Archives: Destinations

When the sun goes down, there is a choice of some fun local pubs and clubs where you can unwind and mingle with locals and travelers from the world over. For something a little more cultural, you could reserve spots at beachfront fire shows where dancers and performers regale the audience before everyone is treated to a feast featuring regional specialties and traditional cuisine.

The Port Vila Handicrafts Community is the best place to find souvenirs of your trip to Vanuatu. Buy some uniquely Melanesian handicrafts, hand woven fabrics, paintings, sarongs, woven grass bags, mats and more. Pick up some local herbs and spices or some traditional Tanna coffee to remind you of your vacation in this tropical gem.

No island vacation is complete without some time in the water and most resorts and tourism hubs offer visitors a chance to try canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling and even scuba diving. And when you’re back, treat your muscles to a relaxing massage at one of the many world-class spas in Efate.

Golfers can count on that something special when they play around at any of the golf courses in the region. Whether it is the 18 hole Port Vila Country Club that overlooks the impossibly blue waters of Mele Bay or the more modest 9 hole course on Espiritu Santo, you will find yourself looking out onto some of the most stunning vistas of any course in the world.

Vanuatu’s most iconic dish is the starchy ‘lap-lap’. It is made by grating cassava, yam, sweet potato or plantain and then wrapping it up with coconut milk in banana leaves for roasting below some hot stones. The flavor of this lap-lap is enhanced by the inclusion of beef, pork or chicken. Adventurous eaters can experiment with local specialties like snails, ground pigeon, and flying fox.

A typical meal ends with some fresh juicy and sweet tropical fruit, of which there is an abundance in the lush, fertile lands of Vanuatu. The national drink Kava is usually consumed before dinner and has a mild narcotic effect, though it is non-alcoholic.

You can never go wrong with ordering seafood in Vanuatu. An abundance of fish makes it a regular feature in homes around the region and most restaurants will serve up seafood cooked well. Order the crab cooked up with a choice of a simple but flavorsome garlic or chili flavor, or opt for a soupier coconut or curry sauce. The tangy Tahitian style Poisson cru or raw fish salad is another favorite.

Good international cuisine can be found in Port Vila and nearby, with French, Japanese and Italian eateries getting top billing. Eating steak at a market stall in Luganville is unmissable.

An abundance of wildlife both on-shore and in waters off the miles of coastline will delight nature lovers, diving enthusiasts and travelers of all manner. The coral reefs are especially recommended with snorkeling expeditions affording the opportunity to swim between beautiful reefs and explore shipwrecks, marine life and more. You can even head out into the deeper waters to see dolphins or swim with sea turtles. The blue holes, beaches and dive sites like the grand dame SS Coolidge are within easy reach of Santo which connects via direct flights to Brisbane. The Maskelynes represent rugged island beauty, offer some amazing diving and marine life sighting opportunities and are home to villages that protect traditional arts and handicrafts. Picnicking at the Ringi Te Suh Marine Conservation Area is an experience not to be missed.

When in Port Vila, make time to visit the Vanuatu Cultural Center and the bustling Vila market, or tee off at the Port Vila Golf & Country Club which boasts an enviable seafront location. Visitors also follow horse trails near the L’Hippocampus the Sea Horse Ranch which is a few miles out from the town center.

Santo has long been a favorite in the diving community but is now drawing visitors who wish to take the spectacular trip to Millennium Cave or scramble over tanks and other WWII relics. Some of the region’s tallest mountains are on Santo including the towering Mt Tabwemasana, Mt Kotamtam, Mt Tawaloala as well as the eponymous Santo Peak.

The people of Vanuatu are a friendly community with a rich history going back centuries. Vanuatu had a known 113 different languages spoken on its shores. Bislama is a very Pacific style pidgin English that blends simplified forms of English with a smattering of French, Spanish and local tongues. English and French are also widely spoken.

Be sensitive to the cultural norms in this piece of paradise. The Ni-Vanuatu are traditionally quite conservative so travelers would be well advised to avoid any clothing that bears too much. This is especially true if you are a female traveler. Beachwear is absolutely fine at the pool, your resort or on a diving trip, but everywhere else, err on the side of wearing more. If you plan to explore remote beaches for which you pass through villages, avoid wearing a bikini. It is absolutely acceptable here to wear dresses to the beach. Going local with an island dress which isn’t figure hugging and is made from pretty soft floral fabrics is a great way to beat the heat while respecting local culture.

Greeting and thanking each other is the norm. A quick beep when you pass another car, just to say ‘hello’ is customary when you’re on the road. The locals are very polite, so be on your best behavior. Do not haggle or bargain, it is considered disrespectful.

Learn to live on island time during your stay. Nothing is cast in stone and time is a flexible concept, though you can usually count on your hotel transfers to be organized per schedule.

Vanuatu is well located for visitors from Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Direct flights connect several cities to Port Vila and Santo. There are no direct connections from the US or Europe. All international flights in and out of the archipelago arrive at Port Vila’s Bauerfield International Airport or Pekoa International Airport in Santo. Vanuatu is also a popular destination on the cruising circuit with many international cruise lines halting at Efate (Port Vila), Santo (Champagne Beach and Luganville) as well as Mystery Island on the southern side of Vanuatu. Private yachts can, with the requisite paperwork, also enter at Lenakel and Sola in addition to Port Vila and Luganville.

