Vanuatu: where the blue of the sea meets ancient cultures
The memory of my trip to Vanuatu is one of an impossible blue—so intense, transparent and luminous that, at times, it seemed the sea had decided to reveal all its secrets.
But Vanuatu is much more than its crystalline waters, it is an archipelago of volcanic islands in the South Pacific made up of 83 islands, where nature and cultural traditions continue to play an extraordinary role.
And perhaps that is precisely its magic: one arrives looking for paradise and ends up discovering a culture.
The blue that is not forgotten
If I had to choose a single image to define Vanuatu it would be the color of its water because it is not simply blue, but it has all the blues.
Turquoise near the shore, light blue when the sun hits it, deep blue when the gaze goes out to sea and, in some places, a transparency that allows you to see the bottom as if the water almost did not exist.
There are white sand beaches, small islands surrounded by reefs and also those incredible blue holes, natural pools of crystal clear water that appear among the vegetation. Espiritu Santo, the largest island in the country, is especially known for its beaches, its transparent waters and its blue holes.
And in front of that landscape one understands that there are places where nature does not need any retouching because nothing needs to be added, just look and be surprised.
But Vanuatu is not just a tropical paradise
That was perhaps what I liked the most because behind that postcard landscape there is an extraordinarily rich cultural world.
Each island seems to keep its own identity, its stories, its customs and its ways of relating to the land and the sea.
Vanuatu’s cultural diversity is enormous: its inhabitants preserve traditions handed down for generations and each of its islands has its own particularities. The word kastom, which refers to customs and traditions, continues to play a very important role in the life of communities.
And that is felt in the music, in the dances, in the way of dressing, in the ceremonies, in the crafts and in the stories that are passed from one generation to another.
Vanuatu is a place where culture does not seem to be locked in a museum, but rather feels alive.
There is one fact that I find very interesting and that helps to understand the enormous diversity of this small country.
Vanuatu has around 113 different languages, as well as numerous dialects. Its three official languages are Bislama, English and French, but in many communities the languages of each island or town are still spoken.
Thinking about that while you tour the islands completely changes the way you look at the place, because we are not simply facing different landscapes, but we are facing different stories, different identities and different ways of understanding the world.
And that makes Vanuatu a destination that goes far beyond conventional tourism.Tanna: the island where the land is alive
Among the many islands of Vanuatu, Tanna It has something special.
It is known for the Yasur volcano, one of the most accessible active volcanoes in the world, but also for its traditions and the strength with which local customs are maintained.
Imagining a place where during the day one can find beaches and tropical jungles and, shortly after, contemplate an active volcano, is enough to understand the diversity of this country.
But Tanna also allows you to get closer to very particular cultural expressions, such as the John Frum movement and different ceremonies linked to local tradition.
It is that combination of extreme nature and ancient culture that makes Vanuatu so different.
And then there is the water…
Why do we inevitably return to the water and how can we not?
There is something hypnotic about those islands.
In swimming, rowing or sailing and seeing a completely empty beach appear.
In getting into the sea and discovering that the water is so transparent that it looks like a swimming pool.
In snorkeling and encountering fish and corals.
In looking at the horizon and feeling that the ocean continues until it is lost.
And perhaps that is why one ends up looking at the sea in a different way.
There is something I especially liked about Vanuatu: it doesn’t seem like a destination made for racing.
The Tourist Office itself explains the need to get used to “island time”:a way of living in which the watch does not necessarily have the same importance as in our daily lives.
And maybe that’s exactly what we need when we travel.
Slow down the pace.
Leave room for the unexpected.
Discuss.
Notice.
Sit in front of the sea without wondering what we have to do next.
And I think that is one of the great lessons of traveling.
Not everything has to be scheduled.
Sometimes the best of a trip appears precisely when we leave a little space for it to surprise us.
🌴 Vanuatu, to save on the map
Capital: Port Vila, on the island of Efate.
Archipelago: 83 islands.
Not to be missed: beaches and lagoons, blue holes, snorkeling and diving, cultural villages, sailing between islands and, for those seeking adventure, the Yasur volcano in Tanna.
A special cultural experience: learn about local traditions and the concept of kastom, always with respect and, when appropriate, accompanied by local guides