Ultimate Vanuatu itinerary: How to Spend 12 Days in Vanuatu

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What to do in Vanuatu? Where to stay in Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo?

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I used this Vanuatu itinerary when celebrating my birthday and backpacking Vanuatu in April, during the time, known as the land diving ritual. By spending almost two weeks on the South Pacific Island I saw all the must-do things of the Happiest Place in the World.

Find out how in my Vanuatu itinerary below.

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BEST PLACES TO STAY in VANUATU:
• South Pacific Memories (cute bungalows close to Port Vila)
• Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila (beachfront resort with a private beach on Efate)
• White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa (on West coast of Tanna)
• Castle Tree House (basic accommodation with a view to Mt. Yasur)
• Deco Stop Lodge (I steyed here with a beautiful view over Luganville)
• The Espiritu (great stay on Espiritu Santo)

TOP EXPERIENCES in and around VANUATU:
• Efate island tour (nice intro to Vanuatu)
• Hideaway Island (send a postcard from underwater post office)
• Nagol Land diving on Pentecost (AMAZING!)
• Mt. Yasur hike (A MUST DO!)
• Yakel tribe and Mt. Yasur combo tour (it’s like stepping back in time)
• Millenium Cave tour (amazing experience!)
• Blue Cave and Champagne Beach (one of the best beaches in the world!)
Page Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

In a bit more than 1 week in Vanuatu, you will see all the major sites. From Efate to Tanna, to Pentecost and Espiritu Santo. You will hike an active volcano, dance in the Yakel Kastom tribe, and admire the land diving ritual.

This blog will help you plan your entire Vanuatu trip. You will find a perfect blend of culture and nature, sleep in tree houses, try tons of delicious food, swim in Champagne beach and blue holes, hike Mount Yasur, dive among the shipwrecks, and see where bungee jumping comes from.

Inside this Vanuatu travel guide, I included a detailed travel plan, with places to sleep, recommendations on where to eat, and things to do, to make your trip memorable. I also suggest itinerary modification and a map. 

Now, let’s start planning your Vanuatu itinerary, to make your trip memorable and cross off some bucket list items.

Vanuatu travel itinerary

KEY TAKEAWAYS

● Plan to spend at least a week in Vanuatu, but if time permits, reserve 10 days in Vanuatu to have enough time to include different islands in your Vanuatu itinerary.

● Visit and feel the difference between islands Efate – more developed, touristic, and ‘Western’, Tanna – adventurous and cultural, Espiritu Santo – laid back, beach and tropical vibes.

● Include must-do things; such as visiting the market in Port Vila, Mount Yasur volcano hike and kastom village visit on Tanna, swimming in Blue Holes, and snorkeling on Million Dollar Point on Santo.

● Indulge in delicious food, a mixture of local produce and French cuisine.

● If traveling to Vanuatu between April and June, don’t miss the opportunity to go on a Nagol or Land diving tour on Pentecost Island and witness the centuries-old tradition that inspired modern bungee jumping.

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Vanuatu itinerary overview

This is the original itinerary for Vanuatu that I was supposed to follow when I celebrated my birthday in Vanuatu. Due to some tour rescheduling and flight cancellations, my actual itinerary was modified accordingly.

It could be roughly divided into three main parts; Efate itinerary, Tanna itinerary, and Espiritu Santo itinerary as you will be visiting all three main islands of Vanuatu.

You will spend the first 4 days on the main island Efate and go on a day tour to Pentecost Island. Then fly to Tanna Island for 3 days and spend the last 5 days on Espiritu Santo. The itinerary below will highlight the best things to do on each of them.

How many days do you need in Vanuatu? For your first visit to Vanuatu, I would recommend doing a similar route as described in my Vanuatu blog below.

You will see all the major Vanuatu bucket list items. You will get enough time to learn about Vanuatu’s history, experience its culture, swim on different beaches, climb a volcano, and enjoy delicious food.

Trust me, there’s so much to see that you should learn some interesting facts about Vanuatu before your trip.

