The largest island in Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo (or just Santo to those in the know), is far from crowded. With a fascinating WWII history, amazing diving and snorkelling, sparkling blue swimming holes and some of the world’s finest beaches, Santo Vanuatu should be on every family’s bucket list.
Here’s why you should visit the island of Santo in Vanuatu.
You can visit the Vanuatu island of Santo on a budget
You don’t have to re-mortgage the house to take a family holiday to Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu. There are plenty of budget accommodation options if you can forego the five stars and stay in a basic bungalow. With plenty of beautiful beaches, you can spend as much or as little on activities as you like here.
The water is warm, clear and calm
I don’t know about you, but I have a lot less anxiety about travelling with the kids when the ocean is as safe as possible. Most of the beaches on Santo Vanuatu are ideal for kids with calm water. Some of them even have spectacular snorkelling close to shore, particularly at Port Olry and Million Dollar Point.
If it’s not as calm as you’d like, you can always head to a blue hole!
Santo Vanuatu has a fascinating war history
There’s a lot of war history on the island of Santo in Vanuatu, and some of it will surprise you! However, because the island of Santo served only as a base for the troops, most of the history is more interesting than horrific. From snorkelling over dumped war equipment at Million Dollar Point to crashed aeroplanes in the jungle and leftover quonset huts, it’s a great introduction to learning about WWII.
The island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu is not crowded
You will only see a crowd in Espiritu Santo when a cruise ship docks offshore and a colourful market pops up to greet the disembarking day passengers. On any other day, you may have a tropical Vanuatu beach all to yourself. Despite being the largest island in Vanuatu, Santo is not the most populated.
The locals love kids
In Santo Vanuatu, toddler behaviour is well tolerated, and kids are welcomed everywhere. When eating at a restaurant, nobody minds if you order only a meal for yourself and share it with the kids.
The food is really fresh on Santo Vanuatu
The food has literally come right off a farm on Santo Vanuatu, and you can usually find something for picky eaters. One thing that I have learned about travelling regularly overseas is that generally, one person always ends up getting sick. It’s not always a horror story from germs or bacteria, but just the change in diet can upset little tummies (and big tummies). This didn’t happen here. Not once!
Santo Vanuatu is only a 2.5-hour direct flight from Brisbane
The less time the kids are confined on the plane, the better. Need I say more? It also means you can shoot off for a long weekend if time is limited!
A lot of Santo Island in Vanuatu is in its natural state
It’s important for kids to experience nature like this. After all, how can we expect them to look after it if they don’t experience how beautiful it is. Besides, it’s not really a relaxing holiday when you’re surrounded by a concrete jungle.
There are plenty of opportunities to sneak in some learning
Did you know that outside of the main town of Luganville in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, there is no mains electricity? Locals, restaurants and accommodation providers use a combination of solar and coconut oil generated electricity.
Did you know that James A. Michener wrote his Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific (which was later turned into a musical and, much later, two films) based on his observations and anecdotes from his time stationed here as a lieutenant in WWII?
Santo is easy
Hiring a car is easy, and driving is even easier. There is only one sealed main road in Santo Vanuatu, so you can’t get lost. In fact, nobody even minds if you sit in the tray back of the ute; the locals travel this way all the time. As long as you accept that Vanuatu runs on Island time (so your meal may take an hour instead of 20 minutes), the Island of Espiritu Santo is a truly relaxing place to visit, even with young kids.
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Let me know what you think!