Best Time to Visit Port-Vila

Two seasons, and a long wet one

Port-Vila has a warm, wet season and a cooler, drier one. The wet season runs from January to April. March is the wettest month, with 263 mm of rain on 24 days. Days are sticky and humid, and the nights barely cool down. Heavy showers come in fast, and the sea can turn murky.

This is also cyclone season. Storms are most likely from about January to March, so check forecasts if you're booking then. On the plus side, you'll often have Mele and Hideaway Island to yourself.

From May the air dries out and the heat eases. By July and August, days are around 25°C and evenings feel soft rather than heavy. It still rains on about two days in five, but showers are short.

July to September: best for most trips

Our comfort score picks July and September, and September is the only month rated Excellent. It has the least rain (57 mm on 12 days) and the most sun of the cool months. That makes it the pick for snorkelling at Hideaway Island, swimming at the Mele Cascades, and the ferry or flight out to Tanna's volcano, Mount Yasur.

Travelling with kids? Vanuatu's school holidays bring more families in July and September, so book flights and rooms early. It's still nowhere near the crowds of bigger Pacific hotspots. If you hate queues, early June is a calmer choice, and it's rated Good.

October to December: warming up

October to December are rated Fair. The heat and humidity build, and rain returns, though it's far lighter than in March. December is the sunniest month, with about 5.3 hours a day. That suits you if you want beach time and don't mind the odd downpour.

Late in the year, expect more cruise ships. The town's waterfront market, where you can try laplap (a root-vegetable pudding), gets busy on those days. Go early for the best pick.

Events worth planning around

Independence Day on 30 July is the big one. Expect parades, music and dancing around town, and busy restaurants. It lands in the best weather of the year, so it's a good reason to pick July. Christmas and New Year are lively too, but the weather is hotter and wetter.