Espiritu Santo is considered as Vanuatu's "adventure mecca." The country's largest island, it features world-class diving sites and underwater wrecks, spectacular beaches with sugar-white sand, and challenging nature treks teeming with flora and fauna. This piece of vacationers' haven is located northwest of the archipelago, just above Malekula. The prime lure of Espiritu Santo is the USS President Coolidge, the world's largest accessible wreckage, found on the southern shores of the island. Though anyone with proper credentials is allowed to approach the sunken beauty, salvaging any of the ship's artifacts is prohibited by the Vanuatu government. Other shipwrecks near Santo are the USS Tucker and the famous Million Dollar Point.
Coral gardens and blue holes (horizontal caves) dotting the island's coast are truly a diver's delight due to the exotic marine life found there. The northern regions feature nature trek sites and conservation facilities such as the Vatthe Conservation Area and the Loru Rainforest Protected Area, where endemic birds to Vanuatu reside. Espiritu Santo is also home to four of Vanuatu's highest peaks, namely, Mt. Tabwemasana, Mt. Kotamtam, Mt. Tawaloala, and Santo Peak. Hikes can be arranged, and having a guide around is surely a wise decision.
A stop in the provincial capital Luganville is a good way to complete a vacation in Santo. This second largest city in the country offers good accommodations (for those who fancy a more comfortable lodging than the local guesthouses in the island) and a number of urban attractions to visit. One notable location is the Lysepsep Cultural Park, where ancient customs and lifestyle of the Lysepsep, the island's first inhabitants, are shown. Shopping at the Luganville Market is always a fine way to learn about the local culture, and even to buy souvenirs and fresh produce from Santo's southern and eastern villages.
