Small Group River Kayaking Tour from Port Vila
5
Small Group River Kayaking Tour from Port Vila
By Vanuatu Ecotours
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 12 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, French
More
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (selected hotels only)
- Driver/guide
- Local guide
- Kayaking tour
- Optional life-jackets
- Tropical Fruit Platter
What's not included- Lunch
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Includes pick up at your local Port Vila Hotel or Cruise Terminal
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Port pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included ports.- Lapetasi International Wharf, 68V4+QC6, Port Vila, Vanuatu
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 70809P3- Infant are free of charge up to 5 years old.
- Adult and child pricing applies
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 70809P3
From
$107.99
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- K9399FPgeorgeg0 contributionsAmazing Experience and Excellent ServiceAmazing service from these guys! Everyone was so friendly and accomodating. We felt really immersed in the cultural experience. Cheers to Jack and all his colleagues for being great guides too! Appreciate it!Written 10 December 2024
- perSensAG0 contributionsVery friendly and caring guidesVanuatu Ecotours offer a wide range of activities on different islands. Berry, Fira and Laura are excellent local guides who know how to make every activity special. Everything worked perfectly and was super organised.Written 29 October 2024
- jillsX3193PI0 contributionsWonderful time on Nguna and Pele IslandsWe did the Outer Islands tour to Pele and Nguna Islands last weekend and loved it! Our guide, Roy, was exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful and the local villagers provided great meals and a very comfortable bungalow for our 2 night stay. We were able to enjoy a village tour on Nguna and time at the beach with the village children on Pele in the afternoons. A special treat was the chance to swim with a dugong just off the beach near the village and then watch it and another dugong racing the full length of the beach! We would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience and learn about island life and culture.Written 24 October 2024
- dtrcg0 contributionsNature walkWhat a lovely walk and informative tour, our guide Berry was very accommodating and took the time to share his experience and knowledge of all the local bush. A very relaxing walk though a couple villages and the bush . Would recommendWritten 17 October 2024
- ChristinaW22440 contributionsInformative tour around Port VilaA great little informative trip around Port Vila. Our driver, Roy (rainbow) was very knowledgeable and answered all our questions about the town, the island and life in Vanuatu in general. Lovely photo stops, we enjoyed ourselves very much. Highly recommend doing this with Eco Tours.Written 13 October 2024
- Jessica h0 contributionsFantastic fun and informative enjoyed seeing the natural beauty Vanuatu and the lovely peopleGreat and memorable experience we went kayaking staff where helpful and knowledgeable we saw the local communities along the river and enjoyed a beautiful swim at the cascades thanks again for making our trip memorable highly recommendedWritten 11 October 2024
- L0VEOFFOOD0 contributionsPele IslandA seamless tour from pickup to drop off. As a large family group of 15, EcoTours made us feel comfortable and relaxed. Definitely a relaxing day was ahead. Roy and Jack were engaging and informative. The overcast drizzling day didn’t damper our spirits and Pele Islands was beautiful. A walk through the village and surrounding area was led by Roy, who filled us with tales and information on the flora of Vanuatu. After a beautiful walk we had a swim and snorkel back at the beach that was suitable for all. The tour provides lunch and it really goes beyond expectation, with an assortment of salads, rice, fish, sausages and steak all served under the canopy of the trees on the beachfront. We all happily after lunch swam and snorkelled some more as we watch the rain cloud cover Efate and head towards Pele. On our way back into Villa, Roy and Jack happily stopped at a Cava bar for the group to try some, as it is a cultural experience. It’s definitely not for everyone but some of group loved it.Written 1 October 2024
- O3283TAdavidb0 contributionsWonderful and informative walk and village visitReally lovely and informative trip. The guide, Berry, was really funny and had a deep knowledge about the local agriculture and important plants. After a moderate trek to the village we met the chief and shared some refreshments. The walk isn’t too hard just very hot. Bring extra sunscreen.Written 1 September 2024
- glennbelinda0 contributionsVery caring and informative tour guidesFira our young and energetic tour guide was vary caring and able to assist my wife as she had previously fractured her coccyx and was very tedious in the kayak and swimming in the river. All in all a very immersive experience and we thoroughly enjoyed the scenery was amazing and the water crystal clear, would highly recommend this company.Written 24 August 2024
