Arrival in Vanuatu
About Vanuatu
Most people don’t know a lot about Vanuatu. I sure didn’t.
Vanuatu is a country in the South Pacific Ocean that is made up of a chain of volcanic islands and has a population of just under 300,000 people. It’s located between Fiji & Australia. Vanuatu was jointly ruled by France and Great Britain before gaining it’s independence in 1980. It was formerly known as the New Hebrides.
The islands have rain forests, beaches and coral reefs. Vanuatu gets a lot of cyclones and had three really bad ones in 2023. Being on the ring of fire, they also have a lot of earthquakes with a large one near Port Vila, Efate Island in December 2024.
With that being said, we fly from Fiji to Port Vila arriving about 4:45pm. A Virgin Australia plane lands shortly before our puddle jumper. It is a very small airport with only one luggage carousel so it takes forever for us to get our checked bag.
The sun is low in the sky by the time we drive out of the airport in our bright orange rental car…yes rental clown car #2 (#1 was in Mauritius).
The roads are in bad shape with tons of pot holes both big and small.
We are booked in a small resort 
near the island’s best beaches, a forty-five minute drive from the airport. Many open backed trucks packed with locals sitting and standing pass us going in the opposite direction. We find out that they are mostly travelling back to Port Vila after spending Sunday at the beach.
It is dark when we reach Banana Bay Beach Club. It looks lovely and our room is attractive and spacious. We have supper by the water and head to bed.
Visit to Port Vila
It pours rain during the night and is overcast and rainy when we get up.
We decide to drive to Port Vila and the rain stops shortly after we set out. Port Vila is the largest town on this island and in Vanuatu. We stop in the grocery store for supplies. Christmas decorations are up and popular 
Christmas music is piped across the store. Feels strange to have the wrappings of Christmas in a tropical place. Vanuatu, like Fiji, is a very devote Christian country. There are many churches.
Next we head over to explore the waterfront area. A lot of the Port Vila was damaged in the 
earthquake last December but the waterfront is fine. We check out the market and the craft market before having lunch at a waterfront restaurant.
Drive Back to the Resort
The sun is out so we head back to our resort. We pass many areas of decapitated palm trees. Some are starting to grow back. My guess is it’s damage from cyclones.
We continue past the resort to check out the nearby beaches which are deserted since it is not the weekend.
Locals are very friendly, often waving to us and calling hello as we drive by.
Banana Bay Beach Club
We head back to Banana Bay Beach Club. The sun is beaming now so we get into our bathing suits and snorkel the reef pools at the resort. The water is a bit cloudy from the earlier rain but we still see a lot of different fish including the Picasso triggerfish and an eel.
The rest of the grounds are also very pretty.
Hermit Crab Roomie
I find a small hermit crab climbing the wall in our room. I manage to capture him in a glass and I set him free by the water.
We have a relaxed supper and hang out by the water before calling it a day.
