5 Things You Must Enjoy in Efate Island, Vanuatu

As the main island in Vanuatu’s archipelago, Efate is also home to the country’s capital Port Vila. Packed with waterfalls and delicious eateries, ringed by stunning coastline and idyllic beaches, and surrounded by seas containing some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling spots in the world, Efate has something for everyone.

Vanuatu is a tropical paradise the likes of which are usually only spotted on postcards or in the pages of travel brochures. Any visitor’s trip to the country will usually begin on the South Pacific’s main island of Efate, where Vanuatu’s largest international airport Bauerfield is located. From here, many people island hop to the country’s outlying islands either by boat or domestic flight. But there is plenty to do around Efate island and in the capital city of Port Vila to justify more than a couple of days’ stay. The island has a range of accommodation options for all budgets, from top notch resorts to backpacker hideouts, and has a host of activities on offer to entertain culture vultures or nature lovers.

# Hike to the Mele Cascades

With 83 islands, there is no shortage of waterfalls across Vanuatu. But the Mele Cascades are the most famous in the country. Here water tumbles down limestone rocks into natural plunge pools, all set in a lush jungle. Adventurous visitors can hike to the top using the footholds cut into the slippery rocks, or abseil down one of the drops.

# Dive down to underwater spot The Cathedral

Vanuatu’s archipelago is world renowned for its scuba diving opportunities, and although it might sound surprising so close to a capital city, some of the country’s most famous dive sites are right on Port Vila’s doorstep. This includes a dive site named The Cathedral, a huge underwater cavern which divers can swim all the way into. Its name reportedly comes from the effect of the light as it filters through into the cavern through the open roof, giving it a dappled appearance like that of a Cathedral’s stained glass window. Divers can swim into the cavern through a gap 22m (72ft) under the water’s surface. Lots of different species of fish hide in the cavern, and critter hunters can also spot neon-coloured nudibranchs, shrimp and the elusive leaf scorpionfish.

# Watch the sunset from Nambawan Café

The key is in the name at this popular café on Port Vila’s main seafront promenade, a top spot amongst locals and tourists alike. Meaning ‘Number One’ in Bislama, this café serves excellent pizzas and delicious cups of coffee grown on Vanuatu’s southern island of Tanna. Regular moonlight movie nights are also held throughout the week, with the projector being set up against the magical backdrop of Port Vila’s waterfront. “For breakfast or to watch the sunset over the harbour of Port Vila, Nambawan Café is a great spot to mingle with locals,” says Faccarello. “Try the amazing Vanuatu coffee in the morning,” she adds. But be careful it is as strong as the volcanic soil it grew in.

# Learn about Melanesian culture at the National Museum of Vanuatu

A short walk outside Port Vila’s city centre, this small museum is an Aladdin’s cave of information. Learn all about the history and traditions of Vanuatu’s people, known as the Ni-Van, and their vibrant Melanesian culture. Artefacts gathered from all over Vanuatu’s 83 islands are housed in a large open room, including examples of matt weaving and masks. There are also several displays dedicated to boar tusks – so important to Vanuatu that it is one of the important symbols represented on the country’s national flag. Highlights include the giant slit gongs that you see dotted all over Vanuatu, and the scale models of the platforms built by the land divers of Pentecost Island. There are also sand drawing demonstrations, traditional storytelling and musical performances on bamboo instruments.

# Visit the 24-hour food market

A trip to the busy market in the centre of Port Vila is a colourful experience – luminous yellow bananas are stacked high next to vibrant green coconuts, purple aubergines, and piles of yam. When in season, grab a pot of Vanuatu’s famously sweet and juicy raspberries, or crunch on some peanuts after cracking through their muddy shells. Also watch out for giant coconut crabs – the largest and most powerful land crabs in the world – which you can often spot with their claws strung up with coconut fibres in preparation for the cookpot. Faccarello explains: “To truly appreciate the bounty of Vanuatu’s fertile volcanic soil, stroll through the stalls in Port Vila’s Market House, where a rainbow of tempting produce and flowers is piled high and peddled by ever-smiling mamas.” Vanuatu is leading the global charge against plastic waste and since 2018 is completely plastic bag-free, so do not be surprised when your shopping comes wrapped in banana leaves instead of a bag.