Espiritu Santo

Home to the world-class wreck dive site SS President Coolidge, plus unforgettable Champagne Beach and crystal-clear blue holes.

Espiritu Santo (Santo) is the largest island in Vanuatu, about 280 km north of the capital, Port Vila. Its only town, Luganville, lies on the southeast coast, and Pekoa International Airport has flights to Port Vila (about 1 hour) and Brisbane. The climate is hot and humid. The dry season from May to October is the best time to visit, while the rainy season from November to April often brings heavy downpours and cyclones, and adventure trips such as the Millennium Cave are frequently cancelled; diving is possible year-round. During World War II this was one of the largest US rear bases in the South Pacific, leaving behind the world-class wreck dive site SS President Coolidge and Million Dollar Point. Your time here falls into three parts: (1) Luganville and around: the town, the market, wreck diving, Aore Island and Bokissa Island; (2) the East Coast Road: Palikulo Bay, blue holes such as Matevulu, and Oyster Island, then north to Champagne Beach, Lonnoc Beach and Port Olry; (3) the interior: the Millennium Cave trek and traditional villages. We suggest 4–6 days, and divers may want more. The east coast has a paved road, so you can rent a car, hire a driver or take a minibus; the roads to Big Bay in the west and the Vatthe Conservation Area are poor, and you will need to stay overnight. Good to know: beaches and blue holes are mostly managed by villages and charge cash entrance fees; coconut crabs are a protected species with limited harvesting, so we don't recommend eating them; Champagne Beach is crowded on cruise-ship days.

Top sights

• Champagne Beach – A white-sand bay on the northeast side of Espiritu Santo, with fine sand, clear shallow water, and coconut palms. It is often ranked among…
• SS President Coolidge Wreck – A luxury liner built in 1931 that was converted into a troop transport and sank after striking a mine in 1942. At about 200 meters long, it…
• Matevulu & Espiritu Santo Blue Holes – Deep blue swimming pools in the rainforest, formed where underground freshwater springs well up. You can swing from trees into them, making…
• Millennium Cave – A full-day adventure that passes through rainforest, enters a huge cave home to bats, and floats out along a canyon river. Often called Van…
• Million Dollar Point – Where American forces pushed trucks, bulldozers and other surplus equipment into the sea at the end of World War II. Today it is a famous s…
• Luganville – Vanuatu’s second-largest town and one of the largest US rear bases during World War II. Wide main street lined with Quonset huts.
• Luganville Market – A farmers’ market along Luganville’s main street, selling local produce, seafood beyond coconut crab, and cheap hot lunches.
• Port Olry Beach – A village and long white-sand beach at the northeastern tip of Espiritu Santo, with clear waters, offshore islets and a famous seafood lunc…
• Lonnoc Beach – A quiet white-sand bay next to Champagne Beach, with beach bungalows facing an islet. You can walk or paddle to Champagne Beach.
• Oyster Island – A small island in an east-coast lagoon. The resort is known for fresh oysters and seafood, and a walking trail on the island connects by bo…
• Aore Island – An island across the Segond Channel from Luganville. Its resort offers snorkeling and kayaking, making it a great spot to view the channel…
• Bokissa Island – A coral island in the open sea about 7 km southeast of Luganville. The entire island is a private resort, surrounded by white sand, with ex…
• Palikulo Bay & Bomber One – A calm bay and peninsula about 15 km northeast of Luganville. During World War II, US forces built bomber runways and a seaplane base here…
• Fanafo Village – The birthplace of the Nagriamel movement, a 20th-century independence movement. The village keeps its traditional layout and offers insight…

Where to eat

• Deco Stop Lodge Restaurant – A poolside restaurant on the hillside above Luganville, overlooking Segond Channel, with the menu written daily on a ch…
• Natangora Garden Café – A garden café by the seafront on Luganville's main street, blending Japanese cooking with Pacific Island flavors. Break…
• Mama's Kitchen at Luganville Market – A local food stall beside the market where a few hundred vatu buys a big plate of laplap or stewed beef with rice.

Itineraries

• Vanuatu Three-Island Hopper – Connect Efate, Tanna, and Espiritu Santo to experience waterfalls, blue holes, an active volcano, and world-class wreck…