×

Vanuatu🇻🇺 | attractionsMillion Dollar PointWartime wreckage, shore snorkeling, coarse dark sand, Luganville dive trips | things to do and best time to go

Explore Blue LagoonExplore Millennium Cave Tour (cultural village & cave experience

Backpacking in Million Dollar Point
👀 For curious travelersattraction ranked #8
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

You wade in with a snorkel and the water goes from warm shallows to a sudden drop, and there below you sprawl bulldozers, truck chassis and rust-furred winches, all of it left by the US military after World War II. Million Dollar Point sits on the southeast coast of Espiritu Santo, in the north of Vanuatu, a short ride from Luganville. The sand is a narrow, coarse strip with little shade and no resort polish, and you will likely share it with only a few divers. Entry costs a small fee, and food and beds are in town, not here. Coral cover is patchy and the beach itself is plain. But the shore snorkeling over wartime wreckage is superb. Unlike the Champagne Beach side of the island, this is for gear, not lounging.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Vanuatu Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #8 attraction in VanuatuWhy Million Dollar Point should be on your travel list

Backpackers stop here for one reason: the US military dumping ground that begins a few meters from the shoreline. At the end of the war, the Americans drove vehicles, equipment and supplies into the sea off Santo instead of shipping them home, and you can swim straight out to see the result. No boat, no tank, no guide required if you bring your own mask. That makes it one of the cheapest wreck-style experiences you can find in the Pacific.

It also works as an easy half-day pause from Luganville, the island’s main town, where most budget travelers sleep. Pair it with the nearby blue holes or the dive shops, and you get a strong day of history and water. Rust and coral have fused into odd reefs, so fish gather thickly around the metal. Expect to leave with a salt-stiff towel and a better grip on how big the Pacific war really was.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Million Dollar Point

  1. Snorkeling the Million Dollar Point debris field: Wade in from the beach and float over bulldozers, truck parts, tires and heaps of steel dumped after the war. Fish and corals now cover them, so it feels part junkyard, part reef.
  2. Diving the deeper wreckage: Certified divers can go beyond the shallows to see larger machinery and the wider spread of discarded equipment. Dive operators in Luganville run trips here.
  3. Walking the shoreline relics: Rusted metal still pokes from the sand and shallows at the water’s edge. It is a good place to photograph, especially at low tide when more debris shows.
  4. Learning the story of the dump: The site is tied to the American base on Santo that supported the Pacific campaign. Knowing the backstory, ideally from a local guide or your dive operator, turns scrap into
… read more 👉
  1. Snorkeling the Million Dollar Point debris field: Wade in from the beach and float over bulldozers, truck parts, tires and heaps of steel dumped after the war. Fish and corals now cover them, so it feels part junkyard, part reef.
  2. Diving the deeper wreckage: Certified divers can go beyond the shallows to see larger machinery and the wider spread of discarded equipment. Dive operators in Luganville run trips here.
  3. Walking the shoreline relics: Rusted metal still pokes from the sand and shallows at the water’s edge. It is a good place to photograph, especially at low tide when more debris shows.
  4. Learning the story of the dump: The site is tied to the American base on Santo that supported the Pacific campaign. Knowing the backstory, ideally from a local guide or your dive operator, turns scrap into a real narrative.
  5. A swim and picnic on the black-gray sand: The beach is modest, but the calm, clear water and quiet make it a pleasant spot to cool off between snorkel sessions. Bring your own food and water.
For a first visit, the shoreline snorkel is the one to do, since it needs only a mask and the best of the wreckage lies within easy swimming distance.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Million Dollar Point

Major Tom -Sailing Day Cruise, with Snorkeling, Lunch & More!

Major Tom -Sailing Day Cruise, with Snorkeling, Lunch & More!

