Vanuatu
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Passport
A passport is required, valid at least six months from the date of departure.
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Visas
Visas are not required by most nationalities for stays not exceeding 30 days, provided that travellers possess proof of onward passage and a valid passport.
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Hand Luggage Restrictions
No liquids, gels or aerosols are permitted beyond the screening area or onboard the aircraft except if they are not more than 3.5oz. (100ml) and they are in a clear plastic bag of one litre size which is sealed and separate from the passengers carry on baggage.
If any of the below items do not fit in the closed/sealed 1 litre size plastic bag and/or are over 3.5oz. (100mls), they should be packed in your checked luggage or must be declared to screening personnel at the boarding gate hold areas or the boarding gate – baby formula/milk (to include breast milk) and baby food in containers if a baby or small child is travelling; medications (liquid, gel and/or aerosol) with a name that matches the passenger's ticket; liquids (to include juice) or gels for diabetic or other medical needs. Quantities are limited to no greater than 3.5 oz. (100ml) per container. Any containers over 100mls will need to be accompanied by a doctor's note. (For purposes of this advice, liquids and gels include beverages, shampoo, suntan lotion, creams, toothpaste, hair gel, perfume and other items of similar consistency).
Passengers undergo secondary screening at the departure gate. Any liquids or gels found on a person that do not comply with these requirements will be confiscated.
Valuable items such as laptops, cell-phones, cameras are accepted as cabin baggage but will be subject to security checks at both screening stations.
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Geography
Vanuatu is a Y-shaped archipelago consisting of about 82 relatively small, geologically newer islands of volcanic origin (65 of them inhabited), with about 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) between the most northern and southern islands.[14] Two of these islands (Matthew and Hunter) are also claimed and controlled by France as part of the French collectivity of New Caledonia. The country lies between latitudes 13° and 21°S and longitudes 166° and 171°E.
The fourteen of Vanuatu's islands that have surface areas of more than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi) are, from largest to smallest: Espiritu Santo, Malakula, Efate, Erromango, Ambrym, Tanna, Pentecost, Epi, Ambae or Aoba, Gaua, Vanua Lava, Maewo, Malo, and Aneityum or Anatom. The nation's largest towns are the capital Port Vila, on Efate, and Luganville on Espiritu Santo. The highest point in Vanuatu is Mount Tabwemasana, at 1,879 metres (6,165 ft), on the island of Espiritu Santo.
Vanuatu's total area is roughly 12,274 square kilometres (4,739 sq mi),[16] of which its land surface is very limited (roughly 4,700 square kilometres (1,800 sq mi)). Most of the islands are steep, with unstable soils and little permanent fresh water.[14] One estimate, made in 2005, is that only 9% of land is used for agriculture (7% with permanent crops, plus 2% considered arable). The shoreline is mostly rocky with fringing reefs and no continental shelf, dropping rapidly into the ocean depths.
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Health Requirements
Vaccinations are not required. Anti-malarial medication is recommended if travelling outside of Port Vila and Efate; discuss requirements with your doctor.
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Time
Vanuatu is 11 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and does not observe daylight savings in the summer.
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Getting Around
Air Vanuatu operates daily flights between Port Vila and most of the outer islands. Charter flights can also be arranged. Main roads are reasonably well maintained and rental cars, motorcycles and taxis are available.
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Weather
April/May to October is the best time of year to visit with temperatures ranging from 18 to 28°C. November and December are warm whilst January to March are wet, hot months (26 to 34°C).
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Dress
For day to day wear, go for light, breathable, sun safe, and comfortable clothes, and remember a light jumper is likely to come in handy in the evenings as it cools off.
With regards to swim wear, while bikinis and swimsuits are suitable poolside or on the beach, outside your resort it's important to dress with modesty in mind.
Exposed thighs can be considered offensive in Vanuatu so it's probably best to leave short shorts and mini skirts at home.
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Currency
The Vanuatu currency is the Vatu (VT). Although Australian dollars and credit cards are accepted by many shops, restaurants and hotels in Port Vila, and a few in Luganville (Espiritu Santo), they are not readily accepted outside of these town centres or on outer islands.
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Tipping
There's no tipping culture in Vanuatu
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Communications
Telephone services are good and mobile telephone roaming is available. Internet connections are available from most hotels and also at internet cafés in Port Vila and Luganville.
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Language
There are three official languages; English, French and Bislama (pidgin English).
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Holidays, Special Events
New Year's Day - 1 January
Father Walter Lini Day - 21 February
Kastom Chiefs' Day - 5 March
Easter - Good Friday & Easter Monday
Labour Day - 1 May
Ascension Day - 24 May
Children's Day - 24 July
Independence Day - 30 July
Assumption Day - 15 August
Constitution Day - 5 October
National Unity Day - 29 November
Christmas Day - 25 December
Family Day - 26 December -
Electricity
Voltage is 240, 50 hertz mains electricity. Use of American and European appliances requires a plug adaptor and convertor.
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History
The ni-Vanuatu pride themselves on their musical instruments, of which the tamtam - also called the slit-drum or slit-gong - is a fine example. Traditionally used in ceremonies, it is an intricately carved log with a slice hollowed out from the centre from which the sound reverberates. Panpipes are also common in music, as are conch shells, which double as bush telephones. On Santo they play a three-holed flute, while on Ambrym a long, carved musical pipe is played. Ambrym is also home to the most elaborate sand drawings in Vanuatu, which villagers employ to illustrate legends, songs, ceremonies or to leave messages. Stone, wood and even treefern carving has developed into an intricate art form owing to the abundance of available materials, and in the north the sculptors sometimes use coral to carve small statues. Magic stones carved from pumice are part of Vanuatu's hidden life and are generally not on display. Tattooing was once a high art form but is becoming rarer, although body and rock painting are still widely practiced.
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People
Vanuatu has a population of 221,506. The inhabitants of Vanuatu are called Ni-Vanuatu in English, using a recent coinage. The Ni-Vanuatu are primarily (98.5%) of Melanesian descent, with the remainder made up of a mix of Europeans, Asians and other Pacific islanders. Three islands were historically colonized by Polynesians.
Important Information
Passport
A passport is required, valid at least six months from the date of departure.