Vanuatu

Vanuatu is an archipelago of more than 80 islands stretching roughly 1,300 kilometres through Melanesia, from the Torres Islands in the far north to Aneityum in the south. The islands are volcanic in origin and several remain active, most visibly Yasur on Tanna, which erupts continuously. The landscape ranges from rainforest and black-sand beaches to limestone plateaus and reef-fringed lagoons.

The population of around 330,000 speaks more than 100 distinct languages, making Vanuatu one of the most linguistically diverse nations on earth. Bislama, English, and French are the official languages, a legacy of the joint British and French administration that governed the islands until independence in 1980. Kastom, the system of traditional law and cultural practice, remains central to daily life across much of the chain.

Tanna

Mount Yasur erupts continuously, with loud detonations, ash columns, and incandescent lava visible after dark. Tours run at sunrise, midday, and sunset from Port Resolution. Activity levels and cloud cover vary, but the sound and vibration of the volcano are present even in quieter periods.

The Mount Yasur Volcano Trail is a guided hike through village land, gardens, and forest to the crater, covering around 13 kilometres return. An overnight option puts campers at the base of the volcano for sunset and dawn views.

Village visit with Jocelyn near Port Resolution gives access to kastom village life through a guided tour of the village and gardens, with options for a traditional earth-oven meal, weaving workshops, and cooking demonstrations.

Éfaté

The Fire Show at Beach Bar at Mele runs on Friday evenings, with a circus and laser show on Sundays. It has been a regular fixture for visiting sailors across multiple seasons.

A WW2 Corsair airplane wreck lies in around 2 metres of water off Éfaté, snorkelled from the dinghy at mid to high tide.

Malekula and the Maskelyne Islands

The Maskelyne Islands Dugong Tour takes snorkellers to where a resident dugong population congregates outside the reef. Close encounters are common and the coral in the area is in good condition. Dugongs are also seen opportunistically at Gaspard Bay and the Uilendeuv Sand Bank, with sightings tied to the tide.

The Lavrisi Yacht Club hosts island nights, traditional meals, and sailing canoe races between visiting crews and locals.

Ambrym

A shallow wreck at Craig Cove sits in 0 to 6 metres and is snorkelled at high tide. The coral on the northern edge of the bay is among the healthiest reported in Vanuatu, set against a black sand bottom.

Pentecost

Mount Taputoara rises to 593 metres with panoramic views from the summit, reached by a strenuous bush hike with a local guide.

Espiritu Santo

Matevulu Blue Hole is a freshwater pool reached by dinghy up a jungle river, with rope swings and a slide. Malo Blue Hole on Malo island is a similar dinghy trip through clear water with turtles in the shallows.

At Million Dollar Point east of Luganville, US forces dumped military equipment into the sea at the end of the Second World War rather than sell it to the colonial administration. The site is now an artificial reef with coral, fish, turtles, and hardware to 40 metres.

Places to stay

Below are the most popular and highly rated places to stay, based on reviews from the noforeignland community:

Anchorages

	Lekona Bay ★ 5.0 Gaua Anchorage at Lekona Bay provides great holding and reasonable swell protection. Visitors can access the beach easily. The local village lacks power but offers trade opportunities and cultural experiences such as water dancing.
	Port Olry Anchorage ★ 5.0 Espiritu Santo Crystal clear water and beautiful sandy beaches characterize this anchorage. Visitors can enjoy great snorkeling and access to a small village for supplies and meals. Several activities, like beach fires and exploring the island, enhance the experience.
	Asanvari Bay, Maewo Island ★ 5.0 Maewo The anchorage is well protected even in strong winds. Visitors appreciated the friendly villagers, beautiful nearby waterfall, and activities such as snorkeling for a small fee. A local guide, Ericka, offers hiking to the waterfall and prepares meals like coconut bread.
	Aisari Bay, Aori Island ★ 5.0 Espiritu Santo Sheltered and calm, Aisari Bay features good holding in sand, with a depth of 12m. Visitors report observation of cows on the beach and turtles in the bay, enhancing the overall experience. A restful night's sleep is frequently mentioned.
	Foreland Bay, Epi Island ★ 5.0 Epi Anchoring is accessible with sandy bottoms in various depths. The anchorage is noted for its protection from swell, providing a stable environment. Visitors have reported a welcoming atmosphere in nearby villages and opportunities for diving.
	Gaspard Bay ★ 4.8 Malekula Anchoring is feasible in sheltered conditions with credible holding in mud. Dugongs frequently grace the area, enhancing the experience. Visitors should verify charts before navigating the reef.
	Bushmans Bay ★ 4.8 Gaua The anchorage features a welcoming community, clear waters, and opportunities to interact with locals. Visitors may enjoy trading for fruits and can experience unique cultural performances. Some reports indicate the anchor may slide under strong winds, suggesting careful anchoring practices.
	Uliveo, Maskelyne Islands Anchorage ★ 4.7 Malekula The anchorage is deep with a mud bottom providing good holding where anchored properly. Visitors appreciate the welcoming local villages and available activities, including dugong tours. A variety of supplies can be sourced from the nearby village.
	Ratua Island Resort And Spa ★ 4.6 Espiritu Santo This anchorage provides a sheltered environment with a sandy bottom, suitable for sheltering in strong winds. Visitors report enjoying snorkeling with healthy corals and numerous sea turtles. A fee is required for using resort facilities and services.
	Moso Island ★ 4.6 Éfaté Clear waters and sandy bottoms characterize the anchorage, allowing for easy anchoring in depths of approximately 12 to 18 meters. A lovely beach enhances the experience, though access with a dinghy may require a longer distance. Visitors reported a local attempting to charge for swimming, which varied in legitimacy.

