Efate Island is one of the most beautiful and most popular islands among tourists. Its nature is amazing: the steep mountain slopes covered with dense tropical green, lonely bays, rapid rivers and cascades of waterfalls do not leave anyone indifferent.

The history of Efate is closely intertwined with the inhabitants of Papua New Guinea, coming there through the Solomon Islands. For a long time, there was a popular Melanesian Lapita culture. But in the era of the world active discovery, the island was inhabited by Europeans, completely changing the way of life. 

The first European seeing the shores of Efate Island was the famous Captain Cook. And 50 years later there was a large first European settlement. Sailors of whaleboats came to live there, the missionaries and merchants of sandalwood built their houses on the island. 

Now, a huge number of tourists visit the island to see the local natural beauties. So, for example, there is located the incredibly attractive Mele Bay with a large coral reef hiding the traces of numerous shipwrecks and having the unusual landscape.

A huge number of caves have a feature – the Black Sands reef popular among divers. It is a home of more than 300 species of fish, and the transparency of the water around the reef is up to 50 meters. And that is not the only place for diving. There are plenty of interesting reefs around the island, so you can find the entertainment for any experience and diving skills, and get the same strong impression underwater.

And just 12 kilometers from the Mele Bay you can find the Mele Cascades Waterfalls - the famous sight of Efate Island. The wall of water falling from the height is seen from the road. At the bottom of the waterfall, there is a natural pool, which is one of the favorite places of the locals’ and the guests’ rest.

But Efate Island attracts not by its beautiful nature. The city of Port Vila charms the visitors with its cozy view: small houses, covered with the green, neighbor with the modern European quarters. In the city, you should see the Cultural Center, where you can learn the history of the country, see the ethnographic, archeological relics, and local art.

Of all the unusual architecture, the most popular are the French Quarter in the style of the Colonial Epoque, the Parliament building, several beautiful churches (the Anglican Church, the Catholic Cathedral, and the Presbyterian Church), the Courthouse. Each construction has a short but interesting history, and, what is more important, it shows how hard the influence of Europeans on local culture is.