-
Port Vila, Vanuatu © Phillip Capper/Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0
Port Vila, Vanuatu © Steffen Wurzel/Wikipedia/CC-BY-SA-3.0
Port Vila, Vanuatu © eGuide Travel/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
Port Vila, VanuatuPort Vila, Vanuatu
Port-Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. It is situated on the island of Efate in the province of Shefa. Port-Vila is slowly growing but remains a small and laid-back capital. The city extends across the length of Vila Bay, with parks, markets, and restaurants trailing the waterfront. Host to Vanuatu's largest harbor and airport, Port-Vila is a popular destination for cruise ships and a base for tours and adventure activities across the island of Efate.
Efate is an island in the Pacific Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Vanuatu. It is also known as Île Vate.
It may not look like it, but Port Vila is one of the most multi-cultural towns on Earth. Its 40,000 Melanesian inhabitants come from over a hundred language and cultural groups and bring those languages and cultures with them when... Read more
Destination:Port Vila, VanuatuPort-Vila is the capital and largest city of Vanuatu. It is situated on the island of Efate in the province of Shefa. Port-Vila is slowly growing but remains a small and laid-back capital. The city extends across the length of Vila Bay, with parks, markets, and restaurants trailing the waterfront. Host to Vanuatu's largest harbor and airport, Port-Vila is a popular destination for cruise ships and a base for tours and adventure activities across the island of Efate.
Efate is an island in the Pacific Ocean which is part of the Shefa Province in The Republic of Vanuatu. It is also known as Île Vate.
It may not look like it, but Port Vila is one of the most multi-cultural towns on Earth. Its 40,000 Melanesian inhabitants come from over a hundred language and cultural groups and bring those languages and cultures with them when they come to settle in the capital. All retain links with their home islands: ask someone on the street where they're from, and you're almost sure to get an answer other than "Port Vila". In addition to the ni-Vanuatu population, there is an assortment of Australians, New Zealanders, Europeans, Chinese, Indians and other expatriate nationalities who call Port Vila home.
Life in Port Vila is expensive. There is no income or corporation tax here, so the government must earn money instead with taxes and duties on goods, which were expensive anyway because of high transport costs. As a Western visitor, you'll find the prices mildly high, but to locals they're horrific. As a result, there is a certain amount of dissatisfaction in the air, particularly among young people who can find nothing to do apart from sperem pablik rod (stand around on the highway). However, this dissatisfaction is seldom aimed directly at the foreigners who have helped to create the problem by turning Vila into a tax haven, and mostly the local people continue to smile, enjoy life, and welcome visitors warmly. They do still live on a beautiful tropical island, after all.During World War II, Efate served an important role as a United States military base.
Climate
Port Vila is tropical, and at times very hot, but during the June-August cool season, the weather can be surprisingly chilly by tropical standards. During these months, pack a sweater and don't expect to spend all day in the pool.
Survivor
Efate was used as the location 3 seasons the reality game show, Survivor. The island was used for season 9 of the American edition of Survivor (titled Survivor: Vanuatu - Islands of Fire), season 2 of Australian Survivor (titled Australian Celebrity Survivor: Vanuatu) and season 6 of the French edition (titled Koh-Lanta: Vanuatu). Much of the Survivor: Vanuatu and Australian Celebrity Survivor were filmed approximately 30 minutes from Port Vila near Mangililu and Gideon’s Landing, the latter of which is now a commonly visited tourist attraction.
Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efate
Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0Port Vila, Vanuatu: Port Information
Cruise ships anchor offshore, and travelers are transported ashore by tender boats.
Besides, your cruise ship may dock at the commercial pier situated approximately 3 miles from the heart of the city. Usually, shuttle service is provided.Get around Port Vila, Vanuatu
By bus
In Port Vila, the buses are mini-buses with a B on the number plate. They largely traverse the main roads and take you wherever you want to go. There are no scheduled services and are perhaps best thought of as cheap, but shared taxis. Wave at one that looks like it's heading in the right direction, and tells the driver where you want to go. The driver will either nod, in which case climb on board, or (less commonly) explain apologetically that he's in a hurry to get somewhere else, in which case wait for the next bus. Buses will stop pretty much anywhere (don't pay too much attention to Bus Stop signs), but try to be responsible and avoid stopping them in hazardous places like blind corners. Buses flashing their hazard indicator lights, or which flick their lights at you as they pass, are not in service. Pay the driver as you get off (or earlier if the driver needs change).
