Ratua, Vanuatu — Local services in Sanma

Ratua is for you if you really, truly love to be immersed in a divine environment that looks and feels like a lost paradise. The people are warm and genuinely love the people who come to stay and act with appreciation for the people, their culture and their home. We had exceptional experiences snorkelling with turtles, on pristine coral reefs, and over the wrecks nearby. The food was delicious, locally sourced and lovingly prepared and presented. Much of it is grown on or near Ratua. Our accommodation was in a 200 year old hardwood hut. Open windows and mosquito nets are super comfortable and comforting but done come expecting A/c. This is a genuine lux-barefoot experience and takes you to the realisation that you are a part of the place you are in and not a controller of it. I found the people and the island to be a divinely relaxing, supporting and very freeing environment to relax and return to a very peaceful and uncluttered life. That's priceless, rare and incomparably liberating. If you really want to relax, release and be all human again, set your...

This is a unique place. First: it's not some big brand hotel, it's a private location that offers barefoot luxury. Secondly, the architecture is not traditional brick and mortar.

The rooms are animal- named (we stayed in deer), which are in effect Balinese homes shipped acorss and painstakingly re-built in Ratua. We were super lucky that everyone else checked out the day we arrived so literally had the island to ourselves for 3 days and the experience was unforgettable. The sunsets are spectacular, so much so they feature on Vanuatu tourism board ads, the reef goes on forever and the it does drop off the water is crystal clear, showing enormous turtles, dugongs and the odd eel.

We had our own deck with a shower and a tiny beach, it felt like paradise. Only thing was the rooms did not have air conditioning which can be an...

We were fortunate to have stayed here and really enjoyed the experience. Ratua is totally different to just about any other place we've been, the accommodation consists of teak abodes, fully imported and assembled on the island. It gives the impression this place has been here for many years more than it actually has. Aircon was non existent when we were here, but the fans did an adequate job. Our accommodation was in " Dragon", and certainly nothing like we've ever known. The food was superb, private beach to be enjoyed, but we've only been there once and would probably come back again one day. Experience Ratua for yourself, it's unique. Definitely...