Transportation & Infrastructure Guide
Public transit, airports, and getting around in Vanuatu
Public Transport
Road Infrastructure
Public Transport
2.5/10Limited public transport with no rail, metro, or formal bus networks. Port Vila and Luganville offer taxis and mass-transit minibuses; elsewhere, reliance on pickup trucks, boats, or walking. Poor integration and coverage across islands.
Road Infrastructure
3.5/10Undeveloped network with 256 km paved of 1,070 km total, mostly dirt tracks needing 4WD. Recent upgrades include Efate Ring Road (90 km sealed), Santo East Coast (70 km), and World Bank VCRTP (65 km South Santo with 11 bridges, completing 2026). Maintenance challenged by climate hazards.
Internet Speed
4.2/10One undersea fiber cable provides core backbone, but speeds remain modest in a remote Pacific nation. Urban areas like Port Vila see better connectivity; rural islands lag with satellite reliance.
Avg: 35.6+ Mbps • Single undersea fiber optic cable connects main islands; limited terrestrial fiber, expanding slowly in urban centers
Airport Connectivity
5.8/1036 airports total, 4 major: Bauerfield (VLI, Port Vila, international, runway extended), Pekoa (SON, Luganville, international), others like White Grass (Tanna) for domestic. Good domestic Twin Otter flights; limited international routes to Australia, NZ, Pacific hubs.
Hubs: Bauerfield (VLI, Port Vila), Pekoa (SON, Luganville)
Transportation Costs
- Metro Pass
- N/A (no metro/public pass system)
- Bus Trip
- N/A (minibus ~VUV 150-300 single ride)
- Taxi
- N/A (~VUV 300 flagfall + VUV 100/km in Port Vila)
- High-speed Train
- N/A (no trains)
Mobile Network
Reliable in capitals via two main providers (Digicel, Telekom); frequent outages from cyclones affect remote areas. 4G dominant, 5G nascent.
Driving License
Foreign licenses valid 3 months with IDP (required for non-English). Long-term residents must convert to Vanuatu license via test after 90 days. Right-hand driving.
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