The buses are very friendly, cheap, and easy to use; the only downside is the risk of a long detour, depending on where the other passengers want to go. Buses are plentiful within the city and outside the city, you can usually arrange for a bus to meet you at a particular time. There are significantly fewer buses on the road on Sundays, although if you wait a while you can usually find a bus even at slow times, including fairly late in the evening.By taxi
Taxis are plentiful within Port Vila. Fare is calculated per taxi. Around Port Vila, taxis can be hailed for journeys. They are unmetered so you should agree on a price with the driver beforehand. For short journeys around town, expect to pay a few hundred vatus.
Unfortunately, Port Vila is oversupplied with public transport, and charging relatively high fares to tourists traveling from the wharf is often the only way taxis can sustain a living. At other times there is some scope for negotiating the price (if you're in a group and a taxi driver seems really desperate for your business, try asking for "bus fare") but do not expect to be able to barter it down too much. If the fare seems high for the distance, this is mainly because importing fuel and car parts, like many things, is expensive in Vanuatu.What to see in Port Vila, Vanuatu
- National Museum of Vanuatu. Specializes its exhibits relating to the culture and history of Vanuatu.
- Evergreen Cascades Waterfall (10 kilometers outside Port Vila). Stands at a height of 35 meters and is famous for the natural pools that make it perfect spots for swimming. There are independent guided tours that lead to the cascades.
- Mele Island. A small resort islet known as Hideaway Island. Offers snorkeling and glass bottom boat tours. It is 15 minutes boat access from the capital. There is the world's first underwater post office, opened in 2003.
What to do in Port Vila, Vanuatu
- Port-Vila Markets, Kumul Hwy (On the waterfront). Mon-Sat, until late. In the center of town, the Port-Vila markets are a colorful assortment of produce, selling all manner of fruits, vegetables, and foodstuffs. Women leave their local villages and come here to sell wares. Across the waterfront are more markets selling more appealing goods for tourists, including carvings, jewelry, clothing, and souvenirs. Prices are marked and sellers rarely pressure to buy. Like many elements of Vanuatu, the laid-back and quiet approach of daily life can be found even in the market's atmosphere.
What to eat and drink in Port Vila, Vanuatu
Eat
Budget Meals- Mama's Market. The large market in the center of town has Vanuatu-style meals. The food stall workers have been trained in food safety. Typical meals consist of rice, vegetables, and a protein, often in curry or soy sauce. There are also vendors selling take-away tuluk (like a chewy dumpling or tamale filled with meat) and lap-lap (root crop and coconut milk baked pudding, often with meat.)
- Chinese stores. Many of the Chinese stores around town sell quick snacks like banana bread, egg sandwiches, and hard-boiled eggs. Chew Store and Tebakor are good.
- Chinese takeaway. There are several inexpensive Chinese takeaways and restaurants around town. They usually have rice and egg or meat dishes. The quality varies but is not so bad.
Restaurant Options- Many restaurants in Port Vila have lunch special costing. This can be a very good deal compared with dinner prices.
- Spice This is Port Vila's best Indian restaurant. It is located near Au Bon Marche 2.
- L'Houstalet Local French place with pizza, pasta, and other dishes. The flying fox dish is famous.
- Chill This overlooks Iririki Island, above the Sea View takeaway by the Mama's Market. It has a good lunch special.
- Jill's Cafe This is the best western-style breakfast place. They also have salads, burgers, and Mexican dishes.
- The Brewery Australian-style dinners, craft beer, and a good pizza special once a week.
Drink
Alcohol is reasonably expensive in Port Vila. Shops and kava bars are not allowed to sell alcohol on Saturdays after noon, or on Sundays.
The suburbs of Vila also contain literally hundreds of kava bars. Some are little more than garden sheds; a colored lantern outside indicates that kava is on sale. Tourists are an unfamiliar sight in most kava bars but are usually made very welcome. Some larger kava bars also sell beer, soft drinks, tobacco, and local food items. Most bars open at sunset (though a couple are open 24 hours a day) and close two or three hours later when the kava bucket has run out. Kava is much less likely to disagree with you if taken on an empty stomach - go to the kava bar before dinner, not after. Down your shell in one go, suck on a sweet to remove the taste from your mouth, then sit back and enjoy the relaxing effect. See the main Vanuatu page for some other important "do's and "don't's around kava drinking.Safety in Port Vila, Vanuatu
As developing-country capitals go, Port Vila is extremely friendly and safe, but petty crime is on the rise, so take usual precautions. Lone women should take particular care. Wandering the streets at night is best avoided due to dogs, drunks, and muddy potholes.
