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Espiritu Santo

Vanuatu's biggest island, and popular with divers. It boasts shipwrecks for scuba diving, delightful beaches, coconut plantations, jungle and traditional villages where young men still engage in age-old rituals to celebrate their coming of age, and where women are provided with special places to stay for the time they menstruate. Champagne Beach can compete with any other beach in the South Pacific, and is therefore one of the most popular places to visit.

47km

-15.25166.833333

Port-Vila

capital and largest city of Vanuatu

267km

-17.75168.3
Sights (6)

SS President Coolidge

The biggest draw to the island is the wreck of the SS President Coolidge, a WWII troop carrier sunk by friendly mines in 1942. The majority of people traveling to Santo are divers who come for the expressed purpose of exploring this famous wreck. As such, there aren't many things to do in town other than to visit the local dive shops and organize some diving. Aquamarine is on the road opposite of the Unity Shell station and features a friendly and very experienced staff. They can take care of all your equipment needs and boast wide variety of Padi certified scuba courses at very competitive rates.

7.7km

-15.5242167.23521667

Ambae Island

island in the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu

75km

-15.4167.83333333

Ambrym

volcanic island in the archipelago of Vanuatu

130km

-16.25168.11666667

Lake Letas

lake

140km

-14.28333333167.53333333

Gaua

island

141km

-14.265167.52

Siri Waterfall

Waterfall in Guau, Vanuatu

143km

-14.26838167.57034
Nature

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Luganville

Vanuatu
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Someday we will visit Luganville or begin to dream about going there! However, for now its not on our radar. Let us know in the comments if you think that should change!

Luganville

Luganville, also known by the names Santo and Kanal is the largest town on Espiritu Santo, and with about 16,000 inhabitants second largest in Vanuatu. The main center of Vanuatu's biggest island, it has many Chinese stores as well as a few restaurants. Luganville is also one of the country's most important freight ports and was the site of a US military base during the Second World War.

During World War II about 40,000 United States military personnel were stationed in Luganville and it is estimated that between 400,000 and 500,000 military personnel took R & R on the island, operating 3 bomber airfields, a huge wharf and a nearby drydock. This era in Luganville's history is evident in the military-constructed Quonset huts still scattered around town.

Luganville has changed with the expansion of businesses and shops in the town. However, critics have claimed that Luganville has great potential and should have developed its economy further since Vanuatu gained its independence from Great Britain and France in 1980.

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Climate

Average temperatures

Jan

29°C24
Precipitation: 330 mm

Feb

29°C24
Precipitation: 340 mm

Mar

29°C24
Precipitation: 340 mm

Apr

28°C24
Precipitation: 310 mm

May

27°C23
Precipitation: 210 mm

Jun

27°C23
Precipitation: 200 mm

Jul

26°C22
Precipitation: 160 mm

Aug

26°C22
Precipitation: 130 mm

Sep

27°C22
Precipitation: 160 mm

Oct

27°C23
Precipitation: 190 mm

Nov

28°C23
Precipitation: 220 mm

Dec

29°C23
Precipitation: 270 mm
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