the harbour cruises and the island excursions of the bay provide the essential visits of the capital. The hideaway beaches of the coast, the lazing ships of the marina and the French and the English flavors of the town give the gentle, ebullient introduction to the archipelago.
The Diving of the Million Dollar Point and the Blue Holes of the Islands
The waters of the island of Efate and its neighbours hide two great underwater wonders, the wreck of the Million Dollar Point, where the American wartime equipment was dumped wholesale at the end of the war and now forms an extraordinary artificial reef of the trucks and the machinery, and the famous blue holes of the islands, the deep freshwater springs that colour the mangrove channels with their astonishing azure and their resident turtles. The diving and the snorkelling of the coast, with the coral gardens, the rays and the small sharks of the passages, and the boat trips to the offshore wrecks and the reefs of the harbour, give the underwater riches of the islands. The blue holes of the north of the island of Espiritu Santo, the white sandy basins ringed by the forest, are among the most beautiful swimming places of the entire Pacific.
The Custom of the Nimangki and the Villages of the Tradition
The islands of the Vanuatu, and above all the great northern island of the Pentecost, preserve some of the most intact customary cultures of the Pacific, the world of the Nimangki, the graded societies and the totems that structure the deep social and spiritual life of the villages. The famous land divers of the Pentecost, the extraordinary ritual of the early vines in which the young men of the villages leap from the tall wooden towers with the vines tied to their ankles, is the most spectacular survival of the ancient Pacific ritual, and the custom villages of the archipelago, with their chiefs, their kava and their sacred dances, welcome the visitor into the living tradition. The carvers of the islands, the drums and the slit gongs of the villages, and the practice of the sand drawing of the north, hold the richest indigenous culture of the contemporary south Pacific.
The Canyons and the Rivers of the Santo and the Wrecks of the War
The island of the Espiritu Santo, the largest of the archipelago and the wild northern heart of the country, hides its rainforest interior, its rivers and the crystal-clear pools of the Millenium caves, and its famous wartime history in the ruins and the wrecks of the great naval buildup of the Second World War. The wreck of the deep sea freighter of the President Coolidge, the enormous luxury liner turned troop transport that struck the coral reef of the Santo in the war and now lies off the shore as one of the greatest wrecks of the diving world, and the leftover machinery and the airstrips of the abandoned bases, give the island its haunting wartime heritage. The rivers and the caves of the interior, with their dense jungle and their butterflies, and the wild beaches of the island, complete the splendour of the biggest island of the chain.
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- Capital
- Port Vila
- Currency
- Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
- Languages
- Bislama, English, French
- Calling code
- +678
- Internet TLD
- vu
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Vanuatu.
Which nationalities can enter Vanuatu?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Vanuatu?
For the origins we track, travellers from Morocco currently enter Vanuatu visa-free for tourism. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Vanuatu?
Port Vila is the capital of Vanuatu, and the country sits in Oceania.
What currency is used in Vanuatu?
You pay with Vanuatu Vatu (VUV) in Vanuatu. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Vanuatu?
The languages we list for Vanuatu are Bislama, English and French. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Vanuatu?
The dialling code for Vanuatu is +678 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Vanuatu do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Vanuatu: Port Vila (capital).