Vanuatu - Useful information for your trip

Vanuatu is an island nation in Oceania, in the Pacific Ocean. The capital city is Port Vila. The archipelago, of volcanic origin, is situated in the Coral Sea and is made up of 83 small islands, 65 of which are inhabited. The two main islands are Espiritu Santu and Malakula. Besides Port Vila, another important city is Luganville in Espiritu Santu.

Many of the islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin. The island of Tanna hosts Mount Yasur volcano, while Lombenben volcano is located on Ambae island. Vanuatu is known as an independent ecoregion, called "Vanuatu tropical rainforests".

The climate is halfway between equatorial and tropical. Depending on the altitude and the influence of trade winds, the climate changes from island to island. Windward islands, in the south-east, have an equatorial climate, while downwind islands, in the north-west, have a tropical climate with two seasons. The climate is very humid in all the archipelago with frequent rainfalls. From November to April cyclones are also frequent. The rainy season on Vanuatu lasts from January to March and the rainiest month is February. August and September are the driest months.

Despite tropical forests, Vanuatu has a limited number of plant and animal species. The flying fox is an indigenous species and is important for the regeneration of the forest and timber. There are no big indigenous mammals on the islands. There are 19 reptile species and 61 species of marine and terrestrial birds. In the waters of the archipleago 4000 species of marine mollusks can be found. 

Most of the population practises subsistence farming, characterized by the cultivation of coconut and other export products. Main products are copra, timber, cattle and cocoa. The export of Kava roots is growing. Due to low taxation, Vanuatu is considered as a tax haven. Tourism is growing; other relevant sectors are the builidng sector, trade and the real estate market. 

During your holiday or cabin charter sailing cruise in Vanuatu, you shouldn't miss Mount Yasur, Millenium Cave and Mele waterfalls, the stunning beaches and pristine nature.