Santo – Adventure in Paradise

Overview

Santo is Vanuatu’s largest island, famous for its white powdery beaches, blue holes, coconut palms, tribal communities, the SS President Coolidge, and the list goes on.

Referred to simply as Santo by the locals, the ‘Spirit of Santo’ is well known throughout the islands and the characteristic happy vibes and enthusiasm for the island are passed on to everyone who visits. With direct flights from Brisbane to Luganville, twice weekly and at least two daily return flights from Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, many visitors return to stay year after year!

Santo offers the perfect combination of bare-foot-luxury vacation, with a mix of adventure, World War II histories, and authentic Melanesian culture, ensuring that you can mix-and-match your experiences to create an ideal holiday!

Getting to and around Espiritu Santo

Air Vanuatu flies direct to Espiritu Santo once a week from Brisbane. Air Vanuatu also flies from Port Vila to Espiritu Santo daily. It is a 45-minute flight from Port Vila and you can check schedules on Air Vanuatu website. Most hotels and resorts will organise tours and transfers where required. There are local buses and taxis to take you around if you negotiate the rate before setting off for your adventure. Car and scooter hire is available in Luganville. You will need to be at least 21 years old and have held a licence for over a year.

Cultural Information of Espiritu Santo

The west coast of Santo is characterized by high mountains and thick bushland, home to Vanuatu's highest mountain, Mt. Tabwemasana. There are no roads on this side of the island and the people who live there still maintain a predominately traditional way of life. With strong traditional ties, Espiritu Santo also has a history with both first and second world wars. Santo was also largely an ally military base during world war 2 and signs of its historical connections to second world war is very much alive today through dive wrecks, old airstrips, and a world-class world war two museum. Before the US established their military base in Santo, Luganville was just a coastal village with a few homes interspersed amongst jungle and coconut plantations.