Walking Vanuatu on Pentecost

Walking can be an enjoyable way to tour Pentecost and there's good bush walking around the south, at Mount Vetmar and in the interior. The east coast, with less people and less roads, should be a great place for walking but you'll need a reliable guide and plenty of time.

Walking to get around Pentecost
You can hike west Pentecost unguided following roads and well used paths and there are several guesthouses and bungalows along the way. Below we describe a route from north to south. There's a map on our Pentecost page.

From north Pentecost there's a truck road down the west coast ending at Atanbalo village. From here a hiking track continues parallel to the coast, across a river, through Labultamata village and down to Loltong. There are small villages along the path where you can ask for directions. The water in the river north of Labultamata should be OK to drink. At Loltong, Chief Richard has a house where visitors can stay. A bed costs 1000 Vatu per night and simple aelan kaekae meals can be provided. You can telephone Loltong on 38830 (community phone). Loltong has a few basic stores, a run-down Catholic Mission, and a medical dispensary.

From Loltong you follow a disused truck road as far as the main road above Namaram, descend to Namaram and then go though the Catholic Mission. The path over the hill between Namaram and Bwatnapni is rather difficult to follow and there's a village on top where you can ask for directions. At Bwatnapni there's a guesthouse which belongs to the school. It's a two story, brightly painted, fanciful construction by the road. It costs 200 Vatu per person, per night to sleep here. It has a bunk bed, two single beds and is not a bad place to stay although the door doesn't lock and you have to find your own food. Bwatnapni has stores and sometimes there's a fundraiser with cooked aelan kaekae for sale. The phone number for Bwatnapni school is 38116. About 40 minutes up the river there's an excellent swimming hole (worth the walk).

South of Bwatnapni walking is along the truck road all the way to Pangi. From Bwatnapni there's a long hill to cross before reaching the Catholic Mission at Melsisi. You might choose to break your journey here and visit the nearby Melsisi Gorge. You can find accommodation at the mission. If you're going ahead, fill up your water bottle from the mission's water supply.

South of Melsisi the truck road doesn't cross any hills. However there are many rivers so plan on walking with wet feet (sandals are a good idea). At Vanu there's a nice waterfall and you can stay at Noda Guesthouse. At Baravet you can stay at Samuel's Guesthouse. After Baravet you pass by Lonorore airfield, Mount Vetmar and a hot spring between the road and the beach just south of Hotwata village. Finally you arrive at Pangi where you can stay at Walap Beach Bungalows, the Council Resthouse or Nagol Bungalows.

Climbing Mount Vetmar
Vetmar, at 887m above sea level, is Pentecosts second highest mountain. Close to the west coast road, it takes only half a day to climb and come back down. On top you'll witness some fine views over south Pentecost and there are some unusual plants and birds to see in the cloud forest. There's a clear path up the mountain from Rangusuksu village. You can also cut through the bush from Hotwata village. Make enquiries and find a guide at Rangusuksu or Hotwata.

Guides
You should be able to walk along west Pentecost unguided. Guides are need off the main roads and footpaths, on Mount Vetmar and around south Pentecost. About 1000 Vatu per day is reasonable compensation for basic guiding on the islands.

Last updated: February 2005 by Stephen.