Best time to visit Vanuatu
The best time to visit the central and southern islands of Vanuatu, including Efate, is during the dry season from June through October.
For the northern islands, including Espiritu Santo and Malakula, the best time is from July through September.
For hot-weather activities visit from late-March to early-June, and from mid-October to mid-January.
Vanuatu weather
Vanuatu experiences a tropical climate, influenced by the trade winds, with a hot, humid and wet season from December to April, a cool and drier season from May to October.
You can expect rainfall anytime in Vanuatu.
Here are the average recorded temperatures for capital, Port Vila, located on the central island of Efate.
What is the best month to visit Vanuatu?
July, August, September and October are the best months to visit Vanuatu – the climate is pleasant with warm sunny weather, mainly clear blue skies and rainfall is at its lowest.
However, the months of May, June and November are also good being warmer, but with the potential of more rainfall in early-May and late-November.
Which is the hottest month in Vanuatu?
The hottest month in Port Vila is usually February, with an average high of 31°C (87°F) with high heat and humidity, and a low of 23°C (73°F).
The hot season lasts from early-December to early-April, with an average daily high temperature above 29°C (84°F).
However on the warmest days, the temperature may climb above 32°C (89°F).
What is the humidity in Vanuatu?
Vanuatu experiences little seasonal variation in perceived humidity, with approximate average relative humidity calculated at between 81% – 87% over the course of the year. Typically, it's humid all year round.
What do the humidity conditions feel like in Vanuatu?
We derive the humidity comfort level – what conditions feel like – from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the atmosphere: a higher dew point feels more humid, while a lower dew point feels drier.
Meteorologists agree that dew point temperature is a more consistant indication of 'absolute humidity' than relative humidity, which fluctuates with temperature.
The average annual dew point in Vanuatu is 22°C (71°F), and varies over the course of the year from 19°C (66°F), which is slightly humid but comfortable for most, to muggy and uncomfortable at 24°C (75°F).
The more humid time of year in Vanuatu lasts from mid-September through to early-July, when you can expect the comfort level to be muggy at least 65% of the time.
The months with the most muggy days in Vanuatu are December, January, February, March and April, when every day in each month is muggy or worse.
We derive the humidity comfort level from the dew point temperature, which measures moisture content in the air. A higher dew point feels muggy and uncomfortable.
August is slightly more comfortable, with around 17 days that are muggy – the fewest muggy days in the year.
Which is the coldest month in Vanuatu?
July is usually the coldest month in Port Vila, with an average high temperature of 27°C (80°F) and an average low temperature of 18°C (64°F).
The cool season lasts from mid-June to mid-September, with an average daily high temperature below 26°C (78°F).
When is it sunniest in Vanuatu?
The sunniest time of year in Port Vila is normally October, with more than eight hours of sunshine per day; that's an average of around 61% of daylight hours.
When is the sea warmest in Vanuatu?
The sea is usually at its warmest in Vanuatu in February when the water temperature averages a high of 29°C (84°F), which is very pleasant for swimming.
The water is pleasant for swimming year-round in Vanuatu.
Which month has the most rain in Vanuatu?
March is usually the wettest month in Port Vila, Vanuatu with 285mm (11in) of rainfall on average, distributed across 16 days.
The wet season lasts from late-November through April, with a greater than 34% chance of a given day being a wet day.
Rain falls throughout the year in Vanuatu. The drier season lasts from May to late-November. July is usually the driest month in Vanuatu.
Which is the windiest month in Vanuatu?
August is the windiest month in Port Vila, Vanuatu, with an average hourly wind speed of 25 kilometres per hour (13 knots; 15mph).
The windier part of the year lasts from mid-April to mid-November, with average wind speeds of more than 22 kilometres per hour (11 knots; 13mph).
The less windy time of year lasts from mid-November to mid-April. February is the calmest month of the year, with an average hourly wind speed of 20 kilometres per hour (10 knots; 12mph).
The predominant average wind direction in Vanuatu is from the east throughout the year.
What's the likelihood of a storm in Vanuatu?
Vanuatu is susceptible to tropical cyclones from January through March, with a 4.7% likelihood of a tropical storm in Vanuatu during the month of January.
Vanuatu Weather Averages
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Average high temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Average low temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 22 |
| Average daily sunshine (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Average daily daylight (hrs) | |||||||||||
| 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Comfort level – heat | |||||||||||
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| Comfort level – humidity (#muggy days) | |||||||||||
| 30 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 30 |
| Average dew point temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | |||||||||||
| 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 86 | 86 | 84 | 82 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 83 |
| UV Index (max) | |||||||||||
| 11+ | 11+ | 11+ | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11+ | 11+ | 11+ |
| Average days of rainfall (≥1mm) | |||||||||||
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 12 |
| Average monthly rainfall (mm) | |||||||||||
| 233 | 234 | 285 | 204 | 137 | 76 | 54 | 69 | 79 | 150 | 145 | 188 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | |||||||||||
| 20 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 21 |
| Average sea temperature (°C) | |||||||||||
| 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu | |||||||||||
Source: Meteorological data for Vanuatu is based on weather statistics gathered for the period 2012 to 2021 by Vanuatu Meteorology at the closest weather station: Bauerfield International Airport (VLI), located 4km (3mi) north of Port Vila.
Advice on the best time to visit a particular destination is based on average local weather statistics, when the weather conditions are generally better than at other times of the year. We consider high and low temperatures, risk of rain (and thunderstorms, etc.), amount of sunshine and sea temperature. For general outdoor activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 18°C (64°F) and 27°C (80°F); and for hot-weather activities we favour clear, rainless days with a temperature range between 24°C (75°F) and 32°C (89°F). Often, the best times to visit correspond to high season and therefore involve higher prices.
Latest update: Best time to visit Vanuatu: 10 May, 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this site is provided as is, without any assurances as to its accuracy or suitability for any purpose. Weather data and conditions at any given location and time are unpredictable and variable. We assume no responsibility and can not be held legally responsible for any decisions made on the basis of the information presented on this site.
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