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Marinas

Yachting World Marina ★ 4.2 Éfaté The marina features friendly staff who assist with mooring. Some reviews indicate the presence of tight moorings, with a night cost of 2500 vatu. However, the laundry services are expensive and may lead to billing confusion.

Moorings

Aore Adventure Sports & Lodge ★ 5.0 Espiritu Santo Moorings are in great condition and well protected from prevailing winds and waves. Paul communicates effectively and has strong safety protocols for diving. Visitors appreciated the efficiency of the booking process and enjoyed their diving experience.

Boat services

Below are the most popular and highly rated boat services, based on reviews from the noforeignland community:

Chandlers

	Bodiam Engineering ★ 5.0 Éfaté Service is provided for engine-related issues. The technician receives commendations for being methodical and clean in his work. The service is certified for Yanmar engines.
	Saltwater Fishing Tackle Shop ★ 4.5 Éfaté A wide selection of fishing gear is available. Reviews highlight the store's extensive inventory, ensuring visitors can find most of their fishing needs fulfilled.

Useful yacht clearance links:

Yacht clearance reviews

The following lists summarize noforeignland user reviews for clearing in at ports of entry and when using clearance agents in Vanuatu:

Southeast trade winds prevail from April to October. The cyclone season runs from November to April.

Chart accuracy here varies significantly, particularly in the central and northern groups. Satellite imagery is a useful supplement to charts. Reef navigation is best undertaken with the sun high and behind the observer.

Tide prediction apps have shown errors of two to three hours in some areas.

Ciguatera is a significant risk. Local advice should be sought at each island.

The cyclone season runs from November to April, and most cruising boats depart by November, heading south to New Zealand or west to Australia. Port Vila on Éfaté is the most common final stop for provisioning, fuel, and clearance before departure. No anchorage in Vanuatu carries formal cyclone-hole status with most insurers, and Port Vila harbour suffered significant yacht losses during Cyclone Pam in 2015.

• Best times of year to sail here: May to October
• Most common type of shore power: 230V 50Hz (Australian/New Zealand plug type)
• Cost for provisioning: Medium
• Currency: Vanuatu Vatu (VUV)
• Personal security: Generally considered safe.
• Emergency phone numbers:
  • Police: 111
  • Ambulance: 112
  • Fire: 113
  • Maritime rescue: 114
• International dialing code: +678
• Time zone: UTC+11 (no daylight saving)

The first settlers reached Vanuatu around 3,500 years ago, the descendants of the Lapita people who spread across the western Pacific in longboats carrying pigs, chickens, yams, and taro. They established small autonomous clans across the islands, developing over millennia into the extraordinary linguistic and cultural diversity that survives today. Ancestral spirits, magic, and the grade-taking ceremonies through which men accumulated social rank remained central to life across the chain, and kastom practice continues to shape daily existence on many islands.

European contact began with the Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, who landed at Espiritu Santo in 1606 and named it Austrialia del Espíritu Santo. Louis-Antoine de Bougainville followed in 1768 and James Cook charted the archipelago in 1774, giving it the name New Hebrides. The nineteenth century brought missionaries, traders, and labour recruiters, and the practice of blackbirding, the coercive recruitment of island men for Queensland sugar plantations and Fijian estates, affected the southern and central islands severely from the 1860s through the 1900s.

From 1906 the islands were governed jointly by Britain and France under an arrangement that ran two entirely separate administrations, courts, and police forces side by side over the same territory. Residents could choose which country's laws applied to them. During the Second World War the islands became a major Allied base, and Luganville on Santo developed into one of the largest US military installations in the Pacific. When American forces departed, they dumped vast quantities of surplus equipment into the sea at what became known as Million Dollar Point rather than accept the nominal prices offered by the colonial administration.

Vanuatu achieved independence on 30 July 1980, a process complicated by a brief armed rebellion on Santo led by the Nagriamel movement, which was suppressed with the assistance of Papua New Guinea forces. The new nation adopted a policy of non-alignment and the date of independence, 30 July, remains the national holiday.