Ekasup is a cultural village set up in the forest near Erakor to show visitors how people lived on Efate before missionaries and traders arrived. You are met on the path by warriors — the welcome is meant to make you jump — and then introduced to the chief.
What follows is a guided walk between demonstration areas: plants used as medicine, ways of preserving food for cyclone season, fishing and hunting traps, mat weaving and fire-making, ending with string-band music and dancing. It is a performance, but the people giving it are explaining their own heritage, and the guides answer questions frankly.
Top things to do: Ekasup Cultural Village
Learn how kastom works
Kastom — traditional law, belief and practice — still shapes daily life in Vanuatu, from land ownership to marriage. The visit is the easiest way to get a grounding in it.
Try the hands-on parts
Visitors are usually invited to try weaving, handle the traps and taste local food. Children tend to love it.
Compare other villages
Several round-island tours visit Pepeyo Cultural Village instead, which offers a similar introduction on the way to the Blue Lagoon.
How to get to Ekasup Cultural Village
- On a tour: the usual way. Visits are run as guided sessions at set times with transport from hotels and the cruise wharf.
- Independently: ask your hotel or the tourist office to phone ahead; turning up unannounced is not recommended.
Insider tips
- Wear closed shoes and insect repellent — it is a forest path.
- Photography is welcome, but ask before close-up portraits.
- Bring a little cash for the handicrafts sold at the end.
Tours that include Ekasup Cultural Village
These bookable experiences are the easiest way to see Ekasup Cultural Village:
Private tour from €248 per group Port Vila: Private Customisable Tour with Driver
A private vehicle and local driver for five hours, with the route built around what you want to see. Priced per group, so it works out well for families and friends sharing.
- Your own vehicle and driver
- Choose your own stops and pace
- Priced per vehicle, for up to 14 people
