Vanuatu boasts of having more blue holes than anywhere else in the world. So it is no surprise that we wanted to visit a few during our stay. We were lucky enough to visit 3 and each were very different yet so very similar in their outstanding beauty.
Note: This is a long post because I wanted to include all three blue holes: Malo, Matevulu, and Riri. Funny enough, we visited the blue holes in the same order as they are listed here from beautiful, to stunning, to exquisite. Matt’s favorite was the Riri blue hole because they had a nice wooden deck. However, my favorite was the Matevulu blue hole because of the varied colors and amazing river journey to get to the hole.
What is a blue hole?
In Vanuatu, the blue holes are created due to its unique geology. Water from the island’s volcanic mountains, over 30km away, flow underground into limestone caves. These caves corrode and create an underground stream. Eventually, the streams resurface as freshwater springs, or what is known as a blue hole. The crystal-clear water meanders from each blue hole to the sea. The waters are incredibly clear, creating a dazzling luminescent effect that seems almost too perfect to be natural.
Espiritu Santo is home to more blue holes than any other island. The water draws its incredible azure color from the minerals and limestone rock, creating a veritable oasis in the forest.
Malo Blue Hole
The first blue hole we visit is called the Malo Blue Hole. We anchored at Ratua Island and took the dinghy across the Segund Channel to the river opening. It took us about 10 minutes to dinghy up the crystal-clear river to Lake Malo.
River to Lake Malo
There were a gazillion sand dollars in the river. I mean it was a treasure trove. They were all dead, but still so very beautiful. Only a few made it back to Sugar Shack with me. Lake Malo was full of sting rays and bird life surrounding the turquoise waters.
We continue down a smaller and more shallower river which opens into the rarely visited Malo Blue Hole. It is so calm and peaceful here. The mirror image of the lush forest on the water took our breath away! Pure solitude and bliss. The water is more turquoise, but stunning none the less.
Here is our track into Lake Malo and then into the Malo Blue Hole.
Here is a drone shot which shows Ratua (top photo, small island) the dark blue water is the Segund channel, then the lake (which runs off the edge of the photo), then the small blue hole (can you see Sweetie in the blue hole?)
Not the best photo of us as it was into the sun, but you know what we look like 🙂
Malo Island’s blue hole is a true swimming sanctuary and rarely visited (especially if there are no guests at Ratua Island Resort). Deep and refreshing, this is considered one of the more natural of Santo’s blue holes. There are no services, toilets, or man-made structures here.
Matevulu Blue Hole
We slowly wandered up the twisty river to Vanuatu’s largest and deepest (18m deep) blue hole called Matevulu. The red arrow is Sugar Shack in the Peterson Bay Lagoon. We took Sweetie up the long zig-zagging river to the Matevulu Blue Hole. In the bottom photo, the drone was 120 meters high and yet you can still see the bottom.
The slow trip upriver was an experience in itself as we floated across the transparent waters under the canopy of lush green trees. This river had bright green floating plants on the river’s edge. It felt like Sweetie was overing over the water.
This is by far the prettiest river leading to a blue hole.
Matevulu Blue Hole
The first thing you see is the amazing water, then you see the welcome center on the shore. It costs 1,000vt ($8USD) which you put into an “Honesty Box.” They have restrooms and a few sitting and lounge areas.
It is simply unbelievable how clear this water is! The water is about 2′ above the cement platform (top left photo).
Once we arrived to the blue hole we noticed a giant rope swing tied to a large banyan tree and a large slide. Of course we had to do it all! The slide required a bucket full of water before sliding down the extra large pipe.
My hands are still in recovery so I skipped the rope swing, but Matt had a go at it.
The tallest rope swing is off the banyan tree where they “propped” a ladder up against its side.
The left photo is taken half under water and yet it is still clear. Keep in mind that this is 18 meters deep! And you can still see the bottom.
Sweetie looks like she is just hovering in mid-air….
The only bummer part of this hole is the destroyed cement structures that have fallen into the pool. Previously, used to get in/out of the water and also as a sun bathing area. It’s a shame as it is a detractor, but the rest of the beauty still overshadows it.
Riri Blue Hole
Known as the prettiest blue hole in all of Vanuatu. The paddle along the translucent Riri River into the entrance lagoon is like a portal to another world. Utter perfection for steamy eye gazing and languid soaks.
The river to the Riri blue hole is much shorter and lined with mangroves. As you can see from the image below, we enter from the upper right corner, to a wide “lake” and then start down the river to the blue hole.
Paddling up the entrance lagoon and crystal river is nothing short of magical! The Matevulu and Riri rivers are much bluer than the Malo river leading to the holes.
The colors literally take your breath away. It is amazing to me that you can see so clearly to the bottom knowing it is fairly deep. Riri is much smaller than Matevulu, but impressive! A large fallen tree draws your attention, wish it could be removed.
It is a kaleidoscope of colors and immediately pulls you into its beauty.
Matt finds the rope swing and makes a spectacle of himself.
I find pure joy just floating in this gorgeous oasis.
The locals have gone to a lot of effort to provide platforms, bathrooms and changing areas to make this blue hole easily accessible. Cost is 1000vt per person or 500 vt for kids.
Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind actual live events. We visited the blue holes in the month of August 2024. We kill it on our fast run to Luganville to run a million errands in our last blog post.
