The Maskelyne Islands, South Malekula
The Maskelynes are a group of low lying islands with extensive reefs and mangroves off the southeast tip of Malekula. Dive boats and cruising yachts are regular visitors. The conservation areas around Uluveo and Sakao offer good, easy snorkelling. Sakao has good sand beaches.

Uluveo (also called Maskelyne) is the main island in the group and has three villages. It's a small island and you can walk around it in less than an hour. The people travel in canoes to Sakao or to the mainland to plant their gardens. The Maskelynes are well known for their expertly crafted dugout canoes. The main source of income in the group is copra, supplemented by some fishing.

There are guesthouses in every village on Uluveo but most are not promoted and not widely known. We have visited two:
Malog Island Resort, Peskarus
Manu Guesthouse, Pellonk

There are two more bungalows on the VTO website: Malaflaf Beach Bungalow at Lutes and Limereh Guest House at Peskarus. These are worth checking out. Please send us an update if you can.

There are three marine conservation areas:

Lovhvari Marine Conservation Area, Uluveo

Nombong Sakao Marine Conservation Area, Sakao

Ringi Te Suh Marine Conservation Area, Uluveo

Services and Suggestions
Every village on Uluveo has telephones and stores. The stores are quite well stocked and some even sell Tusker beer (300 Vatu per bottle). There's a medical clinic near the Sangalai Primary School close to Lutes.

Transport
A speedboat from Point Doucere on the mainland to Uluveo takes about one hour and costs 200 Vatu shared (2000 Vatu for a charter). Every village has a speedboat but they don't run every day. There are usually boats waiting at Point Doucere when Air Vanuatu flights land at Lamap's airstrip. If there's nobody around you can just sit on the beach and wait.

Lamap airport is about 5 km south of Lamap (60 minutes walk) and Point Doucere is a further 20 to 30 minutes walk. A truck charter from Lamap to the airport is 1200 Vatu (100 Vatu if shared). See our Malekula page for Air Vanuatu flight details and more transport information.

Last updated: October 2009 by Stephen.