About Vanuatu
Vanuatu is a tropical island of amazing contrasts, from Romantic Getaways or Family Resorts with great kids clubs to self contained apartments, or even remote village stays. Plus some of the world's best diving, fishing & water-sports, adventure cruises and you have a holiday to suit everyone.
There is so much to do in Vanuatu, and we can help you enjoy your holiday even more. Formerly known as the New Hebrides, the country was run (up until 1980 when it became independent) as a Condominium between Britain and France. Consequently there is a strong French influence evident in this beautiful country with most of the 220,000 inhabitants speaking both French and English as well as the national language Bislama, a form of Pidgin English.People & Customs
With a population of approximately 220,000, Vanuatu boasts 113 distinct languages and innumerable dialects. This makes it one of the most culturally diverse countries on earth. Most of the inhabitants of Vanuatu are native Melanesian, or Ni-Vanuatu, with the remainder made up of a mix of Europeans, Asians and other Pacific Islanders.When Europeans arrived, a new language evolved. It's name, Bislama, derived from the Bech-der-mer (sea cucumber) traders who developed a form of pidgin English throughout the Pacific. It began as a simplified form of phonetic English, with Spanish, French and colloquialisms added for good measure. As with all languages, it soon took on a life of its own, borrowed then incorporated new words and evolved.
With no written language, story telling, songs and dances are of paramount importance. Art, in its many forms from body decorations and tattoos, to elaborate masks, hats and carvings are also a vital part of ritual celebrations and the social life of the village.
Local life revolves around a constant cycle of ritual events. Every aspect of a person's life is celebrated by extended families that number in the hundreds, filial relationships being remembered back in time through countless generations. Birth, circumcision and initiation, the achievement of status, marriage and death are a paramount feature of a community's social life. With so many relatives there seems always to be a significant ritual of some sort happening, or about to happen, somewhere in Vanuatu.
Top Things To Do
Vanuatu offers a good variety of eco tour products from discovering the hidden beauty of the fabulous flora and fauna in its natural environment, to learning about the history and cultural background of certain natural attractions, meeting local communities that are involved in environmental projects, gentle bush walking passing coconut plantations and historical sites, waterfall and cascade tours, mountain biking tours, river kayaking tours, jet boats, volcano and hot spring trips, bird watching at Vatthe Conservation on Santo, turtle tagging on Moso north of Efate and so much more!If it's adventure you're after Vanuatu is for you, With hundreds of sightseeing and soft adventure tours on offer there's always plenty to see, do and experience in this amazing country.
Make the most of this South Pacific paradise with your choice of adventure tours and activities from kayaking trips, game fishing, scuba diving or sailing trips throughout the magnificent islands of Vanuatu. There's 83 islands and adventure waiting for you to enjoy on many of them. Vanuatu is one of the few places in the world where you can stand at the rim of an active volcano, an awe inspiring site many travel to Tanna Island to witness.
Adventure tours in Vanuatu are suitable for all ages and all levels of fitness and operators can tailor a trip to suit you. Visit a backstreet store where the best homemade jam in the South Pacific is made or a charter flight trip to a deserted island or abseiling down a waterfall. The choice is all yours!
Shopping in Vanuatu
Port Vila is Vanuatu's only duty-free port and a shopper's delight with its colourful blend of French, English and Melanesian cultures. French perfume, champagne and patisseries can be found alongside souvenir outlets, jewellery and gift shops, and fashion wear including brightly coloured sarongs, and-printed t-shirts, board shorts and beachwear. Chinatown in Rue Carnot is a good place to look for bargains, with everything from Japanese stereos to straw hats and camping gear. To navigate your way around, pick up a free city map from the Information Centre on the main street at Pilioko House.Traditional crafts & Souvenir can be purchased at Luganville Town on Santo with numerous small restaurants, coffee shops, a sports club, several dive shops, grocery and Chinese shops that sell everything from food products to Santo Souvenirs and Art. Souvenirs can also be purchased at the island resorts, bungalows and guesthouses. Luganville also has a crafts & souvenir shop at the Airport.
On the main street, there are several duty-free shops selling electrical goods, gifts, French perfume, CDs, cosmetics, liquor, wines, spirits and French crystal. For visitors you will need your passport and onward ticket to make a purchase and the shop will deliver the goods to the airport or main wharf for cruise ship passengers departing Vanuatu.
Foreign cash, travelers cheques and major international credit cards (Amex, Diners, JCB, MasterCard and Visa) are widely accepted. Bankcard is not accepted. Most shops close for siesta between 11:30am to 1:30pm. Eating places, banks, supermarkets and the post office do not observe this siesta time. Shops open on Saturday morning and some specialty shops and supermarkets open on Sunday morning. Suburban general stores open early and close late seven days a week. The colourful market is the town centre operates everyday except Sunday for flowers, fruit, vegetables and handcrafts.
0 Comments
