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How many days in Vanuatu? 7 days on Efate, Tanna's volcano and Espiritu Santo
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Vanuatu is a chain of 83 islands where kastom, traditional village life, is still strong, and where you can stand on the rim of an active volcano. Give it seven days on three islands: Efate, with the capital Port Vila, for two; Tanna for Mount Yasur, one of the most accessible active volcanoes on Earth, for two; and Espiritu Santo for the freshwater blue holes and the white sand of Champagne Beach. Domestic flights are small and change often, so book them early and stay flexible.
Short answer
Four days covers Efate and an overnight trip to Tanna for the volcano. Seven adds Santo, the largest island, with its swimming holes, wrecks and beaches.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Port Vila and Mele Cascades
Morning. Visit the Port Vila Market House on the harbour, open almost around the clock from Monday to Saturday, with root crops, island cabbage and flower garlands sold by women from the villages. Then the National Museum of Vanuatu (about VT 1,000) for sand drawings and slit drums.
Afternoon. Take a bus or taxi 20 minutes to Mele Cascades (about VT 2,000-2,500), terraced limestone pools and a waterfall in the rainforest, about 20-30 minutes' walk up.
Evening. Watch sunset from Hideaway Island's beach, then eat on the Port Vila waterfront, where fish and chips or a steak costs VT 1,800-3,500.
Minibuses with a red 'B' on the number plate are shared taxis; most rides in Vila cost about VT 150-200.
Day 2: Efate round-island drive
Morning. Drive or join a tour on the 120 km Efate ring road (about VT 7,000-12,000 per person on a tour). Swim in the Blue Lagoon, a bright turquoise pool fed by springs and the sea, with rope swings from the trees (small entry fee).
Afternoon. Stop at Eton Beach for snorkelling in a calm lagoon, at the WWII relics near Havannah Harbour, and at a village for a kastom dance.
Evening. Back in Vila, drink kava at a nakamal, a traditional bar, for about VT 100-200 a shell; it makes your mouth numb.
At Hideaway Island, snorkel to the underwater post office and post a waterproof postcard (entry to the island is about VT 1,500).
Day 3: Tanna: Mount Yasur at dusk
Morning. Fly about 40-50 minutes from Port Vila to Tanna (about VT 15,000-25,000 one way). Check into a bungalow near the volcano on the east side, about 1.5-2 hours by 4x4 from the airport over rough roads.
Afternoon. Visit a kastom village such as Yakel, where people still wear traditional dress and live without money for many daily needs (small fee and gift).
Evening. Take the late-afternoon tour to Mount Yasur (about VT 10,000-15,000 including the entry fee and transport). Stand on the rim at dusk as the crater throws lava bombs into the air.
Yasur's activity level changes; tours may be stopped at level 3 or higher. Respect the guides' instructions.
Day 4: Port Resolution and the Tanna coast
Morning. Drive to Port Resolution, named after Captain Cook's ship in 1774, with a bay of black and white sand, snorkelling and hot springs on the shore.
Afternoon. Visit Shark Bay or the ash plain below the volcano, then swim at a black sand beach.
Evening. Dinner at your bungalow, often lap lap (a pudding of grated root vegetables cooked in an earth oven).
Bring a torch, cash and spare batteries: most bungalows on Tanna run on solar power.
Day 5: Fly to Espiritu Santo
Morning. Fly Tanna to Port Vila and on to Luganville on Santo, about 50 minutes for the second leg; connections can mean a long wait.
Afternoon. Walk the main street of Luganville, the WWII base town, and swim at the Matevulu Blue Hole, 20 minutes north.
Evening. Eat local beef, raised under coconut palms and among the best in the Pacific, at a restaurant on the waterfront.
Santo is big; rent a car or book a driver for the next two days.
Day 6: Blue holes and Champagne Beach
Morning. Drive the east coast road to Nanda and Riri Blue Holes (small entry fees), clear spring-fed pools in the forest where you can swim and kayak.
Afternoon. Swim at Champagne Beach, a bay of white sand about 1 hour north of Luganville (about VT 1,000-2,000 per car), named for bubbles rising from volcanic springs in the shallows.
