Recommended Activities
THE REEF VANUATU ZOOLOGICAL
+678-7682780 | thereefzoological@gmail.com
This tour must one of our best kept secrets and just down the road from Casa De Mar. It is an up close and guided tour through their wildlife sanctuary with some of Vanuatu’s endangered animals. Fantastic Family Fun. Take your snorkel gear for some amazing snorkeling at the front of their property, where you be able to spot some of the many sea turtles they have re-released back into the wild. Open every day 9am to 4pm.
E-BIKES VANUATU
+678) 750 0360 | ride@ebikesvanuatu.com | www.ebikesvanuatu.com
Experience the beauty of Vanuatu like never before with our eco-friendly and convenient eBike rentals. Our shop is open from 7:30am to 5pm, giving you the flexibility to pick up and return your ebike at any time within those hours for your convenience.
FISHING - DEEP SEA FISHING CHARTER
DROPCAST FISHING VANUATU - ANDREA AT DROPCAST FISHING
+678 5586688 | andrea@dropcastfishing.com
Dropcast Fishing Vanuatu provides anglers the ultimate Sportfishing Experience with Adrewa Traverso as your expert guide. Catch the fish of a lifetime while exploring the remote islands of Vanuatu in the comfort of our custom built 46ft sport fisher vessel.
DIVING AND UNDERWATER
SCUBA DIVING - Big Blue Diving Club
+678 27518 | dive@bigbluevanuatu.com | www.bigbluevanuatu.com | Daily
Whether you are a qualified diver or not, you can experience the coral garden and marine life of the area up close. Big Blue, located on the seawall in Port Vila, offers one and two dive packages with equipment hire. For those who have never dived, you can dive right in with an Introductory Dive with a qualified instructor by your side. Big Blue also offers dive courses for Open Water, Advanced and Rescue certification.
SOUTH PACIFIC MEMORIES DIVING
+678 560 0752 | hello@southpacificmemories.com
South Pacific Memories Diving is the newest Padi Dive Resort situated at the beach in a marine protected area. They offer a range of PADI courses, from your very first Discover Scuba dive and Open Water Certification to a variety of Specialty courses. They also do the first PADI professional level, Dive Master. Contact them prior to your holiday to do your eLearning before you arrive so you can get into diving as soon as you arrive.
CRUISES
COONGOOLA DAY CRUISE – MOSO ISLAND
CoonGoola Day Cruise
+678 25020 or After Hours:23271 | drewco@vanuatu.com.vu | www.vanuatusouthpacific.tours | Daily from 11am - 4pm
A shuttle leaves Port Vila daily in the am to take you to your spacious 23 metre timber sailing ketch in Havana Harbour. Visit secluded coves and beaches of fine white coral sand. Snorkel or dive in crystal clear warm water. Feed tame fish, maybe see our dolphin friends at play. You will also visit the baby turtle conservation rookery. Enjoy a dip in the clear crystal water, snorkel the coral reef, savour the delicious Barbecue, feed the tame fish or soak up the sun with a cool drink or two or curl up under a palm and read a book with toes in the sand and relax. The Tranquility turtle sanctuary is a haven for the Hawkesbill Turtle, which is highly endangered and hunted for its prized shell which is used to make jewellery and decorative ornaments. The visiting fee goes back to looking after the turtles, and you also have the option of sponsoring a turtle which means you get to name it and release it. If your turtle is caught by friendly fishermen or scientists in the future, you will be notified by email where your turtle is. Day trips throughout the week. Cruise includes transfer, morning / afternoon tea, BBQ lunch snorkeling gear. The cruise runs daily from Havana Harbour, on the North West side of Efate - The leeward side. Cruise begins with a leisurely sail on the Tranquil waters of the magnificent sheltered harbour and onto our “Sun and Moon Bay”.
AROUND MELE BAY - MELE CASCADES
EVERGREEN TOURS
+678 23050 | sales@evergreen.com.com | www.evergreenvanuatu.com | Open Daily 8am - 4pm
Mele Cascades is famous in Vanuatu. The climb to the waterfall is not a difficult one and, once there, it’s a rewarding experience. You can hop into the pool at the base of the waterfall and swim under the cascade itself. It’s the outpouring of an underground spring so the water is cool, clear and refreshing. There are five pools at the top to jump into and it’s your choice to return via the track or the stream.
VANUATU ZIPLINE AND VANUATU SKYBRIDGE
+(678) 555 0423 | junglezipline@gmail.com | www.vanuatujunglezipline.com
Soar through the rainforest canopy and experience a fantastic buzz while on 7 ziplines totalling 1.3 kms and the 120 metre Skybridge. Zip platform to platform across canyons and ravines enjoying lush jungle and breathtaking water and jungle views. The Skybridge is included for free with purchase of a Zipline Tour.