- Thapaom0 contributionstranquil escapeNguna Island, part of the Shefa Province in Vanuatu, offers a tranquil escape with its pristine beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and friendly local communities. Here’s a brief review of what you might experience on a tour: 1. **Snorkeling and Diving**: The clear waters around Nguna are ideal for snorkeling and diving, featuring colorful coral reefs and diverse marine life. The Moso Marine Protected Area is particularly notable for underwater adventures. 2. **Hiking and Volcano Tours**: Nguna is home to an extinct volcano, Mt. Marow, offering rewarding hikes with panoramic views. Guided tours provide insights into the island's geological and cultural history. 3. **Cultural Experiences**: Visitors can engage with local villages to experience traditional Vanuatu culture. Activities might include local handicraft making, traditional dances, and tasting authentic Vanuatu cuisine. 4. **Eco-Tourism**: Nguna focuses on sustainable tourism. Accommodations often emphasize eco-friendly practices, and tours are designed to have minimal environmental impact. 5. **Relaxation**: The island’s serene environment is perfect for unwinding. Whether lounging on a secluded beach or enjoying the calm of a bungalow, the island offers a peaceful retreat. Overall, a tour of Nguna Island provides a blend of adventure, culture, and relaxation in a beautiful, natural setting.Written 13 August 2024
- sclutterbuck230 contributionsGreat Tour, highly recommend!In June my partner and I did this EcoTour with Jack and Berry as our tour guides. They were both great and informative on this tour. Highly recommend doing this as you learn a lot about Vanuatu's Culture! From the open air bus ride, to kayaking down the cascades, and enjoying some local food. Thanks Team! We can't wait to come back again soon!Written 5 August 2024
- davei5660 contributionsAn absolute MUST in Vanuatu!This tour was the highlight of the trip for me. All of the guides were very friendly, the tour was on time and everything was explained clearly. The boat rise across to Nguna was very choppy but also very fun! The hike itself was just breathtaking, not an easy task to get to the top but once you do you are rewarded with the most beautiful 360 degree views. Well worth it. Our guides Kenny and Berry were top blokes, easy to get on with and very knowledgeable about the plants, animals and people on the island. They even broke open some fresh coconuts for us to drink from. After the hike you're treated with a buffet feed, then able to snorkel or relax on the beach before the trip back. Highly Recommended!!Written 4 August 2024
- amyrid030 contributionsInformative and beautiful walkAmazing walk through Eratrap Village and surrounds with Jackie and Berry. They supplied so much great information about the plants and the area as well as traditional customs. Would thoroughly recommend.Written 28 July 2024
- amyrid030 contributionsFantastic tour, would recommendGreat tour with lovely guide Jack and driver Berry. Nothing was too much trouble. Helping us through slightly more challenging spots on the river. Supplying great information about the area. We were the only two on the Cascades tour in the afternoon so they very kindly added on a tour of Aelan chocolate as we had time left over. Would very much recommend.Written 28 July 2024
- Caroline D0 contributionsGreat short local tourGreat tour to learn about Vanuatu history and culture. Went to 6 different stops with good photos opportunities. The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. I was picked up from the hotel and dropped back with no extra charge. I highly recommend this tour.Written 23 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
97 reviews
Excellent
91
Very good
5
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Pine B
Sydney, Australia5 contributions
Feb 2023
Right from the pickup, in their troopy-style utes, we knew we were in for a fun morning. Roy was engaging, funny and very informative throughout, and he was ably supported by a great crew of guides.
The kayaking is mostly very relaxed, cruising downstream then paddling a little more energetically back into the current (but not TOO energetically).
There's a choice of single or double kayaks and our family group of six (four kids in their twenties and two parents) took two of each.
It's a nice, wide stream with beautiful green surrounds and you can just casually paddle up and down the middle or play around the edges, dodging low hanging branches and exploring little hollows under the trees.
The guides made sure everyone was safe and comfortable, getting in and out of the craft as well as on the water.
After the paddle, take the time to follow Roy up another path to "feed the fish". While it sounds dull, it was actually really interesting to see a VERY large number of reasonably big fish come out from under the viewing deck over another big pool of water and swim around chasing the food that we threw.
And the refreshments were a nice touch, with Roy sharing a whole lot more information about Vanuatu.
Then it was across to the Tarzan rope to finish the morning with another burst of fun.
Our whole family had a fantastic morning and we highly recommend Ecotour's river kayaking half day.
The kayaking is mostly very relaxed, cruising downstream then paddling a little more energetically back into the current (but not TOO energetically).
There's a choice of single or double kayaks and our family group of six (four kids in their twenties and two parents) took two of each.
It's a nice, wide stream with beautiful green surrounds and you can just casually paddle up and down the middle or play around the edges, dodging low hanging branches and exploring little hollows under the trees.
The guides made sure everyone was safe and comfortable, getting in and out of the craft as well as on the water.
After the paddle, take the time to follow Roy up another path to "feed the fish". While it sounds dull, it was actually really interesting to see a VERY large number of reasonably big fish come out from under the viewing deck over another big pool of water and swim around chasing the food that we threw.