Evening. Stay at Port Olry, a fishing village with island bungalows and lobster dinners.
Avoid Champagne Beach on days when cruise ships call; it fills quickly.
Day 7: Million Dollar Point and the Coolidge
Morning. Snorkel at Million Dollar Point, where the US military dumped vehicles and equipment into the sea after WWII.
Afternoon. Divers can explore the SS President Coolidge, a 200-metre troopship wreck from 1942 (two-tank dives about VT 18,000-25,000). Non-divers can visit the Millennium Cave with a guide (about VT 8,000-10,000, half a day).
Evening. Fly back to Port Vila for your international flight, or stay a final night on Santo.
Leave a buffer day before international flights; weather and schedules change.
Only have 4 days?
With 4 days, do Efate for two days and an overnight trip to Tanna for the volcano, with the flight back on Day 4.
Got extra days?
Add Pentecost island in April-June to see naghol, land diving from wooden towers, the origin of bungee jumping, or Ambrym for its twin lava lakes on a multi-day hike.
Where to stay in Vanuatu
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Port Vila guesthouses | Simple rooms near the market and bus routes. | VT 6,000-12,000 |
| Mid-range | Port Vila waterfront | Walk to the market and restaurants, harbour views. | VT 15,000-28,000 |
| Mid-range | Tanna volcano bungalows | Simple huts with views of Mount Yasur. | VT 8,000-18,000 |
| Comfort | Erakor / Santo east-coast resorts | Lagoon bungalows with pools and dive centres. | VT 35,000-70,000 |
Getting around
On Efate, shared minibuses cost about VT 150-200 in town; taxis are more. Rent a car (about VT 8,000-12,000 a day) for the ring road. Between islands, small planes fly from Bauerfield Airport in Port Vila; since the 2024 collapse of Air Vanuatu, domestic schedules have been disrupted, so check current operators and book ahead. On Tanna, travel by 4x4 with a driver arranged by your bungalow.
What to eat in Vanuatu
The national dish is lap lap, a pudding of grated yam, taro or banana, baked in an earth oven with coconut cream and sometimes meat. Tuluk is a lap lap filled with pork. Santo beef is exceptional. Port Vila has French bakeries and restaurants from the colonial past. Market food is cheap: a plate of rice and stew costs about VT 300-500. Drink kava, the strong root drink at nakamals in the evening, and Tusker beer.
Best time to visit
May to October is the dry season, cooler at 22-27°C, with calm seas. November to April is the wet season, hot and humid at 28-31°C, with a cyclone risk, especially from January to March. Land diving on Pentecost runs from about April to June.
Month-by-month weather for Vanuatu →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | VT 5,000 | VT 12,000 | VT 30,000 |
| Food & drink | VT 3,500 | VT 6,500 | VT 12,000 |
| Sights & tickets | VT 2,000 | VT 6,000 | VT 12,000 |
| Local transport | VT 1,500 | VT 4,000 | VT 8,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about VT 12,000 | about VT 28,500 | about VT 62,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Vanuatu vatu (VT), roughly 120 VT to the US dollar; domestic flights are extra. Prices include 15% VAT.
Before you go
Common questions
How safe is Mount Yasur?
Tours run when the volcano's alert level allows, usually level 1 or 2. Guides keep groups at a safe distance on the crater rim, but lava bombs and gases are real hazards. Follow instructions, wear closed shoes, and do not go without a guide. Tours stop when activity rises.
Do I need a visa for Vanuatu?
Citizens of many countries, including the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US, get a free visitor permit on arrival for up to 30 days. You need a passport valid for six months and an onward ticket. Check the official immigration website for the current list.
Is Vanuatu expensive?
Moderately. Imported goods and resorts are expensive, but local food, markets, shared minibuses and village bungalows are cheap. Domestic flights add the most to the budget, often VT 15,000-30,000 per leg. Booking flights early and staying in local bungalows keeps costs down.
What is kava like?
Kava is a drink made from the root of a pepper plant. It tastes earthy and makes your lips and tongue numb, with a relaxing effect. Drink it in one go from a coconut shell at a nakamal in the evening. Vanuatu's kava is among the strongest in the Pacific, so start with one shell.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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