Are you looking for a quiet, less crowded, beautiful island filled with natural charm? Vanuatu can fulfill all your imaginations. Here, you can feel the slow passage of time and experience the simplicity of making friends with just a smile; this simple and sincere emotion is the way life should be lived.
The most beautiful secret place, seen from the sky
The sea of Vanuatu is dreamily blue; you can go snorkeling or take a different perspective and view this mysterious island from the air. The capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila, is located on Efate Island, which has a poetic Chinese name - "Cloud Crossing Island". You can book a flight with VHL, a local company operating sightseeing helicopters. The "helipad" is uniquely built in the lagoon, a small platform made of wooden planks measuring only five or six square meters. The landing process is breathtaking, but fortunately, the pilot's skills are excellent, smoothly landing the helicopter on the platform. Once the guests board the helicopter, the New Zealand pilot skillfully lifts the helicopter from the water's surface, gradually distancing from the bustling Port Vila dock.
Cloud Crossing Island is surrounded by mountains on three sides and bordered by the sea on one side, making it a natural harbor. The city is enveloped in forests, resembling a natural gem untouched by human hands. The helicopter flies along the coastline, and the sea presents a delightful turquoise color. There are many undulating coral reefs around the island, and under the sunlight, the colors of the sea become even richer: light green, emerald green, deep blue, and dark blue. At this moment, Cloud Crossing Island resembles a colorful "palette", dazzling and vibrant. Unlike those popular islands, the biggest difference here is - there are no people in sight, neither tourists nor locals, as if it is cut off from the world. Occasionally, a small fishing boat appears in the clear waters, and from the air, it seems to float in the sky, making one exclaim, "So beautiful!"
In a small luxury resort, enjoy romance privately
With crystal clear waters and fresh, pure air, a lifestyle close to nature is highly valued by local luxury resorts. The bay of Efate Island (Cloud Crossing Island) - Havannah Bay, shares its name with the capital of Cuba, and was once a base for the United States during World War II. At that time, soldiers sailing on the sea saw this bay from a distance and thought it resembled Havana Port in Cuba, thus naming it Havannah. Today, it has transformed into a luxury resort - Havannah Hotel.
This luxury resort, run by an Australian couple, has a history of 16 years and is one of the top hotels in Vanuatu. The resort consists of thatched-roof bungalows, featuring minimalist and exquisite marine-themed designs. The rooms are decorated with dark wood paired with soft tones of brown and beige, creating a charming and tranquil atmosphere, with home furnishings made of cotton and linen. The ocean-view rooms face the rippling Pacific Ocean, and each ocean-view pool bungalow has spacious indoor and outdoor spaces, offering unobstructed views of the deep blue sea and rolling waves. The eaves-free ocean-view pool at Havannah Hotel is love at first sight: the crystal-clear blue water extends the view infinitely, allowing you to sunbathe on a lounge chair or sip fresh juice at the water bar, indulging in the afternoon time, romantic to the extreme. Since children are not allowed, it is particularly suitable for honeymoon couples and lovers to enjoy a private space.
At the world's most approachable volcano, send a postcard
Yasur Volcano on Tanna Island is known as "the number one attraction in Vanuatu" and is also called the "most approachable volcano in the world". This island nation is located right on the collision zone of the Pacific Plate and the Australian Plate, and over the centuries, a series of volcanic eruptions have formed the islands, pushing them up from the deep sea. This volcanic archipelago still has seven active volcanoes that spew clouds and smoke.
If you pass through the "Black Desert" beneath Yasur Volcano, you will be shocked by the scenery before you - on the desolate land, black, rusty yellow, and ochre colors outline abstract paintings, devoid of any signs of life, presenting a kind of serene beauty. Not far away, thick smoke swirls around the mountain top, and under the boundless sky, Yasur Volcano is as quiet as a sleeping giant, exhaling gentle breaths with each rise and fall. At the foot of the volcano, there is a simple mailbox specifically for mailing volcano postcards. If you want to share the joy of reaching the volcano with friends, you can buy a few postcards at the hotel, write them, and bring them here to mail.
Yasur Volcano stands at an elevation of only 361 meters, and it takes just a few minutes to reach the summit. The pungent smell of sulfur fills the air, and experiencing the heat waves up close without any protective barriers is quite thrilling. The crater resembles a giant pot, unfathomably deep, occasionally spewing crimson foam, with red flames shooting up, accompanied by red rocks and scorching heat; timid individuals should not venture too close.
As night falls, the volcanic eruptions become more frequent and spectacular, erupting every few minutes like a thousand fireworks blooming, then falling like a meteor shower, instantly returning to calm, brewing the next round of excitement. The boiling magma churns wildly, spewing lava, volcanic ash, smoke, and steam, creating a symphony of red and roaring under the night sky. In the face of such a spectacle, everyone present can only feel awe and silence, leaving their admiration to nature.
Step into the primitive village and plant a coffee tree by hand
Although nature is infinitely charming, it can feel somewhat monotonous without cultural elements. Fortunately, Vanuatu preserves much indigenous culture: the Melanesians, who sailed across the sea, have lived on this land for generations, giving birth to the mysterious Melanesian culture. Entering the primeval jungle to visit their tribes is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into the lifestyle of the indigenous people over the past centuries. At the entrance of Lowinio Village, the chief's wife, dressed in a grass skirt and holding a flower garland, welcomes guests with a solemn demeanor. The village consists of only a few households, but the spaces for men and women are separate. Women manage household chores while men work deeper in the forest. Several thatched huts serve as bedrooms, kitchens, and storage rooms, with locals sleeping on the ground. A woman demonstrates how to process coconuts, while the oldest grandmother in the tribe prepares "delicacies" for guests. Local women will teach you how to preserve food, barbecue, and weave mats, while the chief has the tribesmen demonstrate fire-making with sticks. Another activity reserved for men is the war dance, which involves stomping heavily while dancing, a form of respect for tradition and coexistence with nature.
Nature has also endowed the people of Vanuatu with abundant resources; children can be seen picking fruits by the roadside, cracking them open with stones to reveal white kernels, rich and delicious like coconut meat, known as "Java Olive Kernels". They are everywhere in the forest, and locals pick them to make a meal when hungry. When bidding farewell to guests, locals will also gift them a small branch, which is a famous coffee tree branch from Tanna Island. Planting a coffee tree by hand on the roadside is also a local custom of hospitality.
Wander through the tropical botanical garden and see rare flowers and plants
Here lies the largest tropical garden in the South Pacific - Summit Garden, covering over 10 hectares, with winding paths leading to 11 different styled gardens. The garden's owner initially hired a landscape designer, Adam Ehlmann, who settled in Port Vila, to design it, drawing inspiration from gardens in Asia, Australia, and America. However, two years later, the designer left Vanuatu, and in 2002, the owner sought local horticulturists to continue the work, which took nine years, officially opening to the public on November 1, 2011.
This place resembles a natural museum: aquatic plants, succulents, orchids, bromeliads, palm trees, cycads, vines, and climbing plants thrive in every corner. In a quiet corner among the flowers, a unique black orchid seems to have experienced countless vicissitudes, growing peacefully, profoundly, and nobly without ostentation, just like Vanuatu, hidden in a corner of the world, mysterious and beautiful. The garden guide explains these plants and their uses in the lives of the Vanuatu people, such as for making spices and essential oils. The garden owner has also developed a series of spice products, such as sandalwood essential oil plants, which are distilled into cosmetics, handmade soaps, candles, and body care products, making them one of the few "specialties" of Vanuatu.