And the refreshments were a nice touch, with Roy sharing a whole lot more information about Vanuatu.
Then it was across to the Tarzan rope to finish the morning with another burst of fun.
Our whole family had a fantastic morning and we highly recommend Ecotour's river kayaking half day.
Written 11 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your kind comments, we are glad you enjoyed kayaking the beautiful river and
learning about our great country from Roy and the guides! They will be very pleased to read your feedback. Thank you for choosing us, See you next time!
Kind regards
Vanuatu Ecotours team
Written 12 February 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Valerie Y
Oakland, CA88 contributions
Feb 2020
Wonderful small group tour (6 guests total). We were picked up from where the cruise docked and headed out from there. Andrew and Sam were very engaging and personable - fun to spend 1/2 day with them! We all opted for double kayaks and our guides kept a watchful eye and shared many interesting tidbits of info about Vanuatu and the local culture. We enjoyed a delicious arrangement of fresh fruit after kayaking, then headed to the waterfall. The water level was a bit low, so the pathway to the top wasn't safe access, but we were able to swim there and "hide" behind the waterfall! Loved that we were on the opposite side of the river from most of the visitors, so it was like a private setting with a delicious baguette (sandwich) lunch.Highly recommend this tour! Be sure to have confirmation of your tour cost and what currency is required, so you pay the proper amount at the conclusion. The guides can stop at an ATM if you need local money to pay.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great comments and your recomendations. We hope to see you again sometime in Vanuatu.
Thanks and Regards
Vanuatu Ecotours Team!
Written 1 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
MissCravenBakes
33 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
Originally booked the cascades but due to recent weather we got swapped to the Rentapao River kayak. It was a surprise when we found out we were going kayaking. A great surprise.
Bosco and Allan were so awesome (can’t remember the drivers name, Mano maybe?! but he was so awesome too and we had a great chat as we kayaked along the river, about Melanesia as my son is half Melanesian)
The guys are so knowledgeable.
The river wasn’t the clearest water due to weather but as we got further down it became magical. Turquoise blue water!
A big fish jumped over one of the kayaks it was exciting.
Allan made us the freshest looking fruit platter while we were gone.
The fish pond was so pretty!
The drive is just as awesome in their open bus. Everyone is happy to see tourists again, waving and smiling at us.
My son and I can’t wait to come back to Vanuatu and do another tour.
Also some older people in their 70s were on the tour and they did really well with the kayaking so don’t let age discourage you.
Bosco and Allan were so awesome (can’t remember the drivers name, Mano maybe?! but he was so awesome too and we had a great chat as we kayaked along the river, about Melanesia as my son is half Melanesian)
The guys are so knowledgeable.
The river wasn’t the clearest water due to weather but as we got further down it became magical. Turquoise blue water!
A big fish jumped over one of the kayaks it was exciting.
Allan made us the freshest looking fruit platter while we were gone.
The fish pond was so pretty!
The drive is just as awesome in their open bus. Everyone is happy to see tourists again, waving and smiling at us.
My son and I can’t wait to come back to Vanuatu and do another tour.
Also some older people in their 70s were on the tour and they did really well with the kayaking so don’t let age discourage you.
Written 10 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your great comment and thank you for choosing Vanuatu Ecotours, the River Kayak has always been a really fun tour, full of surprise and experience.
We are really happy you've enjoy the tour and we hope to see you again in coming future.
Kind Regards
Vanuatu Ecotours Team!
Written 11 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah M
61 contributions
Sept 2022
Our guide Roy collected us from our accommodation in Port Vila and took us out to a lovely property about 20 mins drive from the township. Here we launched our kayaks into the beautiful Rentapao Rive and headed towards the ocean. Once we got close to the mouth of the river we turned around and went back up river, past where we started and into the areas where more local Ni-Vanuatu people live. The river narrows and becomes even more special and beautiful when you see the Ni-Van along the shore going about their everyday tasks and saying hi as you paddle by. We ended up at some small falls where we couldn't go any further by kayak and came back to where we started. We paddled about 4.4 km and it was easy going. Such a tranquil and serene setting down on the river with our guide Roy giving us so much information about Vanuatu as we went. Highly recommended and very enjoyable.
Written 16 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the great feedback!!
These feedbacks make our guides very happy to hear. They are great, knowledgeable young men; they enjoy doing tours and aim to make the guests enjoy and have a good time during tours.
The Rentapao River is also a really beautiful greenery place, and we are happy you get the chance to discover this peaceful environment and the happy people living around.
