Ekasup Cultural Village features the customs and traditions of the Melanesian indigenous peoples. The ceremonies, native costumes and dances offer an insight into the groups indigenous to Vanuatu. Find out about the villagers’ ancestral way of life and how they coexist with the modern world.
Arrive in the village to be greeted by the chief and other settlers wearing traditional dress, which may be made from leaves, flowers and hay. Hear the sound of children blowing into their large seashells. See how the villagers survive without electricity. They use native herbs for medicine and create traps to catch their dinner.
Watch the women of the tribe weaving baskets, hats and mats for decorative and practical use. Listen to music performed by the Futuna Island Youth Music Group. Traditional food includes bunia and laplap, which is made from dough of breadfruit or yam roots. Try some of the succulent fruits collected here.
Capture photos of the chief and his warriors readied with spears, clubs and bows and arrows. Consider purchasing some of the tribe’s handicrafts. Make sure to bring your camera and sufficient sunscreen.
Enjoy the serenity of this scenic setting in the heart of the jungle. Vines and branches sway overhead, with the sun penetrating the small gaps in the vegetation. Hike along the meandering paths that lead through the forest.
The village tour operator picks up vacationers from their hotels in Port Vila twice daily from Monday through Thursday and just once in the morning on Friday. Purchase tickets and get discounts for children.
Drive south from the center of Port Vila for about 2 miles (3 kilometers) to reach the Ekasup Cultural Village in the Erakor Rain Forest. It is just south of the vast arch of the Erakor Lagoon. See some of the other intriguing sights in the area, such as the churches of Montmartre and Chapelle.
