5 Best Sights in Vanuatu

One of the most beautiful beaches in the South Pacific, Champagne Beach gets its name from the underwater springs that send effervescent bubbles to the surface at one end of the beach. On the northeast coast of the island of Espiritu Santo, a 50-minute flight from the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila, the beach can be accessed from the port of Luganville (50 km away) or better still from accommodations at nearby Lonnoc Beach Bungalows resort. The beach—with its powdery sand, translucent water, border of palm trees, and with views to Elephant Island—is just around the bend from Lonnoc, about a 15-minute walk. P&O Cruises' ships often call at the island for a day tour, so some days it gets busy, but there's room for all.

Vanuatu has several "custom villages" (known locally as Kastom) that tourists can visit to learn about indigenous life. Two of the most prominent are Ekasup Village on Efate and Yakel Village on Tanna. Several tour operators, including Adventures in Paradise, offer a Ekasup village visit as part of an "around island" tour, as well as village-specific tours. On arrival visitors encounter several village dwellers "lurking in the trees" on their way to meet the chief. They are treated to fishing demontrations, fire-walking, local foods' tastings, and dance performances. Evening visits add a Melanesian feast to the mix. Tanna's village visits may be a little more authentic; think women without tops and men without bottoms (or at least minimal covering). Apart from Yakel there's also a custom village at Yasur, near the famous volcano. Additionally, visits to authentic indigenous villages can be arranged on the islands of Ra and Moto Lava, to the north of Port Vila.

These two waterfalls, set in a tropical jungle, are of the most popular attractions on the main island of Efate, about 12 km (7 miles) or a 30-minute drive west of the capital, Port Vila. Visitors can take a local bus or taxi (about 6,000 Vatu) from Vila or visit as part of an organized tour. The starting point for this waterfall trek has a rustic garden and café and a swimming pool, which is fed by water from the falls above. It's a good 45-minute walk to the first cascades and another 10 minutes or so to the next. The walk is slightly challenging— uphill in many parts, over some rocky terrain and across a couple of fast-flowing rivulets—but it's fine for anybody reasonably fit. There's a small wooden covered hut at the first cascade for storing towels and belongings if you want to venture in and have a dip. Adventure fanatics can book abseiling tours. Bring swimwear, reef shoes, and insect repellent.

One of the world's most accessible volcanoes, this fiery feature on the Island of Tanna is a must-see. Best viewed at dusk, the frequently erupting volcano is only a 15-minute walk from the parking area, and a two-hour drive from Tanna airport. Adventurous sightseers can walk right to the edge and peer in, but only on days when the danger level is rated sufficiently low. The volcano is most active in the wet season, from late February to April, and visiting at this time is often discouraged due to the chance of exploding lava and rocks. It's advised to stay two or more nights in Tanna (which is a 35-minute flight from Port Vila), as a day spent visiting the volcano can be exhausting. The volcano, however, is awesome. Its glow was what attracted Captain James Cook to the island in 1774. Most accommodations can arrange tours to the volcano by ute (pick-up truck) or small aircraft. Tour prices range from around $250 for a family of four by ute and around $400 for a flight with Unity Airlines. Tanna Evergreen (www.tevergreenresort-tours.vu) is one of the most recommended tour operators.

One of the largest dive wrecks in the world, the former luxury liner and converted troop ship lies just a few meters off a beach on the island of Espirito Santo, known simply as "Santo." The ship, fully laden with more than 5,000 U.S. troops, was sunk by mines in October 1942 at the height of World War II. All but two men were safely evacuated; however, the ship—which had been embedded on a reef—slowly slipped into the channel and today lies on her side in water varying in depth from 70 to 240 feet. More than 10 dives are needed to explore the entire ship, which was originally launched in 1931 as a 22,000-ton ocean liner. The wreck is suitable for novice and advanced divers, as novices can explore the shallow sections. Dive operators include Santo Island Dive (www.santodive.com) and Allan Power Dive Tours (www.allan-power-santo.com).