We hope to see you soon in our other tours,
Best Regards,
Vanuatu Ecotours Team
Written 18 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
megan19712018
Geelong, Australia4 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Maroney and Francois from Vanuatu Ecotours could not have been more friendly and accommodating. Prior to even picking us up they contacted the hotel to let us know they were on their way and they arrived on time (very rare in Vanuatu)!! Their local knowledge was excellent and they are clearly proud of their culture and heritage. The location they took us to was very picturesque and relaxing.
We would highly recommend their company!
We would highly recommend their company!
Written 27 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Megan and thanks for the great review. At this time of the year river kayaking is a cool and relaxing experience. We will pass your comments back to the guides Moroni and Francois, thanks
Written 28 December 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Louise
Port Vila, Vanuatu5 contributions
Mar 2020
Kayaking down the Rentapao River was a relaxing journey through the tranquil jungle, listening to the many birds and enjoying the rain that kept us cool. Ronnie was a great guide, sharing his extensive knowledge of the river, as well as his experiences while living and growing up in Vanuatu - so different to our own. He is full of fun, has a positive energy which is contagious and shows care and respect for those in his tour group. We finished off with delicious fruit and nuts before heading back to the resort. Next time we're here we'll be booking the sea kayaking for sure. Thanks guys.
Written 19 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear FLouven,
Thank you for your great feedback about your Half day River Kayak tour and also great comments about Ronny!
We will be pleased to book our Sea Kayak tour for your next trip to Vanuatu.
Thank you tumas and will see you again in Vanuatu!
Best Regards
Vanuatu Ecotours Team!
Written 23 March 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gill B
Orange, Australia3 contributions
Loved this tour that takes you away from the tourist traps of Port Villa to the country. About an hours ride to the pristine river where we kayaked to where the river met the ocean. Our guides were great fun and gave us a great day out. Would recommend this if you want to explore the island away from the cruise crowds.
Written 11 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tank yu tumas :)
Written 13 January 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andrew L
3 contributions
Jan 2023 • Friends
Roy was super nice and incredibly knowledgeable on the history of the island. The kayaking itself was relaxing, it was over an hour of kayaking which is the perfect amount of time when you have to make your way back against the current. While the refreshment were being prepared we all took turns swinging on the rope swing which was also great fun. Our refreshments were delicious and while we were eating we learnt a lot about not just Port Vila but also the of the other islands and towns around Vanuatu.
Written 7 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your kind comments, we are glad you enjoyed kayaking the beautiful river and learning about our great country from Roy and the guides! See you next time!
Written 8 January 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Weronika R
Sydney, Australia2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We spent an amazing afternoon with Ecoutours! As we were the only ones who had booked the trip for that day, the experience felt private. Roy picked us up from our resort and drove us to the kayaking spot on the river, telling us many Vanuatu stories. The water in the river was crystal clear, and the kayaking was suitable for all levels of experience :) In the end, we had a swim in the river, freshened up on some delicious local fruits, fed the fish, and had a tasting of kava on the way back!!! Roy was an excellent guide! We highly recommend him and Ecotours Vanuatu :)))
Written 9 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the nice feedback and recommendation. Roy is one of the best local guides. We happy you enjoyed your tour.
Written 10 June 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tomatothe3rd
Melbourne, Australia57 contributions
My Mum and I went on this half-day trip and it was lots of fun. Good to do something that involves a little bit of exercise - but not too much as we had been on a hike the day before!
We paddled upstream for a bit before letting the current help take us back to where we started. The weather wasn’t the best, but even with a little bit of rain the water was still clear and it was nice to see local families out enjoying a swim in the river. We also paddled downstream a bit from the starting point to a natural spring, and our guide Moroni gave us a bit of general history about Vanuatu, it’s islands and provinces.
Back at the base we enjoyed the Tarzan swing (I am not great with heights, but I gave it a go!) and had refreshments if fresh fruit and nuts before heading back into town. Thanks to Moroni, Jack, Roy and Whitely for a lovely day out!
We paddled upstream for a bit before letting the current help take us back to where we started. The weather wasn’t the best, but even with a little bit of rain the water was still clear and it was nice to see local families out enjoying a swim in the river. We also paddled downstream a bit from the starting point to a natural spring, and our guide Moroni gave us a bit of general history about Vanuatu, it’s islands and provinces.
Back at the base we enjoyed the Tarzan swing (I am not great with heights, but I gave it a go!) and had refreshments if fresh fruit and nuts before heading back into town. Thanks to Moroni, Jack, Roy and Whitely for a lovely day out!
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much, we are glad you and your Mum enjoyed the day on the river. As you say, good to get some exercise after all that delicious Vanuatu food at our local restaurants and hotels!
Written 18 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Buy it with
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.