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 Vanuatu
is a colorful land full of many cultures, full of fascinating surprises.
Make discoveries for yourself by asking
the nearest ni-Vanuatu
(indigenous inhabitant) for the nearest cave, waterfall, swimming
hole, hot spring, blowhole or cliff. The general beauty and relaxed
way of life are Vanuatu’s biggest attractions.
No other South Pacific Country harbors as many local variations.
The glamorous duty-free shops, casinos, hotels, resorts and gourmet
restaurants of the cosmopolitan capital, Port Vila on Efate Island,
contrast with unchanging, traditional villages just over the horizon.
You’ll be moved by the friendliness of the ni-Vanuatu.
The Land
The 83 Islands of Vanuatu (the name means “Land Eternal”)
stretch north-south 815 miles, from the Torres Islands near Santa
Cruz in the Solomons to minuscule Matthew and Hunter Islands east
of New Caledonia. Vanuatu sits on the west edge of the Pacific
Plate next to the 8,000-meter-deep New Hebrides Trench.
Vanuatu Weather
Vanuatu has a hot, rainy climate – tropical
in the north and sub tropical in the south. The wet season is
November thru to April
but sudden tropical showers can occur anytime. May to July are
the optimum months for outdoor activities like hiking as they
are cooler
and drier.
Flora & Fauna
 A principal botanical curiosity of Vanuatu
is giant banyan trees (nabangas), which often dominate village
meeting or dancing places
(nasaras), especially on Tanna Island. The multirooted banyan begins
by growing around another tree, which it ultimately strangles out
of existence. These massive twisting mazes of trunks and vines
are among the earth’s largest living organisms.
Vanuatu’s colorful reefs hold its greatest store of life, including
tiger sharks. In Vanuatu sharks are associated with a particular
type of magic that involves certain individuals who can either become
sharks or control sharks.
Though introduced by man, the pig is now considered indigenous.
Ni-Vanuatu in the central and northern islands knock out the male
animal’s
upper canine teeth so it’s lower tusks have nothing to grind
against, and in six or seven years the tusks grow into a full circle.
The pigs are highly valued by their owners, and the meat and tusks
are prized at initiation rites and feasts.
Vanuatu Highlights
The islands of Efate, Espriritu Santo
and Tanna are the three main islands that tourists visit for
the main reason that they have
the best known sights, including the country’s only towns, Port
Vila and Luganville. Tanna is acclaimed for Yasur Volcano and the
Jon Frum Cargo Cult, Efate has an interesting road around it’s
coast, and Espriritu Santo boats one of the South Pacific’s
finest beaches. For a relaxing, slow paced vacation, Vanuatu is
the place for you.
Activities
Scuba diving is well developed with several
active dive shops in Port Vila and a couple more at Santo. Game
fishing is available
at Port Vila. Other active sports to pursue are windsurfing in
Vila’s
Erakor lagoon, horseback riding at one of the two ranches on opposite
sides of port Vila, and yachting on a charter vessel based at Port
Vila. Golf is big in Vanuatu, with two major 18-hole golf courses
on Efate and smaller resort courses at two Port Villa hotels. There’s
also a golf course at Santo. Hiking is probably the most commonly
practiced sport, with well used trails existing on all the outer
islands, with Tanna being the most accessible. Mountain climbers
also enjoy the active volcano climbs of Ambrym, Benbow and Marum
in the south and Vetlam in the north.
Special Considerations
Please let your Journey Pacific travel specialists know if you
are having a birthday or anniversary while on the trip. We would
also
like to know of any medical or special dietary requirements, or
food allergies that may be considered in planning your trip.
Practicalities
Everyone needs a passport valid at least
three months beyond their planned date of departure. Passports
may be obtained from your
local County Clerk/Recorders Office. If you need more information,
please
ask your Journey pacific Travel Specialist. This process can
take upto 6-8 weeks so do not delay. Journey Pacific LLC, is not
responsible
for any cancellation costs incurred if proper documentation is
not presented. Most nationalities don’t
require a visa for a stay of one month or less, although onward
tickets are required. Both Port Vila and
lugan ville are ports of entry for yachts. The vayu is the
unit of currency in Vanuatu; us$1 = approx VT120.
Getting There
The most direct flights from North America
is on Air pacific’s
nonstop Los-Angeles to Nadi (Fiji) service, connecting in Fiji
for Vanuatu. A departure tax of VT2,500 in local currency is payable
on international flights. Getting Around
Government owned Vanair offer more than 150 weekly services to
19 airstrips on 18 islands, with four 20-passenger Twin Otters
based
in Port Vila and Espiritu Santo. You can fly from Port Vila to
Espiritu Santo four times a day and to Tanna from Port Vila three
times a
day. Interisland boat travel is far less common and far more laborious. Minors
Minors traveling with one parent or a guardian MUST have a notorized
letter of consent from other/both parents to take the minor out
of the country. Insurance
We strongly recommend that you protect yourself, your belongings
and your vacation through the purchase of travel insurance. A trip
cancellation policy covers your non-refundable payments in most
cases, should you have to cancel your trip at the last minute due
to illness
or injury. Click here for a free quote.
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Journey Pacific LLC ® TM
5660 N. Fort Apache Rd, Las Vegas NV 89149
(800) 704-7094 / (702) 655-9849
(702) 655-2548 - fax
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