Tuvalu🇹🇻 | best townsBest towns in Tuvalu

How many to visit: Visit two to three settlements. Transport is slow and infrequent, so each added stop costs several days, and the experience deepens with time in one place more than with ticking off islands.

Which kind to choose: Pick Funafuti as your base if you want comfort, a few restaurants, reliable power and easy flights. Add an outer island if you want village life, fishing, and evenings in the maota, but expect basic rooms, shared bathrooms and few shops. Budget travelers should lean toward outer-island homestays; people wanting hot water and air conditioning should stay on Funafuti.

What it costs: Expect US$60 to 120 a day. Guesthouses run about US$40 to 90 a night, simple meals US$6 to 15, and imported goods cost noticeably more than in Fiji. Inter-island ferries are inexpensive, … read more 👉

How many to visit: Visit two to three settlements. Transport is slow and infrequent, so each added stop costs several days, and the experience deepens with time in one place more than with ticking off islands.

Which kind to choose: Pick Funafuti as your base if you want comfort, a few restaurants, reliable power and easy flights. Add an outer island if you want village life, fishing, and evenings in the maota, but expect basic rooms, shared bathrooms and few shops. Budget travelers should lean toward outer-island homestays; people wanting hot water and air conditioning should stay on Funafuti.

What it costs: Expect US$60 to 120 a day. Guesthouses run about US$40 to 90 a night, simple meals US$6 to 15, and imported goods cost noticeably more than in Fiji. Inter-island ferries are inexpensive, roughly US$20 to 60 per leg, while domestic flights cost more. Lagoon boat trips and guides usually run US$30 to 80 per outing. Bring enough Australian dollars in cash (the local currency is the Australian dollar, plus Tuvaluan coins), because card acceptance and ATMs are limited.

Safety and etiquette: Crime is very low, and the main risks are sun, strong currents and reef cuts. Swim only where locals do and wear reef shoes. Dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees in villages, and swim in shorts and a T-shirt away from the main beach. Sundays are for church, so avoid noisy activity, and ask before photographing people or the maota. When invited to a feast, accept food graciously and bring a small gift such as rice or tinned fish. Pack your own water filter and rubbish out, as freshwater is rainwater-based and scarce.