VANUATU ECO-TOURS
+678 252 99, +678 54 03 506 | ecotour@vanuatu.com.vu | www.vanuatuecotours.com
Waterfall and River Tours
LOLOLIMA WATERFALL TOUR
All Waterfall and River Tours run from 8:30am - 12:30pm or 1pm - 5pm, Monday to Saturday
An unforgettable half-day experience. Take a scenic drive through a private organic farm followed by short walk-through beautiful bush before jumping into a clear rock pool. Swim deep into the heart of rainforest to experience the tranquility and relaxation. Explore a limestone cave complete with stalagmites and bats before returning to Port Vila in time for lunch.
TREKKING IN A BOUFFA RIVER
This tour starts from the top of Lololima falls. No words could describe how amazing this tour is… trek, wade and swim up the river through spectacular jungle scenery.
RENTABAO RIVER TOUR
This memorable walk begins with a gentle descent down to the riverbank. You will swim in the river amazing pristine waters of a gently flowing river. Discover the lush tropical rainforest; enjoy the relaxing swim and much more.
BUSHWALKING TOURS
All bushwalk tours run from 8:30am - 12:30pm, or 1:30pm - 5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Walks are around 4 hours walk except the Sunset Kava Walk which is only 3 hours walking time.
COUNTRYSIDE AND WATERFALLS WALK
An unforgettable half day tour; After an easy walk in the countryside, discover the Vanuatu bush before you jump into a beautiful rock pool and swim deep into the heart of rainforest to experience the tranquility and relaxation.
COCONUT PLANTATION, BEACH AND VILLAGE WALK
A wonderful half day tour through coconut plantation, remote village, local gardens, rainforest, two amazing bays where you can stop for a swim.
TROPICAL RAINFOREST AND RIVER WALK
On this exceptional loop, you discover a breath-taking tropical rainforest with spectacular panoramic views over the mountains then you walk inside a small creek in a middle of a huge canyon. Experience the tranquility of the deep jungles of Vanuatu.
SUNSET WALK AND KAVA EXPERIENCE
A unique experience strolling through beautiful local gardens, a little further along our trail we will guide you to breath-taking panoramic views of crystal-clear lagoon. Then join us at a Kava bar where you can taste the famous Vanuatu Kava. This truly unique experience will surely never be forgotten.
MOUNTAIN BIKING TOURS
Mountain Biking Tours are available from Monday to Saturday, 8:30am - 12:30pm, or 1pm - 5:30 pm
For a real off-road experience, you can go mountain biking around various scenic locations on the island to the areas you cannot easily reach by vehicle. From easy 3-hour rides on relatively flat trails, to more active hour cycles on dirt tracks, you can discover villages, waterfalls, the Vanuatu jungle and plantations-finishing with a well earnt Tusker shared with your guide at the end of the tour.
RIVER KAYAKING TOUR
River Kayaking Tours are available from Monday to Saturday, 8:30am - 12:30pm, or 1pm - 5:30 pm
Kayak down freshwater rivers through the lush, tropical rainforest in single or double kayaks. An amazing trip where you will see tropical lagoons, local children at play by the river, beautiful overhanging trees.
CLUB HIPPIQUE - HORSE RIDING
(678) 23347, (678) 56947 | info@clubhippiquevanuatu.com | www.clubhippiquevanuatu.com
All horse-riding adventures do not require extensive riding experience, but we would not recommend for those who have never been on a horse before. Please ensure you wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Club Hippique will provide transfers from town.
TROPICAL RIDE
Daily at 9am or 2pm
This 1-hour ride will take you through lush tropical rainforest and back through the panoramic fields to the main bay of Etmat. Giving you the opportunity to explore Vanuatu’s tropical landscape in a unique form.
ETMAT BAY BEACH RIDE
Half Day - Daily at 10am or 2pm | Full Day - Daily at 10am (includes BBQ lunch)
This ride passes through tropical rain forests and along the shores of beautiful white sands of Etmat Bay. The full day trip is 5 hours horse riding and includes a BBQ lunch, drinks on the beach with beer, wine and soft drinks and time to lounge on the beach and enjoy a refreshing swim. Bring a towel and sunscreen.
SUNSET RIDE
Daily at 4pm (Subject to seasons)
An unforgettable experience. Ride through the countryside and forests, then cool off in fresh water pools of the waterfall that only few tourists every get to see. Picnic lunch or BBQ lunch, beer, wine, champagne and soft drinks.
