Vanuatu

Getting around

Bus & tram

Bus & taxi

Public minibuses with a red B fixed to their numberplates operate in Vila, Luganville, eastern Santo and eastern Malekula. They don't run fixed routes but zoom to their passengers' various destinations. Flag them down by the roadside.

Taxis in Vila and Luganville are mostly conventional sedans, while in rural areas they're 4WD trucks with a red T on their number plates. Charges depend on distance, but also on the state of the road. Ask your chosen driver for a price. It will be honest and reasonable. A short trip in Vila might cost 400Vt, but a day charter will cost between 8000Vt and 12, 000Vt. The local taxis meet each flight at bush airfields, but they may not be around on Sunday and public holidays in rural areas.

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Car & motorcycle

You can hire cars and 4WD vehicles in Vila and Luganville, and scooters in Vila. The minimum age for renting a car is 23; for a scooter it's 17, provided you hold a valid driving licence.

An International Driving Licence is not needed, however, you must have held your licence for at least a year. There's a speed limit of 50km/h in Vila and Luganville, but once out of town speed is dictated by road conditions (often pretty terrible). Vehicles drive on the right and seatbelts are not compulsory.

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Sea

Passenger boats

Powered catamaran Diepsea, operated by Island Gateway (22662, 51595; islandgateway@vanuatu.com.vu), goes to Espiritu Santo via the Shepherds, Epi and Malekula each Friday (7000Vt), returning via Ambae, Maewo, Pentecost, Ambrym and Paama on Saturday (7000Vt). A second loop goes to Tanna (6000Vt) on Monday or Tuesday via Erromango, returning to Vila on Tuesday or Wednesday (6000Vt). Able to carry up to 58 people, the catamaran has comfortable seating, refreshments and onboard entertainment.

Pelsaert (22743, 49094; fax 27763; adventure@vanuatu.com.vu), a 21m Precision, runs to Tanna twice-weekly, docking at Port Resolution on Tuesday and Lenakel on Thursday (one way 5500Vt, 10 hours). On Friday it goes to Litslits on Malekula (5000Vt, 14 hours), and on to Luganville on Santo (6500Vt). It returns to Vila on Sunday (6500Vt). Reclining upholstered seats cater for up to 70 people.

Cargo boats

Travelling around Vanuatu by cargo boat might seem like an adventure, but it can be very long and unpleasant if the sea is rough, which it usually is. Bring a pillow and warm cover, ask if there are beds, and check the food and water situation. Boats leave Vila from the old wharf behind Sea View Restaurant & Takeaway, or the Main Wharf on Wharf Rd.

Information on cargo boats leaving Port Vila to outer islands is posted in the VTO office, or ask about a boat's movements at your local kava bar. Reliable cargo boats that take passengers on their weekly rounds:

Brisk (36517, 43744; SeaLink, Santo) Santo, Pentecost, Ambrym, Epi, Vila.

Dinh 1 (22865; Dinh Shipping, Vila) Vila, Tanna, Malekula, Santo.

Sarafenua (24135, 46164; baboak@ifira.com.vu; Ifira, Vila) Vila, Epi, Paama, Santo, Pentecost, Ambrym, Ambae, Erromango, Tanna, Aneityum, Futuna, Aniwa.

Canoe & speedboat

When ni-Vanuatu talk of speedboats, they mean outboard-powered dinghies. Canoes are dugout craft with outriggers, paddle-powered. Speedboat prices are high, so it's best to wait for a scheduled service rather than charter, if you can.

Yacht

You can charter a cruising catamaran with skipper and crew. Contacts:

Adventure Centre (www.adventurevanuatu.com; Port Vila) Has a 42ft trimaran Golden Wing (75, 000Vt per 24 hours) and a 44ft catamaran Margarita (95, 000Vt per 24 hours).

Bali Hai Charters (27202, 46058; balihaicharters@vanuatu.com.vu; PO Box 1011) Has a 38ft trimaran Witchitit (11, 200Vt per person per 24 hours). Make meeting-place arrangements when you ring.

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Tours

The wide variety on offer includes cultural, diving, bushwalking, bus and boat tours. Operators in central Vila:

Adventure Centre (22743; www.adventurevanuatu.com)

Destination Pacific Islands (22595; www.destinationpacific.vu)

Horizon Tours (25053; fax 24275; www.vanuatutourism.com/)

Island Safaris Vanuatu (23288; www.islandsvanuatu.com)

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Air

Air Vanuatu is Vanuatu's only domestic air carrier. It offers scheduled flights to 28 airfields using its fleet of 20-seat Twin Otters, a 44-seat ATR and a tiny nine-seat Islander. While the service is generally reliable, major delays are also common, so don't try to make connecting flights on the same day.

Check prices and schedules and book online with Air Vanuatu (678) 23878; www.airvanuatu.com/home_domestic.aspx; Air Vanuatu House, rue de Paris, Port Vila).

It pays to book your seat well in advance and it's very important to reconfirm your flights.

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