The largest World War II naval and military facility in the Pacific behind Pearl Harbour, the clear waters of Santo hold a treasure trove of sunken ships and aircraft, making it one of the best wreck diving hubs in the South Pacific. 

During World War II, the sleepy island of Santo was transformed by the United States Armed Forces into the largest Allied military base in the South Pacific behind Hawaii’s Pearl Harbour. Codenamed Base Button, Santo hosted over 500,000 servicepeople throughout the war years – nearly 10 times more people than the entire population of Vanuatu at the time. The legacy of this era can be explored at many places above and below the water in Santo today.

With World War II wrecks to dive, dreamy blue holes to paddle to, rivers you can float long and natural wonders to explore in the island’s tropical rainforest, Santo was made for adventure.

Traditions run deep on the remote island of Tanna, where ancient kastom (custom) thrives beneath a rumbling volcano. Here’s where to experience it.

Driving around Vanuatu, it’s easy to believe these 83 islands turn some incredible food - even before you set foot inside a restaurant or cafe. As the landscape whizzes past your car window, you’ll see dense tropical rainforest thick with giant ferns, twisting trunks, moss-covered roots, banyan trees stretching their limbs skyward and fields and fields of abundant produce. It feels like anything could grow in this rich, fertile land - and it does - making for a truly vibrant culinary experience in the hands of some clever local creatives. Here are some experiences to check out if food is your thing. 

Vanuatu Tourism Office collaborated on a famil’ trip last month with a major German wholesaler, to visit the Island of Tanna. The wholesaler wrote a piece about their experience that has been featured in the DAIMIR travel blog. The travel blog is in German and can be accessed below.