Walking
Vanuatu on Maewo

Climbing
Mount Tagutgagaro
Mount Tagutgagaro is Maewo's highest peak at 811m above
sea level. On the summit you can find unusual birds and
plant life in the cloud forest.
Hiking
up Mount Tagutgagaro is steep and slippery but doesn't take
long. From Betarara (at sea level) you can climb the mountain
and walk down in half a day. Guides can be arranged at Qwatiawol
village.
Walking
the Naviso Loop
This walk loops around the mountains of central Maewo. It's
straightforward hiking on well used paths. It might be possible
to do the whole loop in a day but it would be more enjoyable
if you overnight at Naviso village.
From
Betarara there's a truck road up the escarpment and halfway
across the central plateau. From here you follow footpaths
to Naviso and around to Talise or Narovorovo. There are
guesthouses at Betarara
and Narovorovo. You
will need a guide to keep you on the right track and arrange
accommodation as required. Qwatiawol and Narovorovo are
two places where you can find local guides.
Walking
to get around Maewo
Trekking is an effective means of getting around Maewo since
road transport is limited and expensive. On the west coast
you simply follow the truck roads. Some distances and times
are presented below. There's a map on our Maewo page.
| Maewo
West Coast Walking |
Distance
(km) |
Time
(hours) |
| Naone
(Airfield) - Kaiwo |
10 |
2.5 |
| Betarara
- Narovorovo |
12 |
3 |
| Betarara
- Qwatiawol |
3 |
1 |
Please
note there is no walking path along the rugged coastline
between Nasawa and Asanvari. Here you must use a boat. See
our Maewo page for information about speedboats.
Guides
Maewo sees very few tourists and the locals aren't accustomed
to guiding tourists. You will need a little patience. Plan
to arrange a guide the day before you walk. About 1000 Vatu
per day is reasonable compensation for basic guiding on
the islands.
Last
updated: February 2005 by Stephen.
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