The best things to do in Espiritu Santo include diving the SS President Coolidge, swimming in the island’s freshwater Blue Holes, relaxing on Champagne Beach, and exploring Luganville’s markets and rainforest trails. Santo is Vanuatu’s largest island, and most of its best experiences are within a short drive of Luganville, making it easy to fit several into one trip.
Here’s the full list, in the order most visitors tackle them.
1. Dive the SS President Coolidge
The Coolidge is one of the largest accessible wreck dives in the world, a former US troopship that sank just off Santo’s coast in 1942. It sits close enough to shore that even shallower sections are accessible to intermediate divers, while the deeper decks and cargo holds are a bucket-list dive for experienced divers.
2. Snorkel or Dive Million Dollar Point
Just around the coast from the Coolidge, Million Dollar Point is where US forces dumped surplus military equipment into the ocean after WWII rather than sell it back. Bulldozers, trucks, and jeeps now sit underwater, covered in coral, making it a unique and easy snorkel or shallow dive site.
3. Swim in Santo’s Blue Holes
Santo has several freshwater blue holes, with Jackie’s Blue Hole, Matevulu Blue Hole, and Nanda Blue Hole among the most visited. Each one is a natural swimming hole with striking turquoise water, and most have rope swings for jumping in.
4. Relax on Champagne Beach
Regularly ranked among the best beaches in the South Pacific, Champagne Beach has fine white sand and calm, clear water. It’s a longer drive from Luganville, so most visitors combine it with a stop at Port Olry on the same day.
5. Visit Port Olry
A small fishing village on Santo’s east coast, Port Olry has a quiet white-sand beach split by a narrow peninsula, with calm water on one side and a small local church and coconut plantation nearby. It’s a good stop for lunch on the way back from Champagne Beach.
6. Trek to the Millennium Caves
This is a half-day guided trek through rainforest and river crossings to reach a system of limestone caves, ending with a swim or bamboo raft float back down the river. It’s physically demanding but one of the most memorable land-based activities on the island.
7. Explore Luganville Market
Luganville’s central market is where locals sell fresh produce, seafood, and handicrafts. It’s a good stop for picking up souvenirs or simply seeing daily island life outside the resorts.
8. Visit Vatthe Conservation Area
A community-run conservation area on Santo’s north coast, Vatthe protects one of the last remaining lowland rainforests in Vanuatu. Guided walks here focus on native birdlife and traditional plant use.
9. Kayak the Segond Channel
The channel separating Santo from Aore Island offers calm, protected paddling with good visibility into the water below. It’s an easy option for visitors who want to get on the water without booking a full dive trip.
10. Take a Day Trip to Aore Island
A short boat ride from Luganville, Aore Island has quieter beaches and a slower pace than the mainland. It’s a good half-day escape for visitors who want a change of scenery without a long drive.
11. Experience a Local Kastom Village
Several villages around Santo offer guided cultural visits, where guests can see traditional dance, weaving, and daily customs explained by local hosts. It’s one of the more direct ways to learn about ni-Vanuatu culture beyond the resort experience.
12. See WWII Relics Around the Island
Beyond the Coolidge and Million Dollar Point, Santo has scattered WWII remnants, including old airstrips, bunkers, and rusting equipment left from when the island served as a major US military base. A local guide can point out sites most visitors would otherwise drive past.
13. Cycle Around Luganville and the Coastline
Santo’s flat coastal roads make for easy, scenic cycling, whether you’re headed into Luganville town or exploring the coastline near your accommodation. It’s a relaxed way to see more of the island at your own pace.
14. Walk the Loru Conservation Area
A smaller, less-visited rainforest reserve near Champagne Beach, Loru has short walking trails through untouched forest and is often combined with a beach day on the east coast.
15. Snorkel Right From the Beach
Not every good experience in Santo requires a boat or a long drive. Much of the coastline has healthy reef close to shore, calm water, and good visibility, so an afternoon of snorkelling straight off the beach is often just as memorable as a full-day tour.
Getting to These Spots
Most of these attractions are spread across the island, so having a plan for transport matters. Some, like the Coolidge and Million Dollar Point, are best booked through a local dive operator. Others, like the Blue Holes or Port Olry, are easiest with a hire car or a tour arranged in advance. Coral Quays Resort’s tour desk can help put a day together based on how much driving you want to do and how many stops you’re trying to fit in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need diving experience to see the SS President Coolidge?
No. Shallower sections of the wreck are accessible to divers with basic open-water certification. Deeper penetration dives require advanced certification and an experienced local guide.
Are the Blue Holes free to visit?
Most Blue Holes charge a small community access fee, since they sit on customary land managed by local villages. The fee typically goes directly to the community maintaining the site.
How many days do I need to see the main attractions in Santo?
Four to five days covers the main highlights comfortably, including a diving day, a Blue Holes and Champagne Beach day, and time for the Millennium Caves or a cultural visit.
Is it easy to get around Espiritu Santo without a tour?
Some sites, like Million Dollar Point, are close enough for a taxi. Others, like Champagne Beach or the Blue Holes, are easier with a hire car or a pre-arranged tour, since public transport options are limited outside Luganville.
Planning a trip to Santo? Check availability at Coral Quays Resort and let the tour desk help plan your days once you arrive.
