Espiritu Santo Island
Situated in the Pacific Ocean, Espiritu Santo Island is Vanuatu's largest island. The capital of the island, Luganville is closely situated to neighbouring islands such as Aore Island and Bokissa Island.
The island is a great tourist destination, offering various activities to accommodate for tourists of all ages. To witness a greatly preserved shipwreck, dive into the SS President Coolidge. This is a 200 metre wreck from the Second World War preserved in a largely intact condition. To experience the island's serene nature, relax on the beautiful, white sand Champagne Beach near Hog Harbour village. With clear waters, it is considered one of the best beaches in the South Pacific.
In addition to the well-known SS President Coolidge shipwreck, there are many popular sites on Espiritu Santo Island for diving and snorkelling. These include Million Dollar Point, where the Americans at the end of the war threw equipment and machinery. There are also impressive reef dives, where large coral gardens and caves can be explored. Snorkelers can admire lagoons, inshore reefs and spectacular blue holes, and the waters contain manta rays, turtles and reef sharks.
Mount Tabwemasana is Vanuatu's highest peak and one of the highest mountains in the Pacific. It is situated on the west coast of the island. A few tourists climb the 1,879-metre peak each year, which involves first taking a boat and then trekking up a river before starting the steep mountain ascent, following a guide. Those who do make it to the top of the mountain, however, are rewarded with spectacular views.
Activities on offer, for families with children visiting Espiritu Santo Island, are plentiful. Horse riding, snorkelling, swimming, cycling, fishing, cave tours and kayaking are all activities that can be enjoyed on Espiritu Santo Island by the whole family. There are also seaplane or helicopter flights available. In resort accommodation, there are usually even more activities on offer such as board games, racket sports and even a circus school. The local market in Luganville is also great for sampling local freshly grown island produce such as yam, cabbage, taro, manioc and many more. If this isn't enough, there is also the fantastic beach.
The range of accommodation on Espiritu Santo Island is varied. It includes cheap hotel accommodation all the way up to luxurious boutique resorts. Most travellers should be able to find a type of accommodation to suit their budget and preferences. Some options are lodges, village-style bungalows and many hotels are clustered around Luganville. Cheap hotels on Espiritu Santo Island can probably be located most easily in Luganville.