Voted many times as having the happiest people on the planet, here you can get a slice of tropical heaven, but without the mega-tourists, overpriced cocktails, or overcrowded beaches? Let me introduce you to Espiritu Santo—Vanuatu’s largest and most underrated island🌴
Here, life moves at island speed—slow, joyful, and full of surprises. Picture champagne-blue holes, jungle swings, shipwreck dives, coconut crab dinners, and villagers who greet you like family. Ready? Let's dive in!
The Blue Holes: Like Swimming in Liquid Gemstones 💎
Nowhere in the world can you come close to its Avatar like rivers that glow blue, Espiritu Santo is famous for its blue holes—natural freshwater swimming holes hidden in the jungle, glowing an unreal electric blue. No filter, all real
🔹 Nanda Blue Hole
The most iconic! Surrounded by rainforest, with a wooden platform and rope swing so you can play out your inner Tarzan or Jane
Insider tip: Go early morning for zero crowds and light rays streaming through the trees
🔹 Matevulu Blue Hole
This one’s huge and a bit more secluded. You’ll feel like a child again, giddy with happiness as you swing off the giant banyan tree vines🌳
Insider tip: Ask your local driver to take the “secret canoe route” upstream—ultimate jungle vibes 🚣♀️
🏖️ Champagne Beach & Orly Beach: Actual Paradise ✨
🍾 Champagne Beach
Soft as flour, white sand, and water that looks like it's been photoshopped. It gets its name from the fizzy bubbles rising from volcanic activity under the sand 🫧🌋
Insider tip: It’s a cruise ship stop, so go on non-cruise days or early AM. Bring snorkel gear—it’s incredible near the rocks 🐠
🌴 Port Olry Beach
Right next door, free entry, and just as beautiful. There’s a laid-back beach bar here where you can sip a fresh coconut with your toes in the sand 🍹
Insider tip: Order the coconut crab curry and thank me later 😋
🧜♂️ Dive the SS President Coolidge: World-Famous Shipwreck 🛳️💀
Play out your wildest dreams and pretend that you are Neptune himself or just a Ariel. If diving is your thing (or even if it’s not yet!), the Coolidge wreck is a must. A massive U.S. WWII ship that sank just off the shore—now home to coral, sea turtles, and eerie underwater relics like helmets and medical supplies 😱🪸
Insider tip: Dive with a local operator who includes the “Lady” statue dive—it’s hauntingly beautiful
No scuba? You can snorkel off nearby Million Dollar Point, where the US Army dumped tonnes of war equipment into the ocean—yep, tanks, trucks and all. Wild. 🌊
🥾 Millenium Cave: Indiana Jones or Dora the Explorer Vibes 🎒🪨
Adventure junkies, this is your moment. The Millenium Cave Tour is a serious hike—through rainforest, across bamboo bridges, down into a massive limestone cave with an underground river 🦇🌿
Insider tip: Wear reef shoes or sturdy sandals. You WILL get wet, muddy, and have the time of your life 💦🔥
🍛 Eat Like a Santo Local: Fresh, Simple, Delicious
- Natangura Café in Luganville – Chill garden café with killer coconut crab curry 🦀🌶️
- Market stalls – Grab taro, lap lap, and fried fish wrapped in banana leaves 🍠🍌
- For the Brave only – Try the local bats so you can go home bragging about it (they taste like chicken)
Local secret: Try the kava with locals at sunset—but sip slowly 🥴🍵
🏡 Where to Stay: From Treehouses to Beach Bungalows
- Hidden Lodge – Oceanfront bungalows run by lovely locals 💕
- Turtle Bay Lodge – Mid-range but magical. Kayak straight to a blue hole 🛶
- Deco Stop Lodge – Best views over Luganville + infinity pool 😍
Budget tip: Some local guesthouses don’t advertise online—ask around in town or at the market. They’re clean, cheap, and full of heart 🛏️✨
✈️ Getting There & Around
- Flights from Port Vila take just under an hour ✈️
- Taxis are plentiful, but hire a 4WD if you want to go exploring deep 🛻
- Locals are super helpful—don’t be shy asking for directions or tips! Vanuatu is one of the friendliest places on Earth 🌍💛
🌺 Final Word: Espiritu Santo is Pure Magic
Espiritu Santo doesn’t need big resorts or Insta-hype—it’s the kind of place you come to disconnect, reset, and feel alive again. There’s real magic here—sunsets that make you emotional, strangers who treat you like family, and a rhythm of life that stays with you long after you leave 🌞🌴🌀
So pack your swimmers, bring your curiosity, and don’t expect Wi-Fi to work half the time
And Don't Forget Your Keeko Toothbrush (maybe Dream Clean toothpaste too)!