Since this is a semi-relaxed itinerary for Vanuatu you can do the suggested itinerary even if you are only spending 10 days in Vanuatu. But for more adventurous souls, you could add some more islands, like Ambrym, to your Vanuatu trip.

So let’s waste no more time and let’s get you ready for an epic trip to Vanuatu!

SHORT VANUATU ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
Day 1: Efate Island – Arrival in Vanuatu and transfer to Port Vila
Day 2:  Efate Island – Port Villa, Mele Cascades, and underwater Post office
Day 3: Efate Island – Day tour to Pentecost Island
Day 4: Efate Island – Tour around Efate island
Day 5: Tanna Island – Fly to Tanna and transfer to Yasur volcano
Day 6: Tanna Island Kastom village
Day 7: Tanna Island Mount Yasur volcano tour
Day 8: Espiritu Santo Island – Fly to Espiritu Santo and transfer to Luganville
Day 9: Espiritu Santo Island – Luganville and Millenium cave
Day 10: Espiritu Santo Island – Million dollar point and Blue holes
Day 11: Espiritu Santo Island – Port Orly and Champagne Beach
Day 12: Espiritu Santo Island – Espiritu Santo and departure

Detailed 12 days in Vanuatu itinerary

DAY 1: Efate Itinerary – Arrival in Vanuatu and transfer to Port Vila

If you fly to Vanuatu, you will likely land at the Bauerfield International Airport on Efate Island. The airport is close to the capital Port Vila and easily accessible by public transport.

After clearing any formalities, take a moment to exchange some currency to Vanuatu Vatu or withdraw cash from the ATMs available. Just a small amount to have it ready for the bus or taxi. You can exchange the rest of it in a bank in Port Vila.

My flight from Brisbane, Australia, to Port Vila, Vanuatu, should have arrived in the afternoon but was delayed several times. Luckily I booked a private driver to pick me up before I landed. To be safe and stress-free which turned out to be an amazing decision.

Later on, I found out that one of the Vanuatu leaders passed away and was transported back to the country on the same plane I was on. So there were no taxi drivers, busses or other transport options at the airport.

Because of the repatriation ceremony, the usual 15-20 minute ride from the airport to Port Vila, took me more than an hour.

Technically this should not even count as a day in Vanuatu itinerary. But if your plane arrives early, you will have more time to explore Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila.

Where to stay in Port Vila, Efate Island:
The place where I stayed (Raynold’s Board and Lodge), close to Vanuatu National Museum, stopped renting rooms. Instead, look at some other accommodation options in Port Vila.
• South Pacific Memories has cute bungalows, breakfast, free bikes and private parking.
• In Breakas Beach Resort you can swim in their infinity pool or on a private beach, indulge in great food, and stay only 5 min drive away from Port Vila;
• By booking Ramada Resort by Wyndham Port Vila you will sleep in a beachfront resort with a private beach and outdoor swimming pool.

DAY 2: Efate Itinerary – Port Villa, Mele Cascades, and underwater Post office

Start your first official day in Vanuatu exploring the capital Port Vila and its surroundings.

I started my morning nowhere else than at the Port Vila Central Market. This is the largest market in Vanuatu, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, snacks, and traditional handicrafts.

The market is open every day. All day during weekdays and in the morning on Sundays.

If your accommodation is not serving breakfast, this is a great place to fill up your stomach.
I do not exaggerate telling you that I saw papayas bigger than my hand and had the most delicious avocados for breakfast.

I love markets because they are a perfect place to engage with friendly locals, sample fresh tropical fruits, and get a boost of dopamine from scents, smells, and sounds.

After the market catch a transport from Port Vila to Mele Cascades (or don’t). The cost of the ride is acceptable 300 VUV ($4 AU | 2,3€ | $2,5 US), for a 10 km ride.

But the entrance fee to the evergreen Cascades Waterfall is a tourist rip-off. I’m more than happy to support local communities but 2000 VUV ($25 AU | 15€ | $16 US) is a bit too much.

