Vanuatu is full of tropical treasures just waiting to be discovered. When visiting this leafy paradise, it’s likely that you’ll fly into the island of Efate. A small island packed with things to do, we recommend spending at least 3 days here before moving on to other parts of Vanuatu.

Prepare to experience soothing lagoons, pristine beaches, lush greenery and the warm hospitable locals. Pack your snorkels and sandals, here’s your perfect 3 Day Itinerary of Efate.

Getting to Efate

If you’re flying from overseas, you’re almost certainly going to be flying into Port Vila Airport (VLI). Port Vila is the capital of this tiny nation and although there’s not too much to do in the city itself, you’ll still have to stop by here before moving on to the rest of Efate.

The most common direct flights into Port Vila are from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland and Nadi.

We use Skyscanner to check flight prices because it’s the most accurate flight search engine and aggregator out there – ensuring that we get the most affordable price possible.

Once you land in Port Vila Airport, use this affordable shared airport transfer that will take you to your accommodation. Private airport transfer is also available if you prefer.

Getting Around Efate by Car

A lot of visitors choose to get around Efate by car and drive around the famous Ring Road. The driving is relatively easy, although if you’re not used to driving on the left side, it might take a while for you to adjust.

There are plenty of car rental places available, but some of them shut on Sundays. We used a company called World Car Rentals and had a pretty good experience with them.

Handpicked Tours in Efate

Visiting Efate on a tour is also another great way to explore the verdant island, as it takes away the hassle and planning involved with driving around. Something you should know about Vanuatu’s attractions is that the vast majority require a pretty hefty entrance fee (usually between AUD10-20), and these add up quite quickly. The handy thing about joining a tour is that entrances are all included in the price, as are meals usually.

Here are some of the best tours to get you exploring Efate.

• Cultural Day in Port Vila – Pepeyo Cultural Village, Eton Village, Eton Primary School, Blue Lagoon, Rarru Cascades, Aquana Beach Resort, Duty Free Shopping, Kava Experience – by far the most comprehensive tour of the island you can take in one day.

• Full Day in Port Vila – Blue Lagoon, Turtle Reef, Rarru Cascades – a simple tour that takes you through to animal experience.

• Half Day in Port Vila – Blue Lagoon, Eden on the River – for those shorter on time and only wanting to explore for a half day.

What to do in Efate?

Day 1 – Arrival Day

On your arrival day, take it easy and get acquainted with the capital, Port Vila.

Stroll around the Port Vila Markets and explore the local fruits and vegetables of the island. Nearby, explore the Port Vila Handicraft Market and purchase a souvenir made by locals.

Hideaway Island Marine Reserve

Later on in the day, a short ferry will take you to Hideaway Island – a gorgeous island featuring blue water, pristine beaches and verdant greenery. The highlight here will be the snorkelling the island offers, and you can even visit the world’s only Underwater Post Office! Pretty awesome right?

You can also visit Hideaway Island on this tour, along with Blue Lagoon and a Turtle experience.

Day 2 – Exploring Efate’s Best Natural Attractions

It’s time to really explore the best of what Efate has to offer today. Prepare for a full day of tropical goodness!

Rarru Cascades

You can’t visit Efate without experiencing at least one of the waterfall/lagoon attractions, and Rarru Cascades is a great place to start. Featuring a lovely blue-green river and pretty cascades, you’ll be able to swing on ropes, lay in the water on a tube and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of this place.

We would recommend Rarru Cascades over the other popular cascade attraction on Efate, Mele Cascades. While Mele Cascades used to be one of the island’s top things to do, a recent price increase means that you’ll have to pay a staggering 60AUD to see the best part of the complex, which we just don’t think is worth it.

Banana Bay Beach Club

This is a hidden gem that you most likely won’t read about in any other blog or travel guide (yet). The Banana Bay Beach Club is a tranquil place to enjoy a beverage and some food over some panoramic vistas, but the best part about this place is the natural swimming pool that you can enjoy.

This is a great place for snorkelling as well, as I saw many little fish swimming around. You only have to purchase a small beverage to enjoy your time here. I bought a 4.50AUD bottle of juice and spent a few hours in the natural swimming pool.

Ch-something Beach

With an interesting name like Ch-something Beach, I was really curious to see how this one would turn out. I picked out this place just based on the unusual name on Google Maps, and I’m pleasantly pleased to say it did not disappoint!

This is another gem that you’ll be hard pressed to find on any travel website, and in fact, we were the only visitors there. This beach is ridiculously beautiful and features stunning blue waters and a quaint cove-like setting for swimmers. The water here is so calm, and the best part about swimming here is that the sand is soft and sandy, unlike many of the other beaches on the island that are coral beaches.

There is an entrance fee here, but the beach isn’t always patrolled so you might be able to visit for free.

Blue Lagoon

Efate’s Blue Lagoon is by far the most popular attraction on the island, and for good reason! Featuring milky blue waters, green surrounds and a family-friendly atmosphere, the 20AUD fee is well worth it.

Many visitors at the Blue Lagoon jump on the swing-ropes, which is a really fun thing to do here.

Eton Beach

I didn’t visit Eton Beach because I was satisfied with my visit to Ch-something Beach, but I know a lot of other travellers rave about this place. We have to admit that it does look like a truly stunning beach, so it’ll be on our list for next time. A short drive of only a few minutes from Blue Lagoon will take you to Eton Beach.

Day 3 – Rounding out the Ring Road

For your final day in Efate, it’s time to finish off what’s left of the ring road! Get ready for another day filled with views, friendly locals and culture experiences!

Nasinu Hot Springs

Does soaking in natural hot springs appeal to you? If so, Efate boasts the Nasinu Hot Springs, a fun hot springs and mud bath experience set amongst the beautiful tropical trees. We visited hot springs in Fiji just before visiting Vanuatu, so we decided to opt out of this one – but if you haven’t done one before, then we would highly recommend doing a mud bath because it’s such a fun experience!

Top Rock

This was our highlight of our entire Vanuatu trip!! Top Rock can be found in the very north of Efate Island, and is an all-in-one stop for a lunch break, snorkelling, beach time and breathtaking views. Plus the staff here were so friendly and helpful.

A small entrance fee will allow you to visit Top Rock’s panoramic view point. After you finish taking gorgeous photos up here, you can head down a set of stairs to this hidden snorkelling spot. Again, we were the only ones here and I was able to snorkel in peace and marvel at all the colourful fish down there.

Port Havannah

No visit to Efate Island would be complete without spending some time at Port Havannah. Located on the west coast of Efate, this side of the island is just as beautiful as the rest of it. Some places I would recommend checking out are Gideons Landing and Havannah Dream Club.

Vanuatu National Museum

Get acquainted with the history of Vanuatu and how things came to be in this idyllic island nation. The Vanuatu National Museum is the most comprehensive museum in the country and the best place to study local cultural artifacts.

Ekasup Cultural Village

Cap off your cultural day by visiting the Ekasup Cultural Village. Here, you can get a taste of how locals live and the traditional lifestyle in Vanuatu. You’ll be treated to various performances, leaving you with a highly educational and entertaining experience.

That’s it for our 3 Day Efate Island Itinerary! Efate had some truly memorable experiences, and we know you’re going to have a fantastic time there.

Have any questions for us? Leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of this itinerary.

 Follow me on Instagram! Click here.