10-Hour Nguna Hike And Snorkel

Nguna Island Full Day Hike and Snorkeling Adventure from Port Vila Vanuatu. Rated 5.0 across 28 reviews. Runs 10 hours (approx.). From $162.55.

Overview

This full day trip from Port Vila packs a hike on Nguna Island and an afternoon of swimming and snorkelling on neighbouring Pele into roughly 10 hours, run by Vanuatu Ecotours with a maximum of 12 travellers per departure. The day starts early, at 07:00, from Tana Russet Plaza in Port Vila, and finishes back at the same point.

The morning is spent on foot on Nguna, and there are two walk options, both of which must be chosen before departure. The Volcano Walk climbs Mt Marou, an extinct volcano standing 472 metres, and takes about three and a half hours on average, with some steep sections rewarded by views north across the Shepherd Islands and south to Efate. The easier Village Walk is adapted to your fitness level and explores either upland or coastal villages instead.

After the walk, the group crosses to Pele Island for a buffet lunch on the beach, then an afternoon swim and snorkel over the lagoon or reef. Reviewers of this tour praise the guides, and one traveller called it the best day of an eight-day trip to Vanuatu. It suits people with moderate fitness who want a mix of walking, village contact and time in the water, and it is not a fit for young children or anyone with serious mobility or health constraints.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Tana Russet PlazaThe tour starts at 07:00 at Tana Russet Plaza in Port Vila, and the day ends back at this same point.
2. Boat to Nguna IslandPrivate transportation and boat crossings carry the group out to Nguna, one of Efate's outer islands.
3. Morning walk on NgunaChoose between the Volcano Walk up Mt Marou, which averages 3 1/2 hours with steep sections, or the easier Village Walk matched to your fitness level. The choice must be made before departure.
4. Buffet lunch on PeleCross to neighbouring Pele Island for a beachside buffet lunch, with snacks also provided on the tour.
5. Snorkel and swimSpend the afternoon swimming and snorkelling the lagoon or reef off Pele.
6. Return to Port VilaThe full experience runs about 10 hours, ending back at the meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you decide whether this day suits you and how to prepare for it.

• Fitness and pace. The Volcano Walk is described as steep in places and takes about three and a half hours on average, and one reviewer said the climb gets the heart pumping. The listing asks for a moderate level of physical fitness. If that sounds like too much, the Village Walk is the softer alternative.
• Choose your walk early. You must decide between the Volcano Walk and the Village Walk before you depart, not on the island. Pick the volcano route for the views over the Shepherd Islands and Efate, or the village route for a gentler cultural walk.
• Group size. The tour caps numbers at 12 travellers. Reviews describe guides who are informative and funny, so the day has a sociable, guided feel rather than a self-guided one.
• Food and drink. One reviewer mentioned a local village feast as part of the day.
• Getting there. Hotel pickup is included as detailed at booking, and the tour uses private transportation as well as boat crossings between islands. The meeting point is Tana Russet Plaza in Port Vila, and the day runs about 10 hours in total.
• Weather dependence. The experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions, you will be offered a different date or a full refund, so it is worth keeping some flexibility in your schedule.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not recommended for travellers with back problems, pregnant travellers, or anyone with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. Children under 10 are not recommended, and children between 10 and 12 need good stamina. It also requires a minimum number of travellers to run, so if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Cancellations on your side must be made at least 24 hours before the 07:00 start to qualify for a refund.

What To Decide Before Booking