Espiritu Santo Island is the largest in Vanuatu and the seat of the provincial capital, in Luganville. The island's unusual name (for Vanuatu) dates back to a Spanish exploration of the region in the 17th century. The name given by the leader of the expedition, Portuguese Navigator Pedro Fernández de Quirós was Terra Austrialia del Espiritu Santo. The name "Austrialia" was said to be a reference to the Hapsburg rulers of Spain (in Austria) and the yet-undiscovered southern continent referred to as Terra Australis.
During WWII, Luganville was the site of an Allied military installment. At the end of the war, instead of returning most of the supplies and equipment back to their origins, it was sent off into the ocean and left behind. This has contributed significantly to dive and snorkel tourism in the region, including an area called "Million Dollar Point", for the amount money said to be scuttled there in wrecks under the sea.
Espiritu Santo is a lush, tropical island with a volcanic origin. It has thick forests and several freshwater rivers, making it an extremely pleasant place to visit.
INCLUDED AND OPTIONAL SHORE EXCURSIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE