Top Things to do in Espiritu Santo
Top Restaurants in Espiritu Santo
Top 9 Hidden Gems Things to do in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
The pink sands of Champagne Beach spill into warm waters filled with wrecks and reefs begging to be explored by Espiritu Santo vacationers. Rinse off with a dip in one of the island’s many freshwater blue holes. Trek over a bamboo bridge to visit the bats and swallows of Millennium Cave, who nap among spectacular rock formations. Divers can wave hello to "The Lady," one of the many intact artifacts of the wreck of the SS President Coolidge.
Restaurants in Espiritu Santo
1. Millennium Cave
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 678 reviews
Reviewed By CherylS84 - Brisbane, Australia
Great Day, Physically challenging, my one suggestion is to make sure you stop now and again and enjoy the moment. As you are climbing down ladders and over rocks we tend to be focused on ground. Stop and soak in what you are doing and look around. Hopeful to return again, Thank you Jerry and Paul for looking after us. You are going to get wet, you will get dirty, you MUST have walking shoes that you dont mind getting wet. If you are on cruise ship remind them of your return time.
2. Mount Hope Waterfall
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 165 reviews
A half day excursion floating down river, snaking your way through the dense Vanuatu rainforest. The river has carved out a magnificent gorge, lined with remarkable limestone formations and overhanging supersized ferns and trees. You will exit at Mount Hope Waterfall. Exiting the waterfall you will follow the guides on an instructive walk through the lush jungle and finish with morning tea, infectious laughter and smiles coming from the happiest people on the planet. Travelling by road from Luganville you will see the daily village life in all its simplicity. Required are closed (reef) shoes and shorts. Bring camera, towel and change of clothes.
Reviewed By H8426DHkarens
Thoroughly enjoyed this experience with 3 very helpful guides. Safety standards can be interesting in different countries, this group had an initial safety talk, waivers were signed, safety gear was provided, water shoes, gloves, life jackets. The guides were very coordinated, positioning themselves to assist & ensure guest safety, I was very impressed! The gorge itself was breathtaking to float gently down. Small rapids were not an issue with our guides to direct us & help. The waterfall was warm & not slippery to walk up. There was also a small cave directly under the waterfall you could go into to view from the inside. I am a 54 yr old with chronic arthritis & the only issue I had was the moving water at the waterfall set off my vertigo, again the guides (& my partner) were quickly able to allow me to grip their hands & walk over it. Magical experience !
3. Santo Horse Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 152 reviews
Reviewed By 501gt - Australia, null
We highly recommend this tour! Our morning started with being picked up from our accommodation by friendly Megan and taken to her 200-acre riding ranch near Surranda Bay on the Coral Sea. Megan does a wonderful job with her many rescue horses and was very good checking out everyone’s riding experience to match us up with appropriate horses - all of which may have some quirks from their past mistreatment but are wonderful animals. We loved riding through the Island’s countryside, farms, mangrove rainforest and even through a village preparing for a local wedding! Meanwhile, Megan and her local Ni-Vanuatu riding guide explained some of the native bush and birds we saw. The best part was riding through a freshwater stream covered with mangrove trees down to the sea, and of course Megan herself. We sincerely hope that she, her family, workers, and horses are safe after the recent Cyclone Harold and that tourists are soon able to return to her magical ‘Santo’ Island paradise.
4. Freshwater Plantation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 113 reviews
A unique interpretive experience of a working cocoa plantation incorporating the Aore Island Bat Cave on the 300 acre property in the Segund Channel. Just a short boat ride from Santo mainland and a few minutes out of Luganville, Freshwater welcomes guests to stay on the plantation (see www.freshwater.vu for details) or visit for the day to relax, swim and snorkel and dine in our restaurant. Daily guided tours of the plantation are conducted every day in the morning and afternoon and suitable for all ages, and fitness levels. We are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and host events such as Thirsty Thursday happy hours and Sunday afternoon buffet with live entertainment. Don't miss this highly recommended day out during your visit to Santo.
Reviewed By sue_marieUk - York, United Kingdom
From the beginning (catching the free ferry from St Michel Landing) to finishing with lunch, snorkelling and the ferry back this was a wonderful trip. Jack was my excellent guide and he pointed out various plants, insects, fruits and trees, plus told some local folklore tales as we walked around the plantation. I personally loved everything about the bat cave but it might not suit everyone and you can easily miss out this part of the walk if you don’t like the thought of all the batS overhead and cockroaches underfoot! Lunch after the tour was superb and great value. I had the Tuluk entree followed by Death by Chocolate - both dishes were by far the best food I’ve had since coming to Vanuatu ten days ago. For the tour, my advice is to wear sturdy shoes if you have them, and take drinking water. Put some mozzie spray on before setting off. Hand sanitiser might be good, although it’s provided at the bat cave. After lunch, I went snorkelling in the crystal clear water and saw the most beautiful fish without ever getting out of my depth. Take reef shoes. Magical. I can’t recommend the Freshwater Plantation enough!
5. Matevulu Blue Hole
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 367 reviews
20 mins northwest of Luganville
Reviewed By TinaGoneTravelling - Berlin, Germany
For sure one of the nicest blue holes I have seen in Vanuatu, way more beautiful than ri ri. You can easily kajak up Cristal River. Its about a 30-45min way. kayaks for 2 or single kayaks can be rented out at Island Time Kayaking. It's amazing seeing the water color change when you go up the river until the very deep and cristal clear blue of the swimming place. Take the swing down from the Banyan tree, its lots of fun.
6. Nanda Blue Hole
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 355 reviews
Reviewed By Liammoore199 - Bangkok, Thailand
How on earth is water this blue? We came here and just realised how dreamy this place is, just look at it you can see all the way to the bottom clearest water I’ve ever seen! There is a rope swing here so you can have lots of fun on it or just swim! If you come to Vanuatu please come to Santo!!
7. Champagne Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 557 reviews
Reviewed By CherylS84 - Brisbane, Australia
Visited in Dec 19. Via Cruise Ship Magnificent Day Crystal clear water, if you are confident snorkeller, we hired kayak and paddled out to waves breaking ( you can see from beach) paddle out back of break and the coral is amazing, took a break by sitting on kayak, before paddling back. we noticed some people hired boat to take them out, Not huge number of fish but the coral was very healthy with beautiful colors. We hired kayak from local boy for $50 AUD for 3 hours.
8. Port Olry Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 293 reviews
Reviewed By tulkara - Brisbane, Australia
Hired a car from. Our resort... Turtle Bay, and headed north about 35km. Kept driving past the usual champange beach and got glimpses of some incredible water color. There is a sign post inviting you in and there is no charge unlike some others. We found most probably the best beach I have been to, there is a small restaurant and bar and the beach. We were lucky and have the place almost to ourselves. If there was a hotel on site I'd never leave.
9. Santo Heritage Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 109 reviews
