Vat-Vaka is one of the first and most succesful little bungalows on Nguna. It has grown quite a bit since 2003.

Most people visit Nguna for the beaches and reefs. You can snorkel the Nguna-Pele Marine Protected Area off the beach in front of Vat-Vaka. On land, there is some easy bush walking and hiking nearby. Sometimes a day tour group visits from Port Vila and the local youth put on a kastom dance at the big Nabanga tree..

Costs and Booking
The bungalows are a family business set-up and managed by a son, Yohan. Vat-Vaka now charges 3000 Vatu per person per day for accommodation and meals, payable in Vatu cash. Exchange Rates.

Bookings for can be made by telephone or email, recommended because it is popular place. If Vat-Vaka is full, there are other places to stay in the area, see our Nguna, Pele, Emao page.

Telephone: 29995 (Yohan's house)
Mobile: 771916 (Yohan)

Website: http://www.vatvaka.com/ (dead?)
VTO: http://www.vanuatutourism.com/vanuatu/cms/en/operators/vatvaka.html

Accommodation and Food
Today Vat-Vaka has at least two bungalows. Mosquito nets are provided. Toilet and shower are housed separately. Fresh water is provided for bathing (bucket showers). The western style toilet is flushed with a bucket of seawater. There's no electricity and kerosene lamps are used for lighting. If you need electricity, for example to charge batteries, the Presbyterian Church in Taloa has a large solar power system with inverter.

Home cooked alean kaekae is served. Breakfast dishes may include gato or local bread, fried eggs, paw-paw, banana and coffee. Lunches may include fruit juice, rice, lap-lap, noodles, chicken, beef, fish, manioc, aelan kabis, fried onion, fried egg, mango, banana, tuluk, and pineapple. Dinners are similar to lunches. A container of drinking water (rain water) and a selection of fruits are kept at the bungalow for your convenience. Vat-Vaka might also have a kitchen now (haos blong cook).

Services and Suggestions
Taloa has a few basic stores selling basic items. There's a medical dispensary in Taloa and a clinic at Malaliu. There's a community telephone behind the hall in Taloa (23120).

First surveyed: December 2003 by Stephen.
Last updated: July 2008 by Stephen.

Visitor Ratings for Vat-Vaka Bungalows, Taloa Rate it

Date	Ratings	Comments
25/10/2009	Standard Location Value	We went to vat-vakar Oct 2009. Lovely place. Weather wasn't good for the 2 days we were there so pity we missed the snorkeling. We would have stayed another day but as everyone has said below the beds are hard! Other than that it was very pleasant.
23/11/2008	Standard Location Value	Don't know if I should keep this place to myself or give it the great ratings it deserves. A great place, stay there. Need to take public transport truck from China town to get there for 500 vatu plus 500 vatu for ferry.
03/10/2008	Standard Location Value
24/08/2008	Standard Location Value	August 2008 Be prepared for cold shower with a coconut shell out of a bucket, flushing the toilet with a bucket and a very thin mattress. But you will really enjoy snorkelling, bring your own gear as its not always available or in good condition. If you want to see how they really live in Vanuatu this is a great experience. The children are just great and really find the tourists entertaining, we are still a bit of a novelty to them. Take some childrens books or writing books and pencils with you, school and reading supplies are appreciated. Take some of the tours and talk to Yohan, Selina and Christine they all really want to take care of you. Yohan had to come into Vila with us the day we left and invited us out in the evening with him, great people.
24/08/2008	Standard Location Value	From the transport in the back of the truck, to the boat, to the bungalow and back was all such an experience for me having never left Australia before. Our food was island style with lots of bananas cooked in all different ways, manioc, lap lap etc. Selina our chef also taught me how to do some basket weaving with pandanus which I thoroughly enjoyed. Had a great rave with Felicity a teacher from the school and really got a great understanding for the local culture here. Didn't like Vila much and was really happy to stay here even though the bed was hard!
10/07/2008	Standard Location Value	We enjoyed our stay, although it was too windy for good snorkelling. The walk along the coast to the village of Lakepa is worthwhile with interesting stone formations. Meals were just adequate with small portions, and we were charged Vt1,000 per person for the ferry each way because we did not go together with other locals.
27/04/2008	Standard Location Value	Totally worth the effort to get to the Island and out of Port Vila. Beware the transport to Emua Wharf is unreliable so if the bus doesn't turn up at time given outside Hua Store in China Town go down to the market and ask the mama's and you will be able to catch a lift in the back of a truck for around 500 vatu each. Accommodation at Vat-Vaka beautifully presented and comfortable - value for money, however meals disappointing - we hoped for a real taste of traditional aelan kaikai but were given western food including tinned tuna! The best kaikai was the fried banana's and the mango for breakfast. Walk up the volcanoe with Kirk from Ngambungalows was a highlight, as was the snorkeling.
18/06/2007	Standard Location Value	This is well worth a visit. We ran into Yohan in Port Vila and he helped us with the truck/boat transport over. Expect to pay 500vt pp for the truck, and 500 vt pp again for the boat. The price has gone up to 3000vt pp per day, but the service is fantastic and the whole place (bungalows, kitchen room, outdoor furniture, bathroom etc.) is great. Yes, the bed is (very) hard and definitely take insect repellent, but the snorkeling is amazing (the coral is just beautiful) and it's so relaxing. The sea breezes help to deal with the heat and a guided hour trip (500vt pp) is really interesting. The day you leave expect to get up at 5.30am for a 6am departure - you'll definitely see the sunrise! I'd definitely go back! Amelia, New Zealand
19/10/2006	Standard Location Value	Quite an effort to get to but quite a surprise when we arrived. Very nice food, bed was a bit uncomfortable, but snorkelling in front was very good. Even saw 2 turtles.Take a solar shower with you for a treat after snorkelling. Terry, Julie and Brooke
27/03/2006	Standard Location Value
15/02/2006	Standard Location Value	Yohan is a really nice guy. He will make sure you enjoy your time at Nguna Island and that you meet a lot of locals. The people of Taloa village are so sweet. Try to learn a bit of Bislama! Good choice if you go here! Hilda from the Netherlands.