I was really excited to see the 35-meter Evergreen Cascades Waterfall. I mean, I came all the way to see it. But locals at my guesthouse were saying the price was too high, and not worth it. And I heard the same from tourists coming out from the Mele Cascades. 

So, I had the full intent to go inside, was there, but didn’t visit the site.

It just didn’t feel right. I also didn’t have water shoes, and the place was crowded. Since there were people on organized tours to the Mele Cascades. I’m not regretting it since we have plenty of waterfalls in Slovenia.

After your Mele Cascades adventure, head to Hideaway Island, one of the top things to do in Vanuatu.

Close to the shore of the island, you will find the only underwater post office in the world. The entrance fee is 1500 VUV ($18 AU | 11,5€ | $12.5 US) and you can send a postcard from it for 400 VUV ($5 AU | 3€ | $3,5 US).

Since I didn’t visit the Mele Cascades, I returned to Port Vila just in time to visit the Vanuatu National Museum. There is a 1000 VUV ($13 AU | 8€ | $8,5 US) entrance fee for an educational visit where you learn all about traditional Vanuatu sand drawings and instruments.

After your sightseeing day, have dinner in one of the resorts on the beachfront, or go to Iririki Island.

I had a homecooked dinner at the guesthouse, where the lady prepared a traditional Vanuatu dinner with pork, yam, and taro. It was delicious.

DAY 3: Efate Itinerary – Day tour to Pentecost Island

If you want to experience something adventurous, historical, jaw-dropping, and traditional, go on Nagol Land diving tour. I can GUARANTEE you, you will not regret it!

Seeing Nagol (Nahgol, N’gol, Nangol, Nanggol) or land diving ritual was one of my travel bucket list activities and the main reason why I came to Vanuatu.

My day tour to Pentecost was supposed to be later in my Vanuatu itinerary. But the weather did its thing. At first tour was canceled and later I got a spot to do it a few days earlier. 

I went to Pentecost with Air Taxi Vanuatu.

The tour lasts for 8 hours and it starts with a pick-up from your Port Vila hotel. From Port Vila airport, you fly in a small aircraft 200 km north to Pentecost Island. They run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from April to June.

On Pentecost, the transfer is waiting to take you to one of the villages on the south of the island. There you are free to walk in the village.

The highlight of the tour is seeing young men jumping off the wooden tower with only lianas attached to their ankles, as part of the Naghol or Land diving ritual. Before you return to Port Vila on a scenic flight, you are served lunch in a village.

The tour is not the cheapest, 53,000 VUV ($640 AU | 390€ | $420 US) but it is worth every Dollar, Euro, or Vanuatu vatu. An unforgettable lifetime experience and one of the things in Vanuatu, I would do again in a heartbeat.

When back in Port Vila, if you still have the energy to explore, go to Iririki Island. There are nice beaches to swim or just relax under the palm trees. I was having dinner with other tourists from the Pentecost Island tour.

You can read my Nagol Land diving tour review here or have a look what it was like.

DAY 4: Efate Itinerary – Tour around Efate island

Explore the main island of Vanuatu, Efate.

If you are traveling to Vanuatu with a group or as a couple, you might consider renting a car. I didn’t want to spend another day in Port Vila or rent a car on my own, so I joined an Island tour with BBQ lunch.

We visited the Blue Lagoon and Eden on the River, the cultural village, and the Turtle sanctuary. There were 4 people on the tour so it didn’t feel too crowded for my taste. The guide was speaking English and French.

Tour starts in Port Vila and from there you visit a cultural village, where you learn about the history, life, and customs of Ni-Van people. I was most shocked hearing stories about cannibalism, how they use spider webbing for fishing, hunting, knowing which fish are poisonous and more.

Then we went to the Blue Lagoon where we had time to swim in crystal clear water. The day of the tour was a no-cruise ship day, so it was a bit quieter. After we went to Eden on the River.

Our final stop before going back was a small turtle sanctuary. Some people got to feed them and swim with them but I saw turtles in other places so was not participating in this activity.

