There are many types of accommodation in Santo, but this isn’t a full directory or review of every hotel – I haven’t stayed in them all. Instead, I’ve put together this guide to help you choose the right place to stay based on what you want to do in Espiritu Santo. I’ve included about 15 options that I either stayed in or looked into during our 10-day trip in 2018. Hopefully, my reviews and tips will help you find the best Santo accommodation for your trip.
Do you have travel insurance? It’s always a good idea to purchase travel insurance so that you can better enjoy risky activities and don’t worry so much about money if an emergency happens. If you pay for your holidays with your credit card, you may have travel assurance included. Otherwise, I find WorldNomads* and Covermore* make it easy to add adventurous activities like scuba diving to your plan. For more information about travel insurance, read this!
Santo accommodation options in Luganville
Best for: scuba divers
If your priority is scuba diving the SS President Coolidge, Luganville is the most convenient base. You’ll save time and won’t need to organise extra transport. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend staying in town – I found it overpriced and lacking charm.
Some popular options in Luganville if you’re there for scuba diving:
- Deco Stop Lodge – A diver-friendly lodge with facilities to clean and store gear. I met a few divers staying there who were very happy with it.
- The Espiritu – A centrally located hotel near shops and the market. A friend recommended it, but we opted for Aore Island instead. It has the Pacific Dive Shop on-site, although I didn’t hear much about their reputation.
If you’re after more comfort and a more relaxing setting, I’d suggest looking at Aore Island.
Staying on Aore Island
Best for: comfort, peace and a beach setting close to Luganville
Aore Island sits just across from Luganville and is perfect if you want a more relaxing and luxurious base. You can easily take a short taxi boat across for your tours or dives on the main island. We visited Aore Island Resort and it looked like a lovely place to stay, with friendly staff and a great view.
Other Aore options worth checking out:
- Two Canoes Island Getaway – Looked fantastic when we passed by.
- Aore Adventure Sports & Lodge – Great reviews, especially for diving the SS Coolidge.
Planning to visit Millennium Cave?
Millenium Cave tours start early from Luganville. We’d already booked elsewhere when we found out you can stay overnight in the nearby village of Vunasep. It’s a basic setup, but sounds like a wonderful, immersive experience if you want to connect with local culture. Few tourists choose to stay, so it’s a more authentic experience.
Staying in the north of Espiritu Santo
Best for: blue holes, beaches and authentic village life
If you can, leave Luganville behind and spend a few nights in the north of the island. This area was the highlight of our trip – especially the blue holes and beautiful beaches around Port Olry.
We stayed at Serenity Beach and felt like we’d found paradise. Our small treehouse had a mattress on the floor, a terrace with sea views and a private outdoor (cold) shower. The big treehouse is better for families, while the bungalows are more comfortable for couples, with hot showers and toilets inside.
It’s simple accommodation, but the location is breathtaking. Nature lovers will be in heaven, and the warm hospitality from Angelique, who runs the place, made the experience even better. She went out of her way to help us organise last-minute horse riding and fishing activities. We also got massages and rented canoes from the shop next door.
Meals were served in the beachfront restaurant with incredible views. Angelique was happy to cook a local dish we’d enjoyed earlier in Luganville.
Prefer something more hotel-style with amenities? Head back toward Luganville and check out Turtle Bay Lodge. We spent an afternoon there and it was lovely – good snorkelling and kayaking, and the staff were very friendly. The beach isn’t quite as impressive as Port Olry, but still beautiful. We met a traveller staying there who was having a great time.
How was your accommodation in Espiritu Santo? Share your experience in the comments below!
Where is Espiritu Santo?
Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu‘s largest island. You can fly directly to Luganville from Brisbane or connect from Port Vila, the capital.
