Page: Outer Islands - Each Vanuatu Island Offers a Unique Holiday Experience
Outer Islands
Explore Outer Islands in Vanuatu
To get the real taste of Vanuatu as one of the last remaining
paradises, you must visit some of the many outer islands offering a truly unique experience. Formerly known as New
Hebrides, Vanuatu is a South Pacific island archipelago with 83 islands.
Espiritu Santo Island
Perhaps the best known is Espiritu Santo island, or just Santo, the
largest island in Vanuatu archipelago. It’s particularly popular with divers who like to wreck-dive. One of
the best known diving wrecks is the U.S. “President Coolidge” troopship from WWII, left by Americans after it
became victim of one of their own mines.
Vanuatu Aore Island video - located off west coast
of Santo island, facing Luganville, the capital of Santo. This video features highlights from Aore, including Santo
to Aore annual swimming event, nearby Ratua, Melevatu, Bokissa, and Tutuba islands.
Tanna Island
Visit Tanna island to be awed by the majesty of the world’s most accessible active volcano,
Mt Yasur. It’s only an hour flight from Port Vila and one of the most popular islands with visitors. Tanna is also
known for diving wrecks, such as the Fijian sailing ship, laying down in 20 metres of water.
This small island, located off the northern part
of Efate Island, is one of the many
smalland large outer islands in Vanuatu
archipelago.
Ambrym and Erromango Islands
Likewise,Ambrym island is the home to the twin volcanoes, Mt
Benbow and Mt Marum, featuring lava landscapes and unique local customs. Only half an hour flight from Port Vila
and you will reach Erromango island, known
as “Martyr’s Isle”. This is where many a missionary met his doom and where sandalwood traders made their fortune,
while blackbirders (slave traders) left their infamous mark in history.
Malekula Island
The second largest island isMalekula, where local
traditions have been preserved more successfully than on any other Vanuatu island. You will witness their
traditional and colourful custom dances, passed on and kept from their forefathers.
And of course one of the better known Vanuatu islands is Pentecost, where the ceremony
of land diving is held annually in April and May.
There are of course many more Vanuatu outer islands to explore -
these are just some of the better known ones.