Island tour is a good half-day tour to break up your day, and perfect if you don’t want to spend the whole day on the beach. Blue Lagoon was the highlight for me.

The tour was fine but I wasn’t that impressed, I would rate it 3.8 out of 5. Probably because I was still under a strong impression from the land diving tour the day before, which was a dream come true and one of my best days in Vanuatu.

DAY 5: Tanna Itinerary – Fly to Tanna and transfer to Yasur volcano

Today you are going to visit another island in the Vanuatu archipelago. Visiting Tanna and its main attraction Mount Yasur volcano was a second bucket list item on my Vanuatu itinerary.

The first one was Naghol land diving, the second one was the Yasur volcano tour and the third one was celebrating my birthday on Champagne beach.

Plan to spend here at least 2-3 days on Tanna.

Mount Yasur is one of the world’s most accessible active volcanos on the World. If the volcano is too active, or if the weather is bad the tour might get canceled. This happened to me but I was able to do a Volcano hike on my last day on Tanna Island.

Also, make sure you have enough cash with you since ATMs are very limited. Plus if you are staying in some of the bungalows overlooking Mt. Yasur, cash is the way to go and there might not have electricity or accept card payments. Bring snacks, water and warm clothes.

Direct flight from Port Vila to Tanna with Air Vanuatu only takes 40 minutes and offers amazing views. I’ve had a mid-day flight to Tanna Island White Grass Airport. I took a bus from Port Vila VT 150 VUV ($1,8 AU | 1,2€ | $1,3 US) to the airport.

Now, the next part of your Tanna itinerary will depend on where you will stay on the island.

Basically, Tanna is a small island and accommodation options are limited. If possible, book yours in advance! I haven’t and was struggling to book one last minute.

You will find resorts on the West side of the island, closer to the airport, and bungalows and tree houses on the East side of the island, around the Mount Yasur area. I was staying in the Mount Yasur area.

If you are staying in nicer and more modern accommodations on the West side, you can spend your afternoon snorkeling or visiting one of the blue holes. Great accommodation in that area is White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa offering complimentary Airport Transfers.

As mentioned earlier, I stayed in an accommodation with Mt. Yasur view. First, because it was easier to get on a tour, and second because I always wanted to stay in a treehouse and have a front-row view of the volcano. Service is basic, with limited WiFi and electricity. But the experience is genuine and one of a kind.

I have had my transport from the airport to the accommodation arranged with my hotel. I paid VT 4000 VUV ($48 AU | 31€ | $34 US) from White Grass Airport on Tanna Island to my Mt. Yasur view accommodation. The drive took us around two hours. It was raining heavily and the ‘roads’ were non-existent.

It was only me in the car and the driver/accommodation owner stopped at the store so I could buy snacks and water. Trust me, you will need both of those things so stack up!

The drive was first through the forest and a bit uphill, but then we started to descend.

Along the way, we stopped many times to see the ash plains of Mount Yasur and Tanna coastline. Seeing the black ash-filled landscape, the grounds shaking every now and then was surreal. It felt like landing on Mars.

The closer we were driving to the volcano, the scarier it looked. In some parts, we were able to see the smoke coming out of the ground. The smell of rotten eggs was getting stronger.

I was really impatient and too excited to go up. But the volcano was too active that day, and the weather was not nice, so all the tours were canceled. Hopefully tomorrow!

After I arrived at the Castle Tree House And Bungalow I got my very own tree house, with a view of the volcano. It was basic but super nice. The view was worth it. I also ordered some dinner and that was it for the night.

The night was cold, windy and it rained. I didn’t sleep very well, since I was admiring red lava at every volcano eruption. Magnificent to watch! And frightening. At every eruption, there was a ground shake that was felt even more high up on the tree.

Where to stay in Tanna:
• White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa on the West Coast of Tanna is close to the airport and offers complimentary airport transfers. They have a private beach, free Wifi, a pool, a spa, and dining options.
• Castle Tree House And Bungalow is where I stayed on the East Coast. It is surrounded by lush vegetation and has a homey, traditional feel with a free breakfast. They can help with organizing tours.

