Where We Have Been - Vanuatu

We enjoyed the friendly locals and amazing snorkelling in the crystal clear waters where Carolyn encountered a Sea Snake and David spent time with a Sea Turtle. We rented a car and did a loop of the island stopping off at various places and trying our luck at snorkelling.

Highlight: Efate, we booked a tour to Efate Island. They drop you off and a short stroll sees you exit the tropical forest onto a breathtakingly beautiful beach (apparently where Survivor Vanuatu was filmed). After some time snorkelling in the shallow, calm and crystal clear waters of a lagoon the boat transfers you further around the island, stopping off at a cave the locals use as a hurricane shelter, then onto an enclosed inlet where the water is much deeper than it appears, it’s that clear. After another snorkel it’s off around to the village where the children perform for you and the villagers lay there goods out to tempt you.

Memory: Vanuatu has vans setup as min-buses that appear to basically drive around at random and pick people up, a form of ride share. We had an early morning flight back to New Zaland and had organised a pickup. As the sun starts to rise, and our flight gets closer and closer and there is no sign of our ride a local wanders by. Comes back and asks us if he can help. We explain the situation to him. So he steps out and waves down the next van, explains the situation, and we are on our way. This is an example of the people in Vanuatu, those we encountered went out of their way to help.

Closing Thought: If you what a pacific tropical island getaway and some crystal clear water to explore then Vanuatu is a good destination.