Vanuatu is at its glorious best in the dry season from May to October. Expect clear, warm days with an average temperature of 23°C (73°F). For walking or trekking, narrow it down to the cold season, June to August, when water temperatures drop to 21°C and the air is cooler – not the best time to visit if you’re hoping to laze around on a beach. Summer is the wet season and brings warmer weather but it can be unpleasantly steamy, with the heaviest rains in January.
From April to June the islanders on Pentecost practise Naghol (land diving) to guarantee their yam harvest and from August to November the spectacular clan alliance dance, or Toka , is held on Tanna (check with the tourist office for the current dates). School holiday periods are busy, so flights, especially to Vanuatu’s outer islands, need to be booked as far in advance as possible.