DAY 6: Tanna Itinerary – Kastom village

Full day for activities on Tanna Island. Choose between hot springs, going to the beach, ash boarding, visiting a kastom village, volcano tour …

It was pouring down with rain, so I was stuck at my accommodation. I was not the happiest since I was planning to do all sorts of activities. But, there was nothing I could do. You can’t fight Mother Nature.

The owner of the bungalows said that the tours to the volcano will (again) not operate today. Bad weather and high volcano activity level. Fingers crossed, I might do it tomorrow.

Luckily, it cleared up by midday so I could visit a kastom Latapo village close by for 1500 VUV ($18 AU | 12€ | $13 US). Bring cash!

Most people visit the Yakel Tribe’s village on the other side of the island.

Yakel is also the tribe showcased in the Tanna movie, which I highly recommend watching. It displays kastom traditions on the island, there is (of course) a love story and Mount Yasur Volcano. You can say this is Vanuatu’s version of Romeo and Juliet.

Visiting Melanesian Kastom village in Vanuatu will be like stepping back in time.

You will be greeted by men, women, and kids wearing traditional clothes, lavalava skirts, nambas, and leaves. Then they will show you their custom and traditions. How to dance, use various leaves, how to make a lavalava skirt from hibiscus plants, how to make fire with sticks and dry wood.

Have a look at the women chanting and dancing in the Kastom village.

You will also see them dancing and singing. Women and men individually and then together. A beautiful site, especially with the Mount Yasur volcano in the background. If you are lucky, they will invite you to come and dance with them.

Later they will show you plants they use for food (taro, yam, sweet potato), herbal medicines on-site, and trees surrounding them, including a huge banyan tree.

The Kastom village visit lasted for a couple of hours and it was well worth the visit.

Back in my accommodation I ordered some dinner and went to bed hoping I will be lucky enough to do the Mount Yasur hike tomorrow.

DAY 7: Tanna Itinerary – Mount Yasur volcano hike

Another day reserved for different activities on Tanna. Visiting hot springs, going to the beach, ash boarding, visiting a kastom village, volcano tour, black magic tour …

This was my last day on Tanna Island. It was drizzling but I was still happy when I found out that the volcano tours would operate today. Yes!

After a lovely lunch, I took a scenic walk through the jungle to get to the entrance of Mount Yasur Volcano Safari. Going through the jungle on ‘local paths’ it would be 15-20 minutes. I took the safer approach and chose the road. It took me around 50 minutes (15 minutes drive). 

Hiking Mount Yasur volcano is a fantastic, frightening, and unforgettable experience.

I was at the entrance just in time for the sunset Mount Yasur tour. The tour lasted from 2 to 3 hours and I paid 8000 VUV ($96 AU | 62€ | $68 US) entrance fee. I joined other people who came from the West side or Tanna or walked to the entrance.
 
Volcano tour starts with a special ceremony from a local tribe. Then it is followed by a 4WD drive to the top and a short hike to the volcano crater. On the way, you will pass by the Vanuatu volcano post office.

Standing on the volcano’s edge, with LOUD eruptions, HORRIBLE smell, ash everywhere you look, and flying lava … I am not sure how safe this actually is. It is scary. It is exciting. It is raw. Filled with adrenaline. Adventure at its finest.

Below is one of the eruptions. You can see the sound (ash) wave before the ‘bam’.

First, you SEE bright yellow-red light, then flying lava and the explosion, after you can actually see the sound wave and HEAR the buumm, then you FEEL ground shaking and warm air full of sand and ash around you. After you can SMELL the sulphur. Dopamine travel at its finest.

Visiting the world’s most accessible active volcano is impossible to forget but it is far from being 100% safe. It is nature. It is wild and people have died here.

I wrote another, more detailed, article about my Mount Yasur hike experience with tips you should follow.

