Vanuatu
Republic of Vanuatu
Melanesia · VUT
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Vanuatu
Vanuatu mixes volcano scenery, coastal lagoons, and a strong sense of local culture across a small island chain. Most first trips are strongest as Efate plus either Tanna or Espiritu Santo rather than trying to hop multiple islands quickly.
Popular For
Things To See
- Port Vila
- Efate
- Tanna
- Mount Yasur
- Espiritu Santo
- Champagne Beach
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Domestic flights are limited, so build in buffer time between islands.
- A two-island plan keeps logistics simple while still giving variety.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Vanuatu.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Vanuatu Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Vanuatu.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Port Vila
- Population
- 321,409
- Area
- 12,189 km²
- Region
- Melanesia
Languages
- Bislama
- English
- French
Currency
Vanuatu vatu (Vt)
VUV
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
94.6
Price level index (US = 100)
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Port Vila (17.73°S, 168.32°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
23/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 0/100
- Lived safety
- 65/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionUnknown
- Adoption recognition❓
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❓
- Legal gender recognition❓
- Conversion therapy ban❓
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.621
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.009
- 10-year change
- +0.029
- Trend
- stable
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.952
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.556
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🏛️
Chief Roi Mata’s Domain
Inscribed 2008
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 4.2%
- Forest cover
- 36.3%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 8
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 8
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
34/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
72/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Updated to reflect lowering the Travel Advisory Level from Level 3 to Level 1 due to ongoing recovery efforts and removal of the Natural Disaster (N) indicator. Exercise normal precautions in Vanuatu. Country Summary: Infrastructure and roads in Port Vila and the surrounding area were damaged during the December 2024 earthquake, with repairs in progress. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Vanuatu. If you decide to travel to Vanuatu: Monitor local reports and updates from the Vanuatu government and follow all instructions from local authorities. Be aware that some areas may still be undergoing repairs, and access could be restricted. Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Vanuatu. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data