Making the most of Champagne Bay Espiritu Santo
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
On the Pacific Island of Vanuatu, Champagne Beach is an unspoilt visitor destination that deserves to be far better known and awaits wider discovery.
Passengers come ashore by tender at this port.
Espiritu Santo is one of the world's few places where you can find a beach to yourself, dive or snorkel among a thousand colourful fish, visit tribal and ritualistic cultural sites, then dine on a jetty overlooking the South Pacific.
The largest island in Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo received its name from Pedro De Quiros in the 17th century, when he believed he had discovered Australia's legendary great southern land.
A pristine crescent of snow-white sand edged by coconut palms defines Champagne Bay. At low tide, a freshwater spring bubbles onto the beach's eastern end, which explains its name. Offshore, a reef shelters an appealing lagoon for safe swimming and snorkelling; behind it rises a densely vegetated mountain range topping 1700 metres.
Food and shopping
When not in the water, spend time strolling over the fine white sand, sunbathing or browsing beachside stalls operated by villagers from Hog Harbor.
Money
The local currency is the Vatu (VT), worth approximately 1 US cent or 0,7 Euro cents.