4.9(230)
From €144
per personViator
Small Group River Kayaking Tour from Port Vila

Small Group River Kayaking Tour from Port Vila

4.9(189) 3h 30m
From €60
per personViator
Vanuatu Jungle Zipline with Transfers

Vanuatu Jungle Zipline with Transfers

4.8(202) 4h 30m
From €88
per personViator
Vanuatu Jungle Zipline - Self Drive Option

Vanuatu Jungle Zipline - Self Drive Option

5.0(113) 3h 30m
From €88
per personViator
Full-Day Efate Round Island Trip with Yumi Tours

Full-Day Efate Round Island Trip with Yumi Tours

4.8(117)
From €109
per personViator
Rarru Cascades, Waterfall & Kava

Rarru Cascades, Waterfall & Kava

5.0(53) 3h
From €58
per personViator
83 Islands Distillery & Sightseeing of Port Vila with Yumi Tours

83 Islands Distillery & Sightseeing of Port Vila with Yumi Tours

4.9(41)
From €91
per personViator
Vanuatu Jungle Zipline, Swing and Skybridge Combo with Transfer

Vanuatu Jungle Zipline, Swing and Skybridge Combo with Transfer

4.9(31) 4h
From €157
per personViator
Discovery Hike from Port Vila

Discovery Hike from Port Vila

4.9(30) 3h 30m
From €53
per personViator
Nguna Island Full Day Hike and Snorkeling Adventure from Port Vila Vanuatu

Nguna Island Full Day Hike and Snorkeling Adventure from Port Vila Vanuatu

5.0(28) 10h
From €145
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Million Dollar Point

  • Dry Season (May to October): Visibility on the wreck dives off the point is at its best, often 25 to 40 meters. Days run 24 to 28°C (75 to 82°F), nights cool to about 20°C (68°F), and sunrise comes near 6:15 with dark by about 5:45 pm.
  • Wet Season (November to April): Expect 27 to 31°C (81 to 88°F), thick humidity and heavy downpours that stir up silt. Cyclones can hit between January and March, and flights get disrupted.
  • Crowds and Prices: Cruise ships and Australian school holidays (July, late September, December) bring more dive groups to Luganville. Dive operators and rooms rarely change price much by season, but book ahead in July.
  • Daylight: About 11 to 13 hours year-round, so plan snorkeling for the morning, when the water is calmest.
Come in June or September for clear water and fewer people.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
when-to-go

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutVanuatu Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Vanuatu
The digital guide (134 pages) contains:
✅ 34 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 2, 3 & 5-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Luganville, about 10 minutes by road from the point, is where you should stay. It is Vanuatu’s second town and the only place near the beach with a real spread of budget beds, supermarkets, cheap bakeries and the main market. The waterfront strip along Main Street has the most backpacker traffic, with dorms, shared kitchens and dive shops within walking distance of each other. That makes it easy to find people to split a dive trip or a taxi with, and to book the SS President Coolidge and other wreck dives from the same street.

If you want quiet, the coast east of town toward Champagne Beach has … read more 👉
Luganville, about 10 minutes by road from the point, is where you should stay. It is Vanuatu’s second town and the only place near the beach with a real spread of budget beds, supermarkets, cheap bakeries and the main market. The waterfront strip along Main Street has the most backpacker traffic, with dorms, shared kitchens and dive shops within walking distance of each other. That makes it easy to find people to split a dive trip or a taxi with, and to book the SS President Coolidge and other wreck dives from the same street.

If you want quiet, the coast east of town toward Champagne Beach has simple guesthouses and bungalows near the sea, with a slower pace and fewer solo travelers. You will need a rental car or a taxi to reach the point from there. Staying in town is better for evenings, since restaurants and kava bars (nakamals) are close together and local minibuses run along the main road during the day.
Best hostels in Vanuatu


