Despite paddling through tropical rain, a tourist couldn’t wipe the smile off their face while kayaking down the Rentapao River on Vanuatu’s main island, Efate. Like many others returning to the island nation following the December 17, 2024 earthquake, this visitor came seeking both adventure and the warm spirit of the ni-Vanuatu people.
“My guide, Roycie Tabi from Vanuatu Ecotours, told me the skies were blue and the river crystal clear just the day before. But the sound of the rain on the rainforest made it perfect,” the tourist said, reflecting on their journey. “Fourteen years ago on my first visit, I didn’t fully appreciate what makes Vanuatu so special.”
Signs of Vanuatu’s recovery are clear. On the drive from the airport, a humorous sign outside a hardware store read: “Toilet seats are back in stock!” Loic Bernier, Chair of the Vanuatu Hotels and Resorts Association, confirmed over drinks at Banyan Beach Bar that tourism is almost fully operational again. “Eighty percent of hotel rooms are open,” he said, recalling how he was having lunch with the French Ambassador when the earthquake hit.
Later in the trip, the tourist embarked on a day tour to Nguna and Pele islands. After hiking Mount Marou, an extinct volcano, and taking in panoramic views across the sea and nearby islands, the group relaxed on the coral-ringed shores of Pele Island, swimming and snorkeling in tropical waters.
On the return journey, the tourist spotted a sign for the Nasinu Hot Springs and asked to stop. What followed was a truly local experience — no big signs, just warm hospitality and natural thermal pools managed by Anne-Marie Hamos, whose father discovered the springs. After a mud bath, rinse, and soak in the hottest spring, the tourist felt completely rejuvenated.
“By the time I sat down for sunset drinks and dinner at Eratap Beach Resort, I had tapped into what makes Vanuatu special: letting go of stress, enjoying the small things — like the pitter-patter of rain on a jungle river — and learning to live at a slower, happier pace.”
Just months after a major natural disaster, Vanuatu is open, welcoming, and showing the world the strength of its people and the peace to be found in its natural beauty.
