One of the fantastic things about a Vanuatu holiday or honeymoon is that everything is so accessible. From Port Vila you can experience a range of excellent tours and activities including the Coongoola Cruise; Sunset Cruise on the Caraid (Meridien Charters); Ekasup Cultural Village; Hideaway Island; Mele Cascades; Abseil Mele Cascades; Secret Garden; Around Island Safari; Glass Bottom Boat Snorkelling; Horse Riding; Fun Buggy Rides; Jet Ski Hire; Lololima Cascades, Bushwalks and Mountain Biking with Pascal Guillet's Vanuatu Ecotours; Helicopter or Seaplane Flights; Parasailing and Scuba Diving.

You may choose to do any of these after arriving in Port Vila but if you would like to pre-book some of the activities on offer we can do that for you and issue you with a pre-paid voucher. All you have to do after arrival is give the company 24 hours notice once you have decided on what day you would like to do it. We can even arrange personalised tours that can include a few of the above with your own driver and transport for the day.

Here's an overview of a few things we recommend and get great feedback on.

VANUATU ECOTOURS
Everyone raves about this little company - excellent value, great experiences and run by a terrific operator/guide, Pascal Guillet. We first met Pascal a couple of weeks before he set up the company in 2004 and he us just as enthusiastic as he was then. He has more than 40 bush walks as well as mountain biking and lagoon/river kayaking safaris. One we love is the Lololima Cascades - a gentle bush walk to your own rainforest, waterfall and swimming hole. We suggest you take this early in your stay because you may want to book another tour with Pascal once you have met him and his ni-Vanuatu assistant Esta. The tours are so good we've given Pascal his own page here

COONGOOLA CRUISE
We love this one, too. She's an old timber ketch that seems to fit perfectly within the laid-back pace of Vanuatu. It's a full day out - you will be picked up from your resort and transferred to Havannah Harbour to board the boat. Included in the cruise is a visit to the turtle sanctuary on Moso (Tranquillity Island), a Beach BBQ lunch, snorkelling, morning and afternoon tea. If the wind is right you will return under sail and chances are you will have dolphins playing off the bow at least one way (they've been there the last three times we've been out).

EKASUP CULTURAL VILLAGE
This is a very professional little set up only about 10 minutes from Port Vila (you will be collected from your resort). While obviously set up for tourists it is a great way to have fun while learning about traditional Melanesian culture and village life - the local food, medicines, dancing and hunting methods (like how to catch a fish with a spider's web). Local men, women and children participate and apart from a great experience for you it means that the fascinating traditional culture is being passed down the generations.

MERIDIEN CHARTERS SUNSET CRUISE
What a delightful way to end the day or begin an evening. The two-hour cruise on Port Vila Harbour lets guests enjoy the view of Port Vila from the water and the sunset, which can be spectacular (Ian has witnessed the phenomenon known as the 'green flash' - a two second fluorescent flash that darts across the horizon as the sun disappears from view - it's very rare so good luck!). Included in the cruise price are nibbles and three drinks (additional dinks are at bar prices). Meridien Charters also runs a terrific half-day snorkel cruise from Port Vila Harbour.

HIDEAWAY ISLAND MARINE SANCTUARY
Hideaway Island is 15 minutes from Port Vila (then five minutes on the free ferry). The snorkelling from the beach is terrific (take your own gear or hire when you pay the entry fee of 500 vatu). You can also buy a bag of fish food if you want the fish to come to you. There's a bar and good little restaurant for snacks or lunch and the sanctuary is home to the world's only underwater post office (snorkel down and send a waterproof postcard). There are organised tours but it's an easy one to do independently.

MELE CASCADES WATERFALL
Allow around 90 minutes to a couple of hours to enjoy this famous attraction. It's an easy walk up to the falls and there are a number of swimming holes on the way back down. There are organised tours with Evergreen Tours that include transfers and refreshments in the Riverside Garden or you can do this independently by hopping a bus from town and paying the entry fee on arrival (1000 vatu). Mele is about 15 minutes from Port Vila.

ADRENALIN & ADVENTURE WITH THE EDGE
If you want to see Mele Cascades from a different perspective The Edge offers abseiling down the waterfall - face-first or traditional. All safety gear is included as are refreshments. And if you want a bit of commando action doing combat with family The Edge also offers Jungle Paintball in the grounds of Le Meridien resort.

NEPTUNE GLASS-BOTTOM BOAT
This is a gentle way to have a look at some of the diverse marine life in Port Vila Harbour. There are two sites for snorkelling from the boat or glass viewing for those who don't want to get wet. Trips depart from the harbour front near the markets and morning/afternoon tea is included.

