Port Resolution - Activities, Attractions & Shopping
All the following tours can be arranged with Stanley or Werry (at the yacht club) or Johnson, Stanley’s brother and village chief:
Mount Yasur Volcano is one of the most accessible active volcanos in the world. It is one of the spectacular highlights of the South Pacific. The volcano continues to be very active and is spectacular just at and slightly after sunset. Being so close to such natural raw power is an awe-inspiring experience, with glowing lumps of lava being thrown into the air. (It should be noted that this visit is potentially dangerous and entirely at your own risk, as the volcano is live and therefore unpredictable).
Ticket sales are now run by an agency (http://entanivanuatu.com/), so consequently, prices have gone up. The round trip four-wheel drive truck ride to/from the volcano will cost you $19500 Vatu for two people, roughly $195 USD. Children under 12 are half price.
The trucks are generally packed to the gills, the road is rough, but the trip is a “once in a lifetime experience”. Wear warm clothes (foul weather gear), sturdy shoes and bring headlamps.
Community Project: Every Tuesday afternoon there is a village market, where the women sell produce, lap-lap, and handicrafts. After the market is a women’s council, where they decide on a community service project for Thursday. Thursday at 9 am everyone meets at the yacht club to work on the project (whatever it is). Afterwards, the ladies all stop for a picnic lunch, and the day we saw this, the village ladies also provided lunch at the PRYC for the cruising volunteers. We didn’t know about either of these activities until it was too late.
Saddle Back Horse Riding in Iqurmanu with Joseph.
Shark Bay Tour (amazing tree house in a beautiful banyan). From June to Feb, you can see dozens of sharks laying in the bay, with Marie-Pauline.
Tafar Waterfalls with Kelson.
Surfing in Yanatoka at the Big Pig bungalows.
Arts & craft for sale in many villages.
Get under the skin of traditional Vanuatu society, with ritual celebrations of different aspects of village life. Remember to bring gifts when attending ceremonies, as many involve ritual exchanges to establish status.
Kustom Dance in Yakutapuga.
Magic Firewalking in Saineiai with David.
Kastom Ceremonies.
Share the Vanuatu kava with the natives. John Frumm village (on Fridays). Kava Drinking. Derived from the root of a pepper vine and common throughout Melanesia, drinking kava is the foundation for many traditional ceremonies and its consumption is controlled by strict rules in the tribal areas. On Tanna, it is men only! Be warned, the kava found in Vanuatu is the strongest in Melanesia.
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Related to following destinations: Port Resolution, Tanna, Vanuatu
Port Navigation
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Echoing an earlier report from @gemma ross don’t miss a visit to Black Beach on the opposite side of The Yacht Club. There is another village nearby and the only source of income for these families is tourism.
It’s worth asking for fruits and vegetables to buy or trade (ask what they most need at the time, children clothes and school supplies are always a good option, as are magazines).
Cooking in the 50 degrees Celsius hot spring water hole by the beach is a real treat, ask to be shown around and seek permission if you want to cook your own meal there (I am told pasta works very well!). Some money will be greatly appreciated if you don’t do the tour. You may be able to visit the village if someone is available.
The tours to the hot springs at time of writing is 1000 vatu per adult and 500 Vatu per child.
Reported July 10th, 2018 by SV Australis (visit us at svaustralis.com).
Contacted immigration ahead of time via email as per the official website. There is an additional charge to clear in at Port Resolution which must be accepted before being granted permission.
We attempted Lenakel but found it unsuitable for anything more than a brief stop (winds in the 30-35kn) and diverted to Port Resolution requesting permission to clear in at Port Resolution on the way which was granted.
Our advice is to contact and notify the authorities of your planned port and ETA by email a few days in advance.
Reported October 8th by SY Golden Glow:
IMPORTANT UPDATE.
We cleared immigration at Port Resolution in August with no problem, but customs had to be done in Port Vila when we got there some weeks later (the officials in Tanna told us not to worry about the delay and officials in Port Vila also had no problem with that).
Friends who tried to clear Vanuatu immigration into Tanna EITHER in Lenakel or Port Resolution a few weeks ago however, were told it is no longer possible. There was a sign on the door in Lenakel saying go to Port Vila.
So folks, check the currrent status before you go. Stanley in Port Resolution May have the answer +678 68791
In 2018 there was a new restaurant opened on the south-west corner of Iwea Beach (the black beach in P. Resolution Bay- opposite side to the yacht club). Most people go into the main P. Res village to dine & they don’t visit this one.
The restaurant is run by Sheila & Willy & they are a young couple trying to start up so please go & support them, they can also trade your vegetables (as in most villages) & the tours to see the hot springs & steam vents are run by them.
The restaurant is family owned, the money from the tours goes to the village. So look out for the rasta coloured canoe on the beach & the elevated palm roofed hut visible from the anchorage.
We visited the area in 2005. We were greeted by chief Ronnie and met his son Stanley. My wife, a nurse, assisted Stanley’s wife in the delivery of her first child. They named the girl Naomi Pat after my wife’s first name.
Can we get in contact with Stanley? Is chief Ronnie still alive? Can we provide assistance to the area through Stanley or his nephew? Contact us on 805 708 5388 or emails wotrubadick(at)yahoo.com or pwotruba(at)hotmail.com.
Thanks – Dick and Pat
Posted on behalf of SY Tenaya:
We spent two months, over two consecutive years, in Port Resolution on Tanna and made several friends. Stanley is the yachtie liaison, and Werry is the owner of Port Resolution Yacht Club. We have been in close contact with Werry since Cyclone Pam devastated the island. Along with two photos of his ruined bungalows, we received this message from him:
Hi, Jim Here is some information for you in regards to cyclone pam. Most houses are down in the village. The classroom was damage and yacht clubhouses were gone.
Food and tools are mostly needed for the village community. Tell other friends who are coming to talk to me, Stanley or Johnson about gifts for the villagers as people are getting help from yachties without sharing them equally to other nearby families. Looking forward to hear from you.
Before Cyclone Pam, yachts could email customs in Port Vila ahead of arrival and receive clearance to stop at Port Resolution, Tanna, before checking in at Lenakel, Tanna, or Port Vila, Efate. To check for the latest information, contact: https://customsinlandrevenue.gov.vu/index.php/en/travellers/yacht-clearance
All the gardens were wiped out so Ni-Vanuatu people will need food through to the end of the year. We urge any boats leaving New Zealand or Fiji to please take extra food to give to people on any island of Vanuatu.
Jim and Katie Thomsen, SY TENAYA