Before the tour, I arranged with my accommodation to pick me up after the end. It was pitch black and I didn’t want to get lost walking. I paid 1500 VUV ($18 AU | 11.5€ | $12.5 US) for the tide from the volcano to the accommodation.

Was the Mount Yasur volcano tour worth it?
Absolutely! No doubt about it! It is a scary but unforgettable experience! An absolute must-do in Vanuatu.

DAY 8: Santo Itinerary – Fly to Espiritu Santo and transfer to Luganville

Leave Tanna and fly to Espirito Santo, or Santo, the biggest island in Vanuatu.

This will be the last leg of your Vanuatu itinerary island hopping. Depending on the day, you might get a direct flight with Air Vanuatu from Tanna to Santo. If not, you will have to switch planes in Port Vila.

I started my day bright and early. First, for the transfer from Mt. Yasur to Tanna Airport. I paid 2500 VUV ($30 AU | 20€ | $21,5 US).

My direct flight to Santo was changed, so I had to fly to Efate first and then to Santo. All good, but that meant I had to pay departure tax twice. In Luganville, I got a taxi from the airport to my accommodation and had dinner in a local restaurant.

Where to stay on Espiritu Santo Island:
• I stayed at Deco Stop Lodge. At the time they had a dorm room, but since I was the only one there, it was like having a private room. They have a pool, and are a short 10-minute walk from Luganville. They also help you book tours and have bikes for rent available.
• Two other great places to stay in Luganville are The Espiritu and Hotel Santo Vanuatu.

DAY 9: Santo Itinerary – Luganville and Millenium Cave adventure

Sign up for the Millennium cave tour. You will get wet but your day will be full of adventure and this might as well be the best thing to do in Santo. If you can, add it to your Vanuatu itinerary.

Money from the tour, 7500 VUV ($90 AU | 57€ | $62 US), goes back to the local villages you will see on the tour. So by going on it, you will actually help the local community.

I was hesitant to sign up for the tour at first. But contrary to what people were saying about the Mele Cascades, all the tourists and locals were raving about this one. So I decided to go.

It is fun, exciting, and adventurous. You need to be in a good physical condition to do it as it is not a moderate hike.

You will be walking on slippery surfaces, ascending, descending, walking in a cave, and more. Harder and more exciting than the Narrows in Zion.

Wear shoes and clothes that can get wet (because they will). If you choose to bring a phone, wear a waterproof bag to protect it (or you will have no photos from it, like me).

DAY 10: Santo Itinerary – Million dollar point and Blue holes

Espiritu Santo is a mecca for divers, famous for diving the SS President Coolidge. If you are a diver, including Santo in your Vanuatu itinerary is a must.

Spend your day checking some must-do things in Santo. Like diving or snorkeling on Million Dollar Point and visiting Blue holes in the afternoon if you have some time and energy left.

I rented a bike for the day.

My first stop was Million Dollar Point, which is a must-visit in Santo. The entrance fee is 500 VUV or $5 AU (3€ | $3.5 US) if you pay in Australian dollars. I don’t dive but I do snorkel.

At Million Dollar Point, you can see where Americans dumped millions of dollars worth of equipment at the end of World War II.

All the ‘equipment’ is right off the shore. You can see tanks, tops, and wheels … I didn’t feel comfortable looking at all of it, so I left rather quickly.

I spend the afternoon cycling exploring and swimming in the Blue Holes. Blue holes are inland natural freshwater springs. They are blue oases in the middle of the tropical jungle, that get their color from the minerals, depth of the blue hole, and water purity.

I visited three blue holes in Santo: Riri blue hole, Matevulu blue hole, and Nanda blue hole or Jackie’s blue hole.

There is a 500 VUV ($6 AU | 4€ | $4 US) entrance fee for Riri and Matevulu and a 1000 VUV ($12 AU | 6€ | $8 US) entrance fee for Nanda Blue Hole.

My cycling day ended at Nanda Blue hole. I was just too exhausted getting lost twice and biking all the way back to Luganville. I paid a local to drive me and a bike back to my accommodation.

