gowhereandwhen.comGo in the dry season, May to October, for mild, settled weather, the clearest diving and the surest trips to the Mount Yasur volcano rim. The wet season, November to April, is hot and humid, and Vanuatu is one of the Pacific's most cyclone-exposed countries.
A 0 to 100 comfort rating from daytime heat, overnight chill, rainfall and storm risk, for Port Vila. Higher is better. Some booking links earn us a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The steadiest weather, peaking around Aug.
Other months to compare; prices and crowds depend on your destination and dates.
Cyclone season.
The year at a glance
Vanuatu is an 80-island chain of active volcanoes, blue holes, kastom villages and reef: the South Pacific at its rawest. It is warm year round and splits into a mild dry season and a hot, humid wet one. We rate on Port Vila, the capital on Efate.
May to October is the time: drier, breezier, with August the driest month and cool, comfortable nights. November to April brings heavy rain, sticky heat and real cyclone risk, at its highest January to March. Island flights and boat trips all run more reliably in the dry half.
Vanuatu month by month
Highs, lows, rainfall and the rating, for Port Vila.
JanuaryHot and very wet, storm season.Avoid 16
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 290 mm
Hot and very wet, storm season.
FebruaryHot and very wet, storm season.Avoid 14
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 300 mm
Hot and very wet, storm season.
MarchHot and very wet, storm season.Avoid 9
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 340 mm
Hot and very wet, storm season.
AprilWarm and very wet, storm season.Avoid 17
- Daytime high
- 28°C / 82°F
- Overnight low
- 22°C / 72°F
- Rainfall
- 290 mm
Warm and very wet, storm season.
MayWarm and wet.Good 51
- Daytime high
- 27°C / 81°F
- Overnight low
- 21°C / 70°F
- Rainfall
- 200 mm
Warm and wet.
JuneWarm and wet.Great 58
- Daytime high
- 26°C / 79°F
- Overnight low
- 20°C / 68°F
- Rainfall
- 150 mm
Warm and wet.
JulyWarm and wetGreat 66
- Daytime high
- 25°C / 77°F
- Overnight low
- 19°C / 66°F
- Rainfall
- 130 mm
Warm and wet.
AugustWarm and wetGreat 70
- Daytime high
- 26°C / 79°F
- Overnight low
- 19°C / 66°F
- Rainfall
- 120 mm
Warm and wet.
SeptemberWarm and wetGreat 62
- Daytime high
- 26°C / 79°F
- Overnight low
- 20°C / 68°F
- Rainfall
- 140 mm
Warm and wet.
OctoberWarm and wet.Good 56
- Daytime high
- 27°C / 81°F
- Overnight low
- 21°C / 70°F
- Rainfall
- 170 mm
Warm and wet.
NovemberWarm and wet, storm season.Fair 29
- Daytime high
- 28°C / 82°F
- Overnight low
- 22°C / 72°F
- Rainfall
- 200 mm
Warm and wet, storm season.
DecemberHot and very wet, storm season.Avoid 20
- Daytime high
- 29°C / 84°F
- Overnight low
- 23°C / 73°F
- Rainfall
- 260 mm
Hot and very wet, storm season.
Where you go changes when you go
Efate and Port Vila
The capital, harbour resorts, and the round-island road: blue lagoons, waterfalls and beaches. Best May to October.
Tanna and Mount Yasur
The world's most accessible active volcano, glowing at the rim after dark. Dry-season evenings give the clearest views.
Espiritu Santo
Champagne Beach, the blue holes and the SS President Coolidge, one of the world's great wreck dives.
Best time to visit Vanuatu for
The volcano
May to October, when dry trails and clearer skies make the Yasur rim at dusk most reliable.
Diving and snorkelling
The dry season for visibility on the Coolidge and Santo's reefs, in warm water year round.
Kastom culture
April to June for Pentecost Island's land diving, the original bungee, on towers of vine and wood.
Best value
November to April, accepting heat, rain and cyclone-season flexibility for quiet resorts and green islands.
What is on, and when
Naghol land diving, Apr to Jun
Pentecost Islanders leap from wooden towers with vines at their ankles, a ritual for the yam harvest.
Dry season, May to Oct
Mild trade-wind weather, the year's best for volcano trips, diving and island hopping.
Watch out
Cyclone season
Nov to Apr.
Rainy season
Sep to Jul.
Where to stay in Vanuatu
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Good to know
What is the best time to visit Vanuatu?
When is cyclone season in Vanuatu?
Can you always visit Mount Yasur?
Where else, and when
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