It’s been a life-changing few years and while most things are back to a stable ‘normal’ there are a few lasting changes that have stuck. One such fixture is the attitude of travellers. Holidays used to be so ample and easy that we planned them for budget and frequency over the parts that truly made us want to travel in the first place. Don’t get us wrong, those factors are still important to consider, but in 2023 there is a surge in travellers seeking experience, purpose, and connection. If you’re one of those travellers then you should keep reading to see the top three reasons why Vanuatu should be a destination you visit this year.

Mother Nature

There is a feeling to Vanuatu that a higher power was at work here when these islands were created. Each visit to each island feels like you’re peeling back another layer of natural beauty. There are cascading waterfalls, renowned dive sites, beachfront sunsets and giant banyan trees to uncover. And the best part is that they are all unspoilt. They are far from crowded, they are pristine as Mother Nature intended, and they remind us how to be a better traveller.

Our top nature sights:

• Blue Cave, Tanna
• Mele Cascades, Efate
• Champagne Beach, Espiritu Santo

Kastom (culture and tradition)

Kastom is alive and thriving in Vanuatu, just as it has done through the ages. A huge part of Ni-Vanuatu culture is dancing and song. During seasonal festivals and ritual celebrations you can see villagers dressed in traditional dress, adorned with facepaint and decorations made of leaves. Kastom is a way of life for locals and governs everything from art to medicine and economics. Understanding kastom is to truly understand the Ni-Vanuatu people.

Ways to immerse yourself in kastom:

• Visit a kastom village such as Yakel on Tanna or Ekasup on Efate
• Watch the weekly fire dancing display at Beach Bar on Mele Bay, Efate (Friday nights)
• Try kava at a nakamal (meeting place)
• Visit the local markets and meet the mamas selling their fresh produce

Lasting Impressions

It is engrained in us to seek the moments that make our heart beat fast, where everything turns silent except for our breath and our jaw drops open at the sheer incredibility of the scene before us. Vanuatu offers these moments in spades. They offer an opportunity to reconnect with the moments that make life incredible, and a way to come back home to ourselves. They are invigorating for the soul moments that stay in our memories forever – and don’t look bad in photos either, though polaroids can never truly do them justice.

Moments that create a lasting impression:

• Watching the sunset at the top of Mt Yasur Volcano, Tanna
• Diving into the intensely clear waters of the Blue Holes, Espiritu Santo
• Exploring the darkness of Millenium Cave, Espiritu Santo
• Swim with dolphins and dugongs on a Havannah Harbour cruise, Efate

Vanuatu is calling, will you answer?

It may be close to home and a familiar name, but that shouldn’t lead tourists to underestimate the diversity and depth of experiences that Vanuatu offers. Vanuatu brings opportunities to explore lush waterfalls and teeming coral reefs. It brings chances to plunge headfirst into cultural practices that have remained untouched for centuries. It offers moments where your breath is trapped in your chest by the disbelief of the beauty in front of you. Vanuatu is calling to you in 2023 – will you answer?

Check out Spacifica Travel’s holiday packages to Vanuatu or for a tailored quote call our team on 1800 800 722, send us an email to sales@spacificatravel.com or fill in an online enquiry here.

Photos courtesy of Vanuatu Tourism