Hey Vanuatu volunteers! Need a break from the day to day, but don't want to pay an arm and a leg to leave the country? Introducing: Moso Island!
Our ILP Vanuatu volunteers have been looking for an affordable vacation to add to their semester itineraries while they spend a semester abroad in Efate, and recently stumbled upon the perfect location. Moso Island! It's got everything you need for the picture-perfect tropical beach location.
Wanting some more Vanuatu vacation ideas?
Click here for a list of a few of our favorites.
Vanuatu is made up of 83 different islands — Efate and Moso being two of them. After months of volunteering, you will know Efate like the back of your hand. So much so that it's typical to want to explore, vacation, and see what else Vanuatu has to offer! That's where Moso Island comes in.
What Is Moso Island?
Moso is a small island just off the northeastern coast of Efate, Vanuatu. It is honestly not much more than a luxury resort, some Airbnbs, picture-perfect views, and the opportunity to take a deep breath and relax. We'll get into the finer details later in this post.
Our ILP volunteers have loved Moso for 3 main things: the fact that it is much more affordable than the other out of the country vacations they took (Australia, New Zealand, etc.), the ability to take a break from the day-to-day by relaxing on the beach alllll day, and, that despite leaving Efate, they were still surrounded by the beautiful culture found in Vanuatu.
The Moso resort is the main selling point for most tourists when deciding which islands to visit. It provides access to things like spa days, charters, and even has a restaurant that you can eat at, whether or not you are staying at their resort. This resort will be hard to miss, but there are other places to stay on the island that offer plenty of things to do as well (more on this later).
Despite not being far away from the ILP house in Efate, our volunteers took note that it didn't matter because the slight change in scenery seriously made them feel like they were on vacation. And a shorter time traveling to your vacation destination means more time actually enjoying vacation.
How To Get Around
Ground Transportation
Short-term tourists often arrive via boat tour from Port Vila. However another common route is to take a private bus or taxi to the Efate coast (usually Sema) before crossing the bay by small boat to the island.
For our ILP volunteers, taking a private bus + short ride is the way to go. Past alumni have had their Local Coordinator set them up with a driver, so we recommend chatting with them about options that way. Be aware that a private driver may be a little pricey.
Tip: If you are using a private driver, see if you can get them to squeeze in a little "island tour" during your drive towards Moso. There are a few companies on the island that offer Efate island tours, so why not make it a two-in-one? Take the tour and get transportation to the other side of the island. Something to consider!
Boat Ride
To get from Efate to Moso, you will have to take a short boat ride. Our ILP volunteers were able to book their boat transportation through their Airbnb!
The Airbnb sent them onto what they call "banana boats" (but are essentially very small motor boats). This boat ride took about 15 minutes... you read that right! When we say short travel day, we mean it! That's not even the best part. Once the volunteers were in sight of Moso, they were greeted by locals singing, dancing, and cheering for them as they pulled onto shore. Precious, right? We love Vanuatu and the beautiful culture that's full of love, family, and celebration.
What To Do
Moso Island was everything our ILP volunteers needed when imagining an affordable tropical getaway. Here are some of their favorite things that they did:
History
If you are making your way over from Efate to Moso, you may want to consider hiring a private driver who will give you a tour of Efate while you cross the island to get to Moso! You can definitely experience both Moso and the Efate island tour on separate occasions, but our alumni noticed that they saved money by combining both!
So what kinds of things can you find along the route toward Moso that are worthing stopping to see? World War II history! American troops were actually deployed in Efate to help prevent the rapid growth of Japanese southward expansion and there were many American items that were left behind after the war. American pools, ships, war materials, and more are all scattered throughout the museum and this is definitley something you should check out during your time on Efate.
Explore the Ocean
Moso is a small island, so the ocean is extremely accessible. If you book the same Airbnb as our past volunteers (more on that later), it will literally be right next to your house!
Our volunteers loved to paddleboard, snorkel, and search for seashells throughout the soft white sand during their staycation. Be sure to pack your own snorkel gear!
Sunset walks along the shore
Some of our alumni's favorite parts about Moso were the beaches. ILP volunteers home in Efate is close to the beach too, but our volunteers mentioned that the beaching in Moso was next level, naming these beaches "the most beautiful they have ever seen."
Their favorite beach from their Airbnb had a gorgeous scenic walkway that they loved to peacefully explore as they admired the "unreal" blue waters. Not only that, but if you're lucky, you may even get to see whales off in the distance.
Tanning by the pool
Our volunteers spent most of their time relaxing by the pool and "fixing up their tan lines." Since this is more of a money-saving trip, the cheapest thing you can do is enjoy nature's free amenities like the sun and the ocean.
Moso Resort
The Moso caters to more luxurious tourists stays and is one of the most popular places to stay on the island. If you are looking for an all-inclusive experience, you can check out their website here and see what activities they have to offer their guests (but most of the things they offer are things you can also do on your own).
Where To Stay
Now there aren't a ton of housing options here in Moso. It's a tiny island that's mostly made up of a resort and a couple of Airbnbs. Let's take a look at what our volunteers recommend:
Moso Resort
If you are looking for a more luxurious experience, the Moso Resort might be more up your alley. There are an array of villas that you can stay in that can come with private pools, privacy, views, comfy beds, lounges, and more.
With delicious food options, spa days, airport and island transportation, adventurous tour options, and more provided to you, this resort will definitely make sure you have a pleasant experience on Moso.
Airbnb
Our volunteers typically opt for the Airbnb option because it's more fitting for a budget experience. Our volunteers have stayed at the Airbnb "Moso Magic" and highly recommended it. There's a private pool, plenty of living space, ocean views, and banana boat transportation from Efate island. The best part? It's affordable (especially when you split it with your group)!
Where To Eat
Moso Island has basically two food options. You either eat at the resort, or you bring food from home. Choose your fighter!
Bring food from home
If you are an ILP volunteer, you won't have too long of a travel day. So hit up the grocery store on Efate because you won't find one on Moso! Bring some easy meals, take advantage of the kitchen at your Airbnb, and save some money by not eating out for alllll three of your meals!
Moso Resort
If you are looking to splurge, the Moso resort has some delicious food that our alumni treated themselves to a couple of times throughout their vacation. The food is pretty Americanized as they're catering to tourists.
Wanting a beautiful island like Moso to be a "Staycation"?
International Language Programas (ILP) is a Utah based non-profit organization that sends college-aged volunteers around the world to help kids. This is your sign to go make a difference and volunteer with us! Learn more below and apply today!