VANUATU SEAPLANES
The seaplane is based at Iririki Island Resort but can also pick up from other resorts that have beach or jetty access. Their slogan is "Your Imagination is Our Destination". As well as a variety of 'flight-seeing' options (10, 20, 40 & 60 minute flights) there are a number of specialised tours including a drop off and pick up to a private island beach for a 'Robinson Crusoe' style picnic, fly and dine choices and a 'Flight of Fire' volcano scenic tour.

VANUATU HELICOPTERS
The helicopter operates from a platform in the harbour with the office next to the Nambawan Cafe. This is also a great way to see the scenic beauty of Vanuatu. Apart from the fun of 'flight-seeing' you can be dropped to a secluded island for a champagne picnic, have a VIP transfer from the airport to your resort or have a dramatic arrival to some of Vanuatu's restaurants (e.g. Tamanu on the Beach). The chopper is also available for aerial photography and real estate inspections.

FUN BUGGY RENTALS
Join a group for some off-road thrills to beaches and parts of the island others don't get to see. The buggies are suitable for two people (can swap the driving along the way) or there are quad bikes for solo travellers and there are a number of options including beach and jungle safaris or you can combine the buggy fun with kayaking or horse riding and have lunch included in the outing. Tours can be tailored to be relaxing and scenic or wild and muddy.

VANUATU JET
Vanuatu Jet offers wet and wild fun on Port Vila harbour. The high-powered stunt boat spins and fishtails around the harbour or, if you would like an outing of contrasts you can take a Jet/Paradise Cove lunch package - some adrenalin and fun from the harbour front to Pango Point where you can enjoy the facilities at Paradise Cove Resort (volleyball, snorkelling, kayaking) as well as a light lunch in the restaurant (Italian fare). If you want to hoon about independently, there are jet skis for hire from Iririki Island Resort

DIVE, FISH OR PARASAIL
In Vila Peter and Leanne at Nautilus will look after you if you would like an introductory scuba dive (or reef/wreck dives for experienced divers) or some reef or deep-sea fishing. Their boats may not be the newest but they seem to return with more fish than the opposition. Serious divers should put a side trip to Santo on the 'must do' list for dives like Million Dollar Point and the SS Coolidge. On Santo we recommend Allan Power Dive or Santo Island Dive & Fishing (Mal and Tony). You can also parasail over Port Vila Harbour.

OVERNIGHT TANNA ISLAND OR STARFISH BEACH
Tanna island is home to Mt Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano and we recommend at least one night to experience its awesome display (there are day tours but it is more spectacular at night. There are also great village and cultural experiences. For couples who want romance with a 'Robinson Crusoe' experience on their own private beach, there's Starfish Beach on Tranquillity (Moso) Island - this is upmarket camping with a difference - what more could you ask for than a beach, a sunset, chilled drinks and good food?!

LELEPA ISLAND TOUR
Lelepa Island Day tours depart every day except Saturday. Lelepa is a 35-minute drive from Vila and then a short boat ride to the island where there are white sand beaches, caves and rainforest vegetation. A village visit, BBQ lunch, morning and afternoon tea, soft drinks and snorkelling gear are included in the price. We get great feedback on this one and like all tours we can pre-book before you arrive in Vila.

NGUNA ISLAND
Nguna Island is off the north coast of the main island of Efate. Day tours to the island and village can be arranged but staying overnight in the village can be a unique, rewarding and inexpensive experience (includes all meals). The island is home to an extinct volcanic crater and marine and turtle sanctuary. Stays of one to six nights including transfers can be booked through us with Melanesian Tours. Day tours include custom dancing, nature walk and snorkelling. Those opting for the 6 night experience become part of the village - helping with vegetable crops, traditional house building, fishing, assisting with traditional ceremonies and meals are village style (consisting of what you catch, cultivate and prepare yourself!)

PENTECOST LAND DIVE (NAGHOL)
The Pentecost Land Dive is not a tourist attraction but part of the annual yam harvest festival on the island of Pentecost. Day trips can be taken on Saturdays in April, May and June can be arranged to witness this death defying and intriguing ritual. Email us if you wish to book as places can be limited.

LOTUS HEALTH & BEAUTY
It's not exactly a 'tour' but if you would like some pampering, Lotus Health & Beauty is located in the purple building opposite Au Bon Marche supermarket heading out of town towards Le Lagon. Melanie, Carla, Natalie and Sue offer a range of massages and treatments including Reiki and reflexology.

JUST GETTING OUT AND ABOUT!
To get out and explore the island you can hire a car, take an organised tour around the island or hire your own bus and driver. While there are organised tours to Hideaway Island Marine Sanctuary, The Secret Garden and Mele Cascades, you can do these independently by flagging down a local bus driver.

For more info, current prices and specials on these tours and accommodation/flight packages, email us.