Vanautu On a Budget
Vanautu
At a Glance
The islands of Vanuatu are grouped into six geographic provinces:Torba consists of the northern Torres and Banks Island groups.
Sanma includes the largest island of Espiritu Santo and the smaller island, Malo. Santo is also home to the nation's largest town called Luganville. It is a place bustling with markets, friendly locals, restaurants, cafes, and bars. The biggest draw to the Island is the wreck of the SS President Coolidge, a WWII troop carrier sunk by mines in 1942.
Penama includes the central-eastern islands of Pentecost, Ambae, and Maewo, which are all fairly large and rural with jungle villages, volcanic mountainsides, and a more traditional way of life practiced by the natives.
Malampa includes the central islands of Malakula, Ambrym, and Paama, as well as the Ambrym Volcanoes and its active lava lakes. Some trek out to the volcanoes and camp on the ash plain to get the full experience, though it is important to be fully stocked on food and water.
The province of Shefa includes the islands Epi, Efate, and 14 others with the Shepherd Islands. The nation's capital, Port-Vila, is located on Efate and has become a point of entry and hub for most tourist activity. Outside of the capital, Efate is made up of coconut plantations, local villages, jungle, coves, beaches, and tropical reefs.
Tafea is the southernmost province and includes the islands of Erromango, Tanna, Anatom, Futuna, and Aneityum. Mount Yasur Volcano is a popular attraction located on the island Tanna.
As far as activities goes, a visit to the Vanuatu Islands can be anything from a leisurely tropical beach escape to an action-packed adventure of volcanoes, bungee jumping, and scuba diving. The abundance of wrecks, underwater volcanoes, and diverse marine life make Shefa's outlying islands a popular destination for snorkeling and scuba diving, while Malampa and the island of Tanna are attractive locations for the volcano enthusiasts.
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Top Tourist Attractions
Vanuatu is a unique archipelago, thriving with traditional culture and unique landscapes. Natives are often very cooperative with those wishing to take photos of the daily life, though it is polite to ask first as there are the exceptions. When photographing events or festivals, there may be a fee. As far as landscapes go, the islands of Vanuatu are abundant in jungles, beaches, volcanoes, waterfalls, caves, and cultural villages. Some of the top attractions include:Mount Yasur Volcano: Located on the island Tanna of the Tafea province, this volcano is often called the most accessible active volcano on earth. It is said that the glow of the volcano was what attracted Captain James Cook to the island in 1774. Guided hikes can be taken up to the rim with great photo opportunities.
Land diving in Pentecost: Pentecost Island is known for being the spiritual birthplace of bungee jumping. The extreme sport originates from an old ritual called nanggol, or land diving. The ceremony is ongoing between April and June where men jump from tall towers with vines tied to their feet. Tourists can participate for a fee at certain locations on Saturdays during the season.
SS Coolidge Dive in Santo: The island Espirto Santo is home to the wreck of the SS President Coolidge, one of the top 10 wreck dives in the world. This is one of the top attractions on Santo.
Mele Waterfall and Cascades: One of the most-visited natural sites in Efate, the cascades is a series of picturesque falls surrounded by gardens.
Popular Foods
The capital city of Port-Vila has the largest concentration of restaurants and eateries. Typical meals include things like sandwiches, bacon and eggs, burgers, fries, salads, steak, seafood, and a variety of fresh-squeezed juices. Some dishes more traditional to the region include:Lap-lap: a root vegetable cake usually made from manioc (kasava), sweet potato, taro, or yam shaved into the middle of a banana leaf with island cabbage and sometimes a chicken wing on top. This is then wrapped up and cooked in hot stones underground until it melts into a cake.
Tuluk: similar to lap-lap, the cake is rolled into a cylinder with meat in the middle, tasting a lot like a sausage roll. This and lap-lap are common in most village markets.
Steak: Vanuatu is known for its meat because it is all naturally grown.
Kava: a local drink made from the roots of a type of pepper. It is intoxicating with sedative effects, should be enjoyed slowly, and should not be mixed with alcohol. Traditionally served in a shell, usually coconut, though some bars serve it in a bowl.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.