The tiny island nation of Tuvalu sees only a handful of tourists each year. As a result, its three major islands and six atolls are pristine and unspoiled by commercialization. Tuvalu’s remote location makes it ideal for the traveler who wants to escape the hurried pace of daily life. With a maximum elevation of less than thirteen feet, there are no mountains to climb or waterfalls to watch. Instead, Tuvalu has numerous lagoons and smaller islands that give this nation its unique character. You may enjoy simply relaxing on Funafuti, Tuvalu’s main island. While lying on the beach under a palm tree and watching the blue ocean wash up on the sand, you may think that time is standing still.
If you are feeling more adventurous, it is possible to charter a boat to another part of Tuvalu. Accessible only by water, the Funafuti Conservation Area is home to turtles, nesting seabirds, colorful fish, and coconut crabs. Begun in 1996, the goal of the Conservation Area is to conserve the atoll’s ecosystem by preventing hunting and fishing. Due to the diligent management of the Conservation Area, its twelve square miles of land and sea provide an excellent setting for wildlife watching and diving.
Due to its location, a number of American troops were stationed on Tuvalu during World War II. Airstrips and remains of plane wrecks can be seen on Nukufetau and Nanumea. There is also a well-preserved underground bunker on the islet of Tepuka.
A major product of Tuvalu is its postal stamps. The unique and original stamps have become very popular with stamp collectors. Visitors to the islands should be sure to stop by the Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau while on Funafuti.
The nation’s largest holiday is observed on October 1 and 2. Commemorating their country’s independence from the British in 1978, islanders celebrate with traditional music and dances in their villages. Tuvalu’s national game is te ano (the ball). It involves hitting a heavy ball back and forth between two teams. Teams score points when the opposing team allows the ball to fall. The first team to ten points wins and the losing team must perform a funny song and dance routine.
There are four hotels in Tuvalu, all on Funafuti. Two of these facilities have full-service restaurants on-site and the others offer a complimentary breakfast included with the price of the room. The island’s largest hotel, the Vaiaku Lagi Hotel, hosts a disco three nights each week. Visitors to Tuvalu may also enjoy the singing and dancing that happen nearly every night in the falekaupule or village hall.
Travel on the island of Funafuti can be done by walking or bicycling. It is also possible to rent a motor bike for the day or to hire a taxi. Making a trip between islands, however, is more difficult. Since there are no air flights between islands, visitors must travel by boat. Approximately every two weeks, two government ships make rounds of the outer islands. The southern route takes approximately three days while the northern trip takes about four days. Depending on the tides, they stop at each atoll for nearly an hour. If you get off the ship and do not return before it departs, you could be there for two weeks or more until the ship returns.
The Government of Tuvalu’s Ministry of Trade and Tourism maintains a web site with information about visiting the islands. All travel arrangements should be made through the Tuvalu Travel Office.
