Vaitupu

Vaitupu has more land than any other island in Tuvalu, which is not saying a great deal but is enough to matter: it holds the country's main secondary school, Motufoua, so young people from every island come here to board. The lagoon is enclosed with a shallow entrance. The main village sits on the western side and the island's land supports more planting than most of the group. The island sits roughly halfway between the northern group and Funafuti.

What you actually see

• The secondary school - Motufoua, where students from all the islands board.
• The land area - the largest of any island in the country.
• The enclosed lagoon - the shallow water inside the reef.
• The plantings - taro pits and coconut across the island.

When to go

May to October is drier and calmer. Ships run every few weeks at best. School terms govern the rhythm of the island.

Honest expectations

The ship from Funafuti is infrequent and getting stuck is normal. Accommodation is community arrangements rather than guesthouses. The school is not a visitor attraction and privacy should be respected.

Nearby

Nui is northwest, and Nukufetau is south.