Tanna Island is located in the Tafea province and is home to Isangel, the administrative centre for the region. The island consists of savanna, thick forest, plains and rugged steep mountains. The interior of the island produces the islands crops such as coffee, fruit and vegetables in its rich volcanic, fertile soils.
Tanna has many interesting sites and attractions but by far the most popular is the active volcano, Yasur. You can walk to the volcano’s edge yourself but it is recommended you hire a guide or join a tour for safety. Captain Cook was attracted to the island when he saw the red glow of the Volcano at night, but was unable to climb it due to local tabu at the time.
Tanna is very traditional and many influences from Western society have been shunned, including cars. The only real way to access the small villages around the island is by sea. Villages are governed by heredity chiefs and the people use rainmakers to call the rains and medicine men for healing powers. The island is very much untouched by the outside world.
Tanna is home to a very unique attraction. The blue water caves are accessible by a boat trip up a limestone coastline to a flat stone wall. From here you need to take a ‘Dive of Faith’ and swim underwater in the clear blue water and swim towards the light. What awaits you is an underwater cave of sheer beauty.
Tanna has a number of accommodation options and it pays to book accommodation in Port Villa before arriving to the island.
