Port Vila — 3-Day Guide | ThreeDayGuides

The Pacific's happiest country (Happy Planet Index, three times) has 110 languages for 300,000 people, an American troop ship sunk by its own mines now dived from the beach, a cargo cult awaiting a returning American deliverer, and a volcano that has erupted continuously for 800 years.

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📋 General guide ⭐ Highlights

Travertine Waterfall Pools, Laplap Earth Oven Pudding & String Band Friday Night

200 m Luxury Liner Sunk by Its Own Mines at 20-70 m, WWII Jeeps Snorkelled Underwater & Kava Coconut Shell

Walking to an Erupting Crater, Bamboo Rifle Marchers Awaiting John from America & Lava Bombs at Night

📋 General 3-day guide ⭐ Highlights

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Language	Bislama (Pacific Creole English, lingua franca); English (co-official); French (co-official); 110 indigenous Vanuatu languages; English sufficient throughout
Currency	Vanuatu Vatu (VUV); cards accepted at hotels and some restaurants; ATMs in Port Vila (rare on outer islands); bring cash for markets, villages, kava bars and small operators; rate approximately VUV 140 per A$1
Transport	Minibus taxis (VUV 150-400 per trip within Port Vila); rental car for Efate ring road (VUV 5000/day); Air Vanuatu domestic flights to Tanna (45 min, VUV 10000 return) and Santo (30 min, VUV 8000); speedboat transfers to Iririki and nearby islands; dive operators arrange Santo transfers
Best time	Apr–Oct dry season (25-30°C, clear visibility for diving, best hiking conditions); Nov–Mar wet season (cyclone risk Jan–Apr, heavy rains, lush green); year-round for Yasur (the volcano is always active)
Getting in	Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) — direct from Brisbane (2h30, Air Vanuatu), Sydney (3h, Air Vanuatu/Qantas codeshare), Auckland (3h30), Nouméa (1h30); visa on arrival for most Western nationalities (free); no visa required for under 30 days for EU/UK/AUS/NZ/US
Tipping	Not a Melanesian custom; tips for dive masters and guides appreciated ($10-20/day) but not expected
Safety	Very safe — Vanuatu has virtually no tourist crime; the John Frum villages require respectful behaviour and no photography without permission; Mount Yasur can eject rocks beyond the safety area in level 3 eruptions (check alert level before visit); cyclone season Nov–Apr
Budget tips	Central Market free; Mele Cascades VUV 1000; kava nakamal VUV 300; Efate ring road VUV 500/person; laplap dinner VUV 2000; Tusker Beer VUV 250; Tanna flight return VUV 10000; Yasur VUV 6600; John Frum VUV 2000; Champagne Beach VUV 1000