Port Vila

Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu on the island of Efate, is a relaxed and welcoming harbour town, the country's hub and gateway, set around a pretty bay. It blends Melanesian island life with a lingering French colonial flavour in its cafes and cuisine, centred on a colourful, bustling waterfront produce and handicraft market. While the town itself is low-key, it is the base for exploring Efate's easily reached natural attractions: the beautiful Mele Cascades waterfall, the vivid Blue Lagoon swimming holes, snorkelling, and traditional kastom villages offering a glimpse of Ni-Vanuatu culture.

What you actually see

• The waterfront market - the colourful produce and handicraft market.
• Mele Cascades - the beautiful tiered waterfall nearby.
• The Blue Lagoon - the vivid blue freshwater swimming holes.
• The kastom villages - the traditional cultural villages of Efate.

When to go

April to October, the drier, cooler season, for the most pleasant weather; the market is liveliest in the mornings, and the nearby cascades, lagoons and villages make easy day trips. The wet season from November to April is hotter with a cyclone risk. It is the arrival point and base for the wider archipelago.

Honest expectations

Port Vila is a small, low-key capital that has weathered cyclones and is a gateway rather than a destination in itself, so its appeal is its relaxed harbour atmosphere, market and French-Melanesian flavour, plus easy access to Efate's natural sights, rather than major attractions. As a friendly, easygoing base for exploring the beautiful islands, cascades and culture of Vanuatu, though, it is a pleasant and convenient hub.

Nearby

The Mele Cascades, the Blue Lagoon and the islands of Tanna and Santo are close.