[highlight background=”#FFCAD4″ style=”underline”]15 Things to Do in Vanuatu That Will Blow Your Mind[/highlight]
Vanuatu is a small country in the South Pacific with a population of ~250,000. It’s an independent nation, meaning it isn’t part of another country but also not a sovereign state. If you ask people about Vanuatu and they’ll probably say, “Oh yeah… that place where the movie ‘Kumulos’ was filmed.” In other words, it isn’t exactly on the radar of most travelers. However, if you travel to this island nation, you will be surprised by how different and unique it is. Located north of Fiji, west of New Caledonia, east of Australia and south of New Zealand, Vanuatu is an archipelago made up of over 80 smaller islands located in the north-eastern part of the South Pacific Ocean. The country has more than 200 active volcanoes and many more extinct volcanoes making it one of earth’s most geologically diverse places. Asides from being amazing to see—and explore—there are plenty of things to do in Vanuatu that will leave your mind blown! Here are 15 things you should do when visiting this island country.
[highlight background=”#FFCAD4″ style=”underline”]Visit a Remote Island[/highlight]
When you think of places that are remote and far away, most people probably don’t think of tropical islands. However, Vanuatu has more than just exotic scenery. It’s a country with a population of only around 250,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world. That means that most places are very accessible and you can easily get to them if you want to visit. The main island of Vanuatu is Vanuatu, which is more than 2,000km long. It has two main islands, one on either side of the narrow channel that separates them. The main island is almost completely bare of trees, with a few low shrubs. The other large island is called Espiritu Santo. It’s smaller than the main island, but more densely populated with more tropical forests.
Hike a National Park
National Parks in the USA often attract a lot of attention. The media and travel bloggers show off photos of beautiful parks and give you tips on where to visit. However, not many travellers know that there are also National Parks in other countries, like Vanuatu. You won’t see many people visiting these parks. They’re hidden gems that only a few people know about. That means that you can visit and explore these parks without a lot of people around. You’ll have the place all to yourself, which is amazing! One of these parks is Vanuatu’s Central Was Lands. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that’s located in the national park called Port-Vila Manckeno National Park. It’s just south of Port-Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu. You can visit this park by going to the entrance gate, paying the entrance fee, and then hiking to the summit of Mount Wilhelm. The park itself is already beautiful, but if you hike to the summit, then you’ll be able to see even more of it. The views are just amazing as you can see the ocean, the city of Port-Vila, and even the Torres Islands.
Visit an Ancient City
Picture a place where a lot of people had never been before. Then, picture that same place thousands of years ago. Now, imagine that place looking exactly the same thousands of years later. It might sound like the start of a bad joke, but it’s not. That’s exactly what you’ll get when visiting an ancient city. In many countries, there are cities that are thousands of years old. They’ve been there for a long time, like ancient ruins. However, in other places, there are also cities that are thousands of years old that you’ve probably never heard of. That’s what makes visiting Vanuatu’s ancient city so cool. You’ll be visiting a city that is thousands of years old. However, it’ll also be a city that is completely new to most people. You’ll be visiting an ancient city that no one has ever seen before. You can visit this city by going to the capital city of Port-Vila. From there, take a catamaran to the seaside town of Luganville and then you’ll be in the right place.
Explore a Dark-Sky Sanctuary
Dark-sky reserves are amazing places that are also very rare. In fact, it’s estimated that there are only 25 of these places in the world. Most of these places are found in remote, uninhabited parts of the world. However, a few of them are located in relatively populated parts of the world, like Vanuatu. If you’ve ever wanted to see the stars, then a dark-sky reserve is the place for you. These are places where you can go and see the sky at night with no light pollution. You can even see the International Space Station—which isn’t possible at other times of the year. There are two dark-sky sanctuaries in Vanuatu, one of which you can visit during the day. The other one is only accessible at night.
Drink Fresh Juice and Catch the Sunrise
Drinking fresh juice is one of the most normal things to do in Vanuatu. It’s a common practice all over the world and it shouldn’t be surprising that juice is so popular in this country, too. You can drink fresh juice anywhere in Vanuatu, but the best place to do it is in the capital city of Port-Vila. There are hundreds of different fruit stalls in this city and they all sell fresh juice. You can also go to the beach, where you’ll find plenty of fruit vendors selling fresh juice. You can catch the sunrise in the same city, too. The capital has a beautiful bay that is the perfect place to see the sunrise in the morning.
Be Brave and Go Skin diving
If you want to feel like you’re jumping from the edge of the world, then you can visit a diving center in Vanuatu. This country is so remote that it’s possible to dive in the ocean and travel thousands of kilometres away from any land. You can do this by going skin diving. Skin diving is when you drop into the ocean and then swim to a nearby island. It’s a very adventurous way to explore the world and it’s a very exciting way to visit this country, too. You can do skin diving at a diving center in the capital city of Port-Vila. This is a city where you can feel like you’re on an adventure because you’re so far from most other people.
Eat Traditional Food and Try Village Cooking
Many countries have a special type of food that is traditional and has been around for thousands of years. In Vanuatu, that food is called ti-koravia. It’s traditional food that’s been around for thousands of years and it’s delicious! This food is made from fermented bread that’s been fermented for weeks or months. It’s eaten with salt and then it’s seasoned with herbs, chili peppers and seaweed. Once you try ti-koravia, it will be one of the most special things to eat in Vanuatu. You can try this food by going to a food market in the city of Port-Vila. This is a busy city with a lot of different food vendors. You can try this traditional food by going to one of these food vendors.
Curious You? Check Out These 20 Things to Do in Vanuatu
From exploring a remote island to exploring a dark-sky sanctuary, here are 20 things you can do in Vanuatu that will blow your mind.
