Compared to the daily grind, it’s safe to say that just about any time is the best time to go to Vanuatu. Tropical islands, laid-back vibes, quiet beaches, lush jungle. It really is paradise.
But, if you’re looking for the absolute best time to go for your needs, here’s when to go (and we’ll explain more below):
- Weather: September and October
- Pricing: January to March (Between school holidays and Easter)
- Crowds: November to April, outside of school holidays
- Diving: May to October
That said… We’ve been to Vanuatu twice now and while we technically haven’t been during the “best time”, we still had a blast. So if you’re stuck to a strict schedule that won’t allow you to travel during peak times, or found an incredible flight deal, go ahead! Book it!
Weather in Vanuatu
May to October are the driest months in Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital. The least rainfall happens in September and October.
Come November, and you’re entering cyclone season. While they don’t happen too often in Vanuatu, it’s still a risk. The island nation generally sees two or three per year, but only a few per decade cause much damage. But, they sure can put a damper on your holiday.
We’ve been in December and January, arguably the worst times to go weather-wise, but found the rain certainly didn’t affect us much. Whenever it did rain, it moved in quick, gave us a good shower, then moved out. There was only one day where we lost more than a few hours to poor weather. It was the perfect excuse to just enjoy the view from our bungalow’s balcony and read a book though.
Prices for travelling in Vanuatu
Generally, travelling during the off season will get you the best prices. And that’s why we’ve been in the height of the rainy season twice. We did our research to find somewhere affordable to go and even found flights to Vanuatu were less than going many places in Australia.
We were there over Christmas on both trips, and once over New Year’s, and didn’t notice a big increase in pricing over those dates compared to others when it came to accommodation either.
Vanuatu is one of the cheaper destinations in the South Pacific for Australians to visit. We’re lucky that Jetstar offers budget flights to Port Vila (direct from Sydney, or connecting from other spots), making it much more affordable than spots like French Polynesia.
It’s also slightly cheaper than neighbouring Fiji, too. We found accommodation prices were lower, flights were cheaper and food prices were also slightly less. (Although we did like the food in Fiji more, sorry, Vanuatu!).
Crowds in Vanuatu
Compared to nearby Fiji or Australia’s favourite island paradise, Bali, Vanuatu is generally quite quiet. And that’s why we love it. At major tourist attractions like Eden on the River, we felt like we had pools of water all to ourselves, while at Banana Bay Beach Club, we had no issues finding our own space.
So, no matter when you go, we don’t think you’ll have to worry about crowds.
Diving and snorkelling in Vanuatu
Even during the wet season, we were able to go snorkelling and diving without any issues. The visibility was great, too! We found visibility to be about 15-20m on all dives and snorkels in Vanuatu. However, it’s said that during the dry season it’s even better.
Here’s where we went diving: Moso Island and a boat dive from Port Villa to sites near Hideaway Island
Here’s where we went snorkelling: Honeymoon Beach, Top Rock, Moso Island, Banana Bay Beach Club, Pango Community Beach, Le Life Resort’s beach.