The tap water is safe to drink.
The malaria risk in Port Vila itself is reckoned to be minimal, but do take precautions against malaria if venturing out of town.
LOCAL TIME
11:15 pmJanuary 26, 2022Pacific/EfateCURRENT WEATHER
29.68 °C / 85.424 °F
moderate rainThu
29.7 °C/85 °F
moderate rainFri
28.21 °C/83 °F
moderate rainSat
26.75 °C/80 °F
heavy intensity rainSun
27.01 °C/81 °F
moderate rainLOCAL CURRENCY
VUVTravelers recommend visiting the following places of interests
Mele, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Mele Island (also known by tourists as Hideaway Island) is a Polynesian outlier and islet in Vanuatu. The island is owned by the local Mele villagers, but is leased to the owners of Hideaway Island Resort. The island is accessed by a boat service from nearby Port Vila and offers accommodation and watersports to visitors. Underwater post office...Lelepa Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Lelepa (or Lélépa) is an island in the southwestern Pacific island nation of Vanuatu. It belongs to the New Hebrides and is located off the northwest coast of the island of Efate. Lelepa has a length of about five kilometers in north-south direction and an area of 160 hectares. The highest point is Mt. Tifit (202 m). The population of Lelepa is...Pele Island, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Pélé Island, sometimes spelled Pele in English, is a volcanic island located 11,2 miles north of the island of Éfaté in the Shefa Province of the Republic of Vanuatu. It has a total area of 1.7 square miles, Pélé is inhabited by about 200-220 Ni-Vanuatu villagers residing in the four villages: Worsiviu, Worearu, Piliura, and Launamoa. Pélé Island...Port Havannah, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Port Havannah is a port village on Efate Island in Vanuatu. History World War II With Japanese forces establishing bases on Guadalcanal which threatened the sea route between the U.S. and Australia, Admiral King distributed the joint basic plan for the occupation and defense of Efate on 20 March 1942. Under its terms the US Army...Moso, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Moso Island is an island off the northwest coast of Efate in Vanuatu, in Shefa Province. It is separated from Efate by Namoso Passage, which is 200 meters wide at its narrowest point. Along with Lelepa, it creates the harbour at north Efate known as Port Havannah. This harbour was a focal point during World War II, with many troops stationed there...Iririki, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Iririki is a privately lease held island, located in Mele Bay, just minutes from Port Vila, the Capital of Vanuatu. Iririki Island translates to ‘Small Island’ or ‘Safe haven’, and is now a luxurious 4.5 star island escape, a favourite with tourists worldwide and a particularly with Australians and New Zealanders. The whole island is long term...National Museum of Vanuatu, Port Vila
The National Museum of Vanuatu (or Nasonal Miusium blong Vanuatu) is located in the Vanuatu Cultural Centre in Port Vila, Vanuatu. It specializes in exhibits relating to the culture and history of this group of islands in the South Pacific.Cathedrale du Sacre-Coeur, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Cathédrale du Sacré-Coeur (Cathedral of the Sacred Heart) is a modern Roman Catholic cathedral in Port Vila, Vanuatu. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port-Vila. The church is dedicated to the sacred Heart of Jesus.Chief Roi Mata's Domain, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Roimata was a powerful 13th century Melanesian chief from what is now Vanuatu. His elaborate grave, containing the bodies of over 25 members of his retinue, was discovered by French archaeologist Jose Garranger in 1967 and inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008. Garranger was able to locate the grave on Eretoka island by analyzing local...Nguna, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Nguna Island is an outer island off the north coast of Efate, Vanuatu in Undine Bay. It is neighboured to the east by Pele Island and to the west by Moso Island. Geography The island is dissected by two extinct volcano craters, the highest of which is the peak of Mount Taputoara at 593 meters (1,946 ft) tall. The Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area...Latest travel blogs about Port Vila, Vanuatu
We continue our trip on Vanuatu, the Efate island . Here’s the waterfall Mele Sascades. We asked the driver to drive us to the hotels to see the island beaches. Here’s a view of Hideaway Island. A similarly-named 2-star hotel is located on this island. People can get there by...
Vanuatu is one of the most extraordinary island groups in the Pacific Ocean, often called the "untouched paradise of Oceania". We moored on the shores of this happy country on the fourth day of our cruise trip. Vanuatu is a Pacific country in Melanesia, situated on 83 islands...
