Big Bay and Vatthe Conservation Area

Vatthe covers a large area of lowland rainforest, river and coast on Big Bay in northern Espiritu Santo, run by the villages of Matantas and Sara as one of the country's first community conservation areas. It holds the largest remaining stand of lowland forest in Vanuatu, with megapodes, coconut crabs and flying foxes, and guided walks go out along river and forest trails from the village.

What you'll find

• The lowland forest - the largest remaining stand of its kind in Vanuatu.
• The megapodes - the ground-nesting birds that incubate eggs in warm sand.
• The coconut crabs - the large land crabs living in the forest.
• Big Bay - the wide bay the conservation area fronts on.

When to go

May to October is the dry season and the road is passable. November to April is wet and the track becomes difficult. Cyclone season runs November to April.

What to expect

The road in is rough and takes around two hours from Luganville. Accommodation is very basic village guesthouses. Wildlife sightings need patience and a guide.

Nearby

Mount Tabwemasana is west, and Luganville is south.