Top 10 Marinas in Vanuatu
Vanuatu's 80-island archipelago stretches roughly 1,300 kilometres through the Coral Sea, from Torres Islands in the north to Aneityum in the south. The cluster of anchorages and jetties around Port Vila on Efate Island act as a natural hub: fuel, provisions, and customs clearance are all within reach, while the volcanic cone of Yasur on Tanna simmers just a short sail south. Cruising sailors who time their arrival between April and October — outside the austral cyclone season — find steady south-east trades and water temperatures hovering around 26 °C.
Port Vila Waterfront
The Port Vila waterfront on Efate's southern coast is the busiest yachting precinct in the country. A line of mooring buoys and a stern-to-quay arrangement along the main breakwater can accommodate vessels up to about 25 m, though anchoring just off in 7–12 m of clear water is equally popular. Customs, biosecurity, and immigration occupy a single office near the market, making entry formalities manageable in a morning. Fresh produce — pawpaw, taro, and locally caught albacore — appears daily in the Vila market immediately ashore.
Vao Landing and the Northern Banks
North of Efate, the island of Malekula shelters the settlement of Vao, where Vao Landing provides a useful dinghy access point for cruisers anchored in the lee of the island. The holding in sand and coral rubble is adequate in settled weather. The adjacent Vao Island is home to a Ni-Vanuatu community that maintains traditional kastom dances; arranging a guided visit requires respectful advance notice through the local chief. Currents through the Malekula straits can reach 2–3 knots on spring tides, so entry timing matters.
Litzlitz Warf, Malekula
Litzlitz Warf on Malekula's west coast is a small government jetty primarily used by inter-island ferries, but it provides a convenient landing for cruisers anchored in the bay. The anchorage itself is exposed to westerly swells in winter, so monitoring the forecast is essential. Depth at the warf is around 3 m at low water, limiting its use to shallow-draft vessels. The surrounding bay opens onto the Wide Bay reef system, one of the finest patch-reef diving areas on the island.
Urpiv Warf
Urpiv Warf, located close to South West Bay on Malekula, services the small island community of Urpiv just offshore. Cruisers report acceptable holding on sand at 8–10 m in the approaches, with the warf itself suitable only for dinghy landings. The narrow pass between Urpiv Island and the Malekula mainland can create confused seas when the swell and wind oppose each other. Local guides can arrange treks into the interior, where Big Nambas and Small Nambas cultural traditions survive in scattered villages.
Havannah Harbour
Havannah Harbour, tucked into the north-western corner of Efate, is regularly cited as one of the finest natural anchorages in the South Pacific. The almost-landlocked bay offers protection from all quadrants once you are inside, with 6–15 m of depth over a sand-and-mud bottom. American forces used it as a major base during World War II, and several wreck sites remain accessible to divers, most notably a large floating dock sunk in 12–18 m. There is no commercial marina infrastructure here, but the holding is superb and the surroundings are pristine bush.
Luganville, Espiritu Santo
The town of Luganville on Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu's second city and its northern cruising hub. A long wharf extends into the Segond Channel, and yachts can anchor or secure stern-to near the small boat ramp at the eastern end of town. Provisioning is possible at the well-stocked supermarkets on the main street, and there is a diesel fuel facility near the main commercial wharf. The SS President Coolidge, sunk in 1942 and lying in 18–70 m of water, is considered one of the world's best wreck dives and draws liveaboards from across the Pacific.
Palikulo Bay
Palikulo Bay, a few nautical miles east of Luganville on Santo, offers a well-protected overnight anchorage used by yachts waiting on weather windows for the run north to the Banks or Torres Islands. Depth ranges from 8 to 20 m over a muddy bottom with good holding. A small resort on the northern shore occasionally hosts visiting yachts and can arrange laundry and meals. The bay funnels the south-east trade wind, giving it a pleasant breeze during the day and relative calm at night.
Explore on the map
Vanuatu's scattered anchorages come alive when plotted against the island chain on an interactive map. Use the sailing map to measure passages between Efate, Malekula, Espiritu Santo, and the remote northern groups — factor in reef passes and tidal windows before you go. Click any marina or landing point directly on the Vanuatu on the map layer to reveal depth notes and local contacts gathered from cruising reports.