Location: Port Vila
Top Things to do in Port Vila
The 8 Best Things to Do in Port Vila, Vanuatu
In this nation of tiny islands and indigenous villages, Port Vila is the exception: a bustling port town with hotels, restaurants and markets to delight visitors and cruise ship passengers. The 150-foot-high Mele Cascades waterfall is the ideal place to refresh yourself in the South Pacific heat. For a glimpse of real Vanuatu culture and traditions, travelers say a trip to Ekasup Village is a must.
Restaurants in Port Vila
1. Wet N Wild Adventure Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 198 reviews
Wet 'n'Wild has now added some more exciting new attractions to the Adventure Park with a new longer, steeper more exhilarating zorb track and a 90m Slippery Water Slide, Human Slingshot Swing, Go Karting, Bubble Soccer and Segways. The Adventure Cafe is now also open for snacks and hot and cold drinks.
Reviewed By Louche - Sydney
We took our 8 & 10 yr olds to Wet and Wild for the morning. Both did the zorbing and slides and loved the zorb especially. The view from the top of the hill is spectacular!
The staff are all fantastic - originally my daughter was scared to try the zorb but the operators were very patient and encouraging.
Sandy the manager went out of her way to help us when our return bus didn't show and drove us down to the rd where the Cascades is and there are more buses.
2. Ekasup Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 357 reviews
Reviewed By 673jaya - Montrose, Colorado
The best part of traveling is learning. Ekasup Cultural village draws you into an unexpectedly vivid and rich experience with the native people of Vanuatu.
Enter the village as if you were an early European visitor, being dramatically tested and then warmly welcomed. Discover how they secured food, treated with jungle medicines, and carefully used the resources at hand to provide a lifestyle that was comfortable and intertwined with ancient traditions.
See how they ate, sheltered themselves, fought with unwelcome neighbors, treated medical conditions, celebrated, made music, chose spouses and much more. The musical performance is especially fun!
Learn a lot and have tremendous fun diong it. If you only have time to do one thing in Port Vila, make sure this is it. I guarantee a great time for the entire family.
3. Mele Cascades
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Mele Cascades Waterfalls is one of Efate's most popular natural attractions. Only 20 minutes drive out of town, a visit can be completed in just over two hours. There are bathroom facilities available , sitting area, a small cafe and bar on site for purchase of food and drinks. The area is local owned and run by locals. Revenue generated help pay wages for local employees, maintenance and upkeep of the area,community development for surrounding villages and sponsorship of social activities, most especially soccer development programs for youth. Note: Efate is currently experiencing severe El Nino and the once picturesque attraction has very low water levels. This is also causing drastic water supply shortage to villages and its people. To close the business would mean loss of income for many.
Reviewed By GoodPersiflage - Paducah, Kentucky
I viewed the Waterfalls but from a distance. I have friends who married into tribes of the local villages. The rumor about these Waterfalls is that they belonged to a native family for many generations. Upon recent business success, in a country that knows very little of commercialization, the waterfall stopped running. A Chinese businessman came into to bail out the family who could no longer afford to maintain the park. The native family agreed to sell the park and Waterfalls at a bargain basement price. It is commonly understood the buyer damned the river which fed the waterfall which is why, just a day after the sale, the Waterfalls started running again and now prices have skyrocketed. SHAME ON THIS PLACE!
4. Iririki Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By Kimbo237 - Gladstone, Australia
My husband and I had the most amazing 5 nights staying at Iririki Island Resort. Staff were amazing, so lovely and accommodating. Food was Awesome! My husband is Celiac so spoke to the Head Chef on first day who made sure to let him know what meals he could have or not, by the 3rd day all the staff knew his preferences!! Our room was lovely and big with small kitchen, washer/dryer and most importantly, air-conditioning that worked brilliantly as it was very hot outside! If your a couple like us with no kids and wanting a little quiet, I would recommend the rooms away from the sunset pool & bar as it gets a bit noisy in the afternoons especially around happy hour 4-6pm! Fabulous place to stay and the water transport goes back and forwards all day/night...not much time waiting at all and your just 5 mins off the main area of Port Villa...perfect if you don't want to stay right in Port Villa or don't want to have to catch a bus or taxi to get into the main area where most of the tours leave from. Loved it will be back! :) :)
5. Eden on the River
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 136 reviews
Reviewed By A TripAdvisor Member
Fantastic spot. We had a group of all ages and we did the walk through the Gardens with a lovely guide who explained all the wonderful native plants and their uses. We then did the Bridges which were fun and not scary at all. Over...MoreThanks for the terrific review!
6. Hideaway Island Marine Reserve
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By travelcouplew - Toowoomba, Australia
My girlfriend and I loved this place! After you post your postcard back home underwater yiu can snorkel around for as lomg as you want. There are copious amounts of fish everywhere around the nearby coral. When you're done snorkelling you can enjoy a cocktail by the beach with the little bar they have there.
7. Port Vila Markets
Overall Ratings
4 based on 435 reviews
Reviewed By marigoldKent - Buderim, Australia
As other reviews, arrived to Port Vila as part of a Christmas Cruise. Enjoyed going to the market and getting some local souvenirs. Good things to find but you need to shop around with the prices and bartering is worth a try. Found the locals welcoming and friendly. Very hot, but well worth the visit and really enjoyed visiting the Port Vila markets.
8. The Vanuatu Cultural Centre
Overall Ratings
4 based on 186 reviews
Reviewed By kebabReviewer
It is smaller than I was expecting and there was an absence of air con which was a little rough. The displays were fascinating but the cost was a little steep. Swing by if you have time but I wouldn’t say this place was a must-do.
