Port Vila

Yes, with caveats. The lower and middle pools — which is what most cruise visitors come for — are open and fully usable. The upper pools at the top of the waterfall took rockslide damage in the December 2024 quake and have been partially filled with debris; visitors and guides have flagged ongoing rockfall risk in that section. Standard adult entrance is 2,000 VT (roughly USD 17). Wear shoes you can hike in wet — the path is a real climb, not a stroll.

Yes. Hideaway Island Marine Sanctuary is open, the snorkeling-from-the-beach is unchanged, and the underwater post office — three meters down, mailboxes for waterproof postcards — is operating. It's a 5-minute paid ferry ride from Mele Bay across to the island, and the marine reserve fee plus ferry runs roughly 2,000 VT for adults. This is the easiest snorkel day in Vanuatu and the right call if you want water without committing to a dive.

Vanuatu uses the vatu (VUV or VT) — a whole-number currency with no cents and no subdivisions. In Port Vila itself, Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, sit-down restaurants, and tour operators. Cash is required for the market, taxis, buses, water taxis, smaller cafes, and many village-run attractions including parts of Mele Cascades. ATMs are common in town with a per-transaction limit around 44,000 VT. Pull vatu, don't rely on USD or AUD circulating informally.

Licensed taxis are everywhere and most are metered, though many drivers will quote a flat fare on the spot — agree the price in vatu before getting in. Taxi plates start with a T. Buses (plates starting with B) are shared minivans that run no schedule and stop where you flag them; they're cheap, cash-only, and locals use them. Both are considered safe in daylight. Roads in and around Port Vila are still being patched from quake damage, so journey times are unpredictable — don't cut your return tight.

Mixed. The main shopping streets near the seafront are functioning and most central businesses are open, but several buildings remain visibly damaged or under repair and a handful of sites stayed closed into 2025. The U.S. State Department lowered Vanuatu's travel advisory back to Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) in May 2025, which is the same level as Australia or Japan. Expect a town that's clearly recovering rather than one that's pretending nothing happened — that honesty is part of the visit.

Yes, but only with a private driver or a combo ship excursion. Both attractions are on the same Mele Bay coast about 10 km from the seafront tender drop, roughly 15–20 minutes apart by road. A common cruise-day move is Hideaway in the morning (water is calmest then), Mele Cascades after lunch, back to the tender pier by mid-afternoon. Add the tender wait at both ends and you want to be off your ship on the first or second tender, not the fifth.