Air Vanuatu is the major domestic player, offering scheduled commercial flights that connect over a dozen location in the archipelago. Unity Airlines, Air Safaris, and Air Taxi are airplane charter companies operating in Vanuatu.

Be prepared to get a workout if you really want to get under the skin of this destination. A bicycle is probably the best way to explore villages and sights outside the towns. 4WD vehicles are needed to negotiate the rugged terrain and track roads in most places. Taxi services run between the town and tourism hubs and resort areas. Resorts organize boat transfers if they are located off the mainland. Boats can also be hired for fishing and diving trips. Self-drive cars are only available (and only advisable) in Port Vila and Luganville.

Public transport by way of island buses is a fun immersive local experience that is worth doing at least once on your trip. Locals use the minibusses that tear around bends and zip you to your destination in smaller towns. Efate and parts of Santo have a regular public bus service.

Being in the southern hemisphere, Vanuatu’s seasons are flipped around from what most visitors from North America, Europe, and Asia are accustomed to. The weather is largely humid and warm. Islands in the south tend to be slightly cooler and less humid. The temperature dips a between June and August when winter sets in. While its tropical climate means you can visit it virtually all year round, do check for cyclone forecasts before you visit. The rains arrive in November and last all the way until March.

The local currency is called Ni-Vanuatu Vatu. Credit cards and debit cards are accepted in larger towns and bigger hotels.

Visitors from certain countries do not require a visa to enter Vanuatu. Do check the latest Vanuatu Immigration Authorities to see if your country is on the list. Depending on the duration of the visit, nationals of a few additional countries are exempt from needing a visa. Visitors Permits on arrival are made available for those traveling for tourism, business or to meet the family. You will need a confirmed onward/return ticket as well as proof of funds to support your stay, in addition to a valid passport.

In a case of medical emergencies, you can meet with doctors at the private or public hospitals in Vanuatu. Carry any prescription medication that you take as well as adequate quantities of antibiotics if you are unwell at the time of departure from your home country.

While the majority of the attention in Kauai is centered on the rainforests and flourishing gardens, the island also offers an array of scuba and snorkeling spots for tourists to explore. Some brilliant snorkeling beaches on Kauai’s north shore include Haena Beach Park, Anini Beach, and Kee Beach. Make sure you make a visit to all of these beaches while at Kauai.

Kauai also offers a range of opportunities for Ziplining, You can get a distinct aerial view of the diverse landscapes of the Kauai Island in every Ziplining experience. Ziplining courses are available at Kauai Backcountry Adventures, Princeville Ranch Adventures, Just Live, and Outfitters Kauai.

You can also see the surfers take on the waves at places like Nawiliwili Harbor (Lihue), Poipu Beach (South Shore) as well as Hanalei Bay and Makua Beach (North Shore). There is plenty of exciting activities to take up on Kauai Island!

You can taste the authentic Hawaiian cuisine at different restaurants in Kauai including Roy’s Poipu Bar & Grill (South Shore) or Merriman’s Poipu. Menus include fresh fish such as ahi, ono, mahimahi, opakapaka and wahoo among several others. Explore fresh island produce at the Sunshine Markets in Kauai.

Gaylord’s (Kilohana) is a beautiful setting for a lunch, dinner or even a Sunday brunch in Kauai. You will find it in the ancient Kilohana Plantation house where diners can sit in the outdoor courtyard with the plantation grounds in sight. Lunch typically consists of tacos made with fresh fish and roasted chicken crepes. At dinner, guests can savor some of the island favorites like Cioppino, Sesame Seared Ono, the Grilled NY Strip or the Hoisin Glazed Spare Ribs. Each Friday and Saturday night, guests are served the in-house specialty, i.e. Kiawe Smoked Prime Rib.

You must also try the popular shaved ice-cream on Kauai Island on Kalapaki beach.

Explore Kauai by visiting some of its top tourist sights and other beautiful attractions. The historic natural wonders such as the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon cannot be missed during a visit to Kauai. At the same time, there is a lot of excitement in exploring native small towns such as Hanapepe and Hanalei. These are the unique places which make Kauai absolutely unforgettable.

Hanapepe is called the “biggest little town” of Kauai and is popular for its old historic buildings. These lend a unique authenticity to the town and this is the reason it has served as a location for popular movies such as “Fight of the Intruder”, “The Thornbirds” and so on.

On the west side of Kauai, is the Waimea Canyon, also called “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” It is a geological wonder located in Hawaii, stretching out for 14 miles and is over 3,600 deep. From the Waimea Canyon, you have a beautiful view of rugged crags, crested buttes as well as deep valley ravines.

There are plenty of things for tourists to do in Maui. Visitors can engage in a ton of activities such as windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, jet-skiing, parasailing and the likes. There are plenty of operators and clubs on the island. Visitors can sign up with these service providers in order to indulge in a range of exciting activities.

Snorkeling tours are also quite common in Maui and are a favorite activity among first-time visitors. So if you are visiting Maui for the first time, make sure you sign up for a snorkeling tour. For instance, the Molokini Snorkeling Tour hosted by Pride of Maui is a great option for families. The snorkeling trip takes visitors through the 150,000-year-old Molokini Crater, where one can experience unique marine life and observe the famous Spinner Dolphins and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles.

Other activities include mountain biking in the Makawao State Forest and whale watching with Pacific Whale Foundation.