EFATE, HAVANA HARBOUR AND ISLAND ADVENTURES
TANNA VOLCANO DAY TRIP - AIR TAXI
+ 678 5544206 | info@airtaxivanuatu.com | www.airtaxivanuatu.com | Full Day
A tour to Tanna Island to view Vanuatu’s famous Mt Yasur Volcano is an experience of a lifetime. Mt Yasur Volcano, on the southern Vanuatu island of Tanna, is probably the archipelago’s most iconic landmark, and justly so. The locals cannot remember a time when Tanna Volcano wasn’t coughing up its blazing entrails, shooting lava bombs and a volcanic ash cloud hundreds of meters into the air, every few minutes. Leaving Vanuatu without having witnessed ‘up close and personal’ the Mt Yasur Volcano fireworks phenomena is akin to not seeing the Eiffel Tower when visiting Paris!If you wish to get up close and personal with a volcano, Tanna is one of the few places in the world where you can do this
NAGHOL LAND DIVING TOUR & EPI ISLAND ECO ADVENTURE – PENTECOST & EPI ISLANDS - AIR TAXI
+ 678 5544206 | info@airtaxivanuatu.com | www.airtaxivanuatu.com | Full Day
This tour combines the Naghol Land Diving Tour with a stop-off on Epi Island, on your return leg from Pentecost to Port Vila.
Once the jumps are over, you will be transferred directly back to south Pentecost airport, for departure to Epi Island. After about 20 minutes of flying, the aircraft will touch down on a grass airstrip, right next to the beautiful white beach at Lamen Bay, in northwest Epi Island.
A boatman will be there to meet you and drive you across the turquoise waters of Lamen Bay, to your lunch spot at Sunset Bungalows. Settle in and be treated to a buffet lunch of fresh, organic “island kai-kai”.
LELEPA ISLAND TOUR
+678 7742714 | lelepatours@vanuatu.com.vu | www.lelepaislandtours.com | Daily from 10am - 4:30pm
This tour will provide the opportunity to appreciate the diverse beauty and culture that makes Vanuatu the special country it is. You will be shown some of the medicinal plants used by the Lelepa people, taken to amazing snorkelling sites, cooked a BBQ lunch, walk through a truly impressive cave and then taken to the local village for afternoon tea, the opportunity to buy handy crafts, and a walk so you can see how the locals live.
AFTER DARK
FRIDAY BEACH BAR FIRE SHOW - The Beach Bar
+678 5601132 | beachbarmele@gmail.com | www.vanuatubeachbar.com | Fridays at 7pm
This is something not to be missed. Every Friday the Beach Bar puts on an absolutely amazing fire show. Beat music, lighting, and choreography all makes this a must see while in Vanuatu.
The troupe learnt their skills from a non-profit local youth centre that was started by a group of volunteers to give local youths skills and raise awareness about issues facing the Ni-Vanuatu today, including health, lifestyle, environment and governance. This troupe has embraced everything they have learnt and taken their skills to a whole new level. You will be amazed! This is a very popular event, so we recommend you get there early to get a good seat and order a pizza before they run out. Please note, this show is done on a donation basis, and they are not paid by the Beach Bar to perform for you. Your contribution to the box passed around at the end of the show will be appreciated.
OTHER
MOONLIT CINEMA
Ph: +(678) 7744826
Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings the Nambawan Café (in the heart of Port Vila on the water in front of the Art and Crafts market), has a free ‘Moonlight Cinema’ where recent release or movie classics are shown on a big screen with the harbour as a backdrop. Grab a beer and a snack and relax with the locals.
PICNIC AT ETON BEACH
This is probably the nicest white sand beach on Efate (there aren’t very many). It really is beautiful, with a gorgeous turquoise lagoon, and there are lots of little whares that you can set yourself up in for the day for a picnic. The locals own and look after this beach and as such will charge you a small entry charge.
TANA CINE
Ph: +(678) 7770444
Vanuatu’s first cinema with 3D and international standards. Movie schedules are released weekly on a Monday with the latest movies shown in 3 sessions each day.
NAKAMALS
Try this for fun
Kava is completely safe, it is actually used as a natural anti-anxiety medication in western cultures as it helps you to relax, with no bad side effects and no hangover. Nakamals are kava bars. Kava is sold in 50 vatu or 100 vatu shells the term shell coming from half a coconut shell that it is served in. To drink kava, take your shell and drink it down in one go (try not to breathe). It has a relaxing effect. As for the taste it’s like bitter peppered muddy water only worse. Kava Lounge is the new upscale Kava Bar in Vanuatu and is popular with a lot of locals and expatriates. Wherever you see a light hanging from a tree, it means the adjacent house is selling kava. Unlike in Fiji, there is no ‘ceremony’ like hand clapping. You can take along a plastic bottle for take away if you’d like to savour the wonders of kava back at Casa De Mar where no one can see you grimace.
Click here to book your luxury Vanuatu self-catering accommodation at Casa De Mar.