Best quality hotels in Vanuatu

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)How expensive it really is

A day at Million Dollar Point costs about US$100 for a backpacker, and most of that goes to the dive or snorkel gear and a bed in Luganville rather than to the site itself.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Site accessUS$0 to 8The landowners at the shore charge a small snorkeling fee, paid in cash at the beach in vatu. Fees can change, so carry small notes.
Snorkel gear hireUS$5 to 12Masks and fins are hired locally or from dive shops in Luganville. Bringing your own saves money.
Guided diveUS$70 to 110A single guided dive on the wreckage from the US military dumped here after World War II runs in this range, with equipment included at most shops. Depth reaches about 40 meters, so Advanced certification suits the deeper sections.
TransportUS$2 to 15Shared minibuses along the main road from Luganville
… read more 👉
A day at Million Dollar Point costs about US$100 for a backpacker, and most of that goes to the dive or snorkel gear and a bed in Luganville rather than to the site itself.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Site accessUS$0 to 8The landowners at the shore charge a small snorkeling fee, paid in cash at the beach in vatu. Fees can change, so carry small notes.
Snorkel gear hireUS$5 to 12Masks and fins are hired locally or from dive shops in Luganville. Bringing your own saves money.
Guided diveUS$70 to 110A single guided dive on the wreckage from the US military dumped here after World War II runs in this range, with equipment included at most shops. Depth reaches about 40 meters, so Advanced certification suits the deeper sections.
TransportUS$2 to 15Shared minibuses along the main road from Luganville cost a few dollars each way. A taxi to the point and back costs more and may include waiting time.
Accommodation (high season)US$15 to 30Dorms and basic guesthouse rooms in Luganville are the cheapest beds. Rates rise slightly from June to October.
Food and drinkUS$10 to 20Market stalls and small local cafes in Luganville serve rice, laplap and grilled fish at the lowest prices.
Total Daily BudgetUS$102 to 195The low end assumes snorkeling only, so cut about US$70 or more if you skip the guided dive. Plan on roughly US$100 as a midpoint with one dive.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

This is a calm, easy spot, and most visitors enter the water without drama. The shoreline is steep and drops off quickly into deep water, with coral rubble and old scrap metal underfoot, so wear reef shoes and walk in carefully rather than wading. Currents are usually mild, though they pick up around the drop-off, so snorkelers should stay near the shore and watch the boat traffic. The wreckage of dumped US military equipment is the main attraction, and sharp rusted edges can cut you. Sun is strong from mid-morning, so go early and bring a rash guard. Locals are friendly, and petty theft is uncommon, but keep bags in sight or leave valuables at your guesthouse. Come for the cooler, clearer morning hours.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Take a taxi or rental car from Luganville, which is about 10 minutes and 8 km away along the coastal road on Espiritu Santo. A taxi costs roughly 1,000 to 2,000 vatu (US$8 to 17) each way, and you can ask the driver to wait. Luganville’s Pekoa Airport has flights from Port Vila in about 1 hour, and the point is a short drive from there.
The point is best for snorkeling, and it is known as a dive site rather than a swimming beach. Divers and snorkelers see rusting trucks, bulldozers, Jeeps and coke bottles dumped by the US military after World War II, mostly in 5 to 30 meters of water. The shore is rocky and steep, so it is poor for casual swimming, and there is no surf. Bring your own mask or hire gear from a Luganville dive shop for about 1,000 to 2,500 vatu (US$8 to 21).
Yes, though access is controlled by the local landowners, who charge a small fee, usually around 500 to 1,000 vatu (US$4 to 8) per person. The money goes to the community, and you pay at the entrance on the day. Plan on 1 to 2 hours there, and note that guided snorkel trips with a dive operator in Luganville cost extra.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Ni-Vanuatu attractions near Million Dollar Point

Explore more nearby:


💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Vanuatu including Million Dollar Point and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all attractions

Or checkout all Vanuatu has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Vanuatu
Country photo of Vanuatu
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackParting advice and final tips

Two hours is plenty, though add a third if you want to snorkel twice, once in the morning light and again after a break. I would bring my own mask and reef shoes, since the metal is sharp, then spend the rest of the day in Luganville.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Vanuatu. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story