DAY 11: Santo Itinerary – Port Olry and Champagne Beach

Today you are going to spend a day relaxing on the north of Santo Island. Spend a day on a beach in Port Olry Beach and visit one of the best beaches in the world, Champagne Beach.

Champagne Beach got its name from the volcanic gasses coming through the sand, so it looks like the beach is bubbling. You can also feel the bubbles when walking on the sand. The scenery is just perfect for some stunning Vanuatu photos.

As with many beaches on other South Pacific Islands (Fiji, Samoa), there is a fee to enter.

Champagne Beach is privately owned and the fee is VT2000 VUV ($19 AU | 15€ | $16 US) per vehicle, or 500 VUV ($6 AU | 4€ | $4 US) for walk-ins. If you stay in one of the accommodations on Champagne beach, the entrance is free.

With two other travelers, we rented a taxi for a day and paid 4000 VUV ($48 AU | 31€ | $33.5 US) each. It took us to all the sites on the East Coast, Blue Holes (the ones I visited yesterday), all the way up to Port Olry and Champagne Beach.

We spent the whole day on the beach. Snorkeled, swam in the blue ocean, played with local kids, and had lobster lunch at one of the local restaurants.

DAY 12: Santo Itinerary – Espiritu Santo and departure

Time to say goodbye to Santo and Vanuatu. Depending on your International flight, you might have to take a flight to Port Vila first, so plan accordingly.

Richer with memories, adventures, and experiences, say goodbye to paradise (until next time).

My flight to Port Vila was in the morning and my outbound flight from Port Vila to Fiji was in the evening. So I had a whole day to spend in Port Vila.

I visited Port Vila Market again, where I bought souvenirs and grabbed another delicious burger. All before my flight to another Island archipelago in the South Pacific where I spent the next 2 months, filming a reality TV show Australian Survivor.

Map of an itinerary for Vanuatu

Possible Vanuatu travel itinerary alternations

Shared 12 days in Vanuatu itinerary is great for a first-time visitor to Vanuatu.

It is more on the active side and offers a perfect combination of beaches, adventure, sightseeing, nature, and history. You will have enough time to explore what different islands in the Vanuatu archipelago have to offer.

I understand that not anyone wants the same from their Vanuatu vacation. You might be traveling at different times of the year, and spend more or less time in this not to touristy Melanesian country. Therefore flexibility is key.

Below I offer some more Vanuatu itinerary ideas on how you can adjust and customize itinerary for your needs.

Travel itinerary ideas for less than 12 days in Vanuatu

If you don’t have 12 days for Vanuatu and are wondering “How many days in Vanuatu is enough?” I would say, to have at least 1 week in Vanuatu, but if possible 10 days in Vanuatu would be perfect. In that time you can still visit all three main islands, Efate, Tanna and Santo.

What to do in Vanuatu for a week? If you want to explore Vanuatu in 7 days, I would suggest visiting only two islands. Efate and eather Tanna or Santo. If you feel adventurous, you can perhaps book a Tanna volcano day tour. If you still decide to visit all three, then on Santo go to Million Dollar Point and visit Blue Holes.

Travel itinerary ideas for more than 12 days in Vanuatu

It is always nice to have extra days in your travel itinerary. You can include more beach time, more diving time, or more adventure.

For 2 weeks in Vanuatu itinerary, spend more time on Santo if you are diving. Make sure to do the dives at least 1 day before your flight. Same if you are planning your Vanuatu honeymoon itinerary.

For more adventurous, I would suggest adding an overnight tour to Ambrym Island (another volcano) to your itinerary.

Now that you have a better idea on your Vanuatu itinerary, have a look at other Vanuatu travel guides and find out how to get to Vanuatu, cost of travel to Vanuatu, learn about my hiking Mout Yasur volcano experience, read about Naghol land diving on Pentecost, find things to do in Vanuatu, where to stay and how Vanuatu compare to Fiji and Samoa.

FAQ about travel itinerary for Vanuatu

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