About this hotel
General information
Eratap Beach Resort has a peninsula to itself on the south-east coast of Efate, a short drive from Port Vila. Its twelve acres take in tropical gardens and coastal forest, three white-sand beaches and coral reefs, with the calm Etlau Lagoon on one side. All fourteen villas sit right on the water with an open view of the sea, and six of them have pools of their own.
It is a deliberately small, quiet place that welcomes guests aged 12 and over. Days can be as idle or as active as one likes: two boats with drivers, kayaks, surf and paddle boards, bicycles, a tennis court and a gym are all on hand, and Castaway Island, five minutes away by boat, is there for whole days of swimming and picnics. The resort keeps guest numbers low and sources materials and produce locally where it can.
Location
The resort lies on a peninsula near Eratap on Efate's south-east shore, 20 minutes by road from Port Vila and 30 minutes from Port Vila's international airport. Airport transfers are arranged by car, or by helicopter straight to the resort on request. A resort bus runs into Port Vila every day, leaving at 10.00 and returning from town at 12.30; at other times the front desk can book a taxi or a local driver.
Spa
Etlau Lagoon Day Spa sits on the shore of the lagoon and is built to feel open to the outdoors, with birdsong and the sound of the water in the background. The menu covers an aromatherapy massage with tropical oils, deep-tissue and hot volcanic stone massages, body scrubs of volcanic ash and freshly ground coffee or local tropical ingredients followed by a hydrating massage, facials for women and men, and hand and foot treatments. Products come from Volcanic Earth, a locally made natural range, and the spa is reserved for in-house guests.
Sports & leisure
Nearly everything for sea and land is on site:
- two boats with drivers, taking guests wherever they choose: uninhabited islets, snorkel spots or the surf
- snorkelling on the home reef, which runs the length of the resort in 2–8 m of water, with a drop-off just 20 m from the beach; the reef is protected as a marine sanctuary
- single and double kayaks for exploring lagoons, mangroves and the offshore islets, picnic and mask in tow
- four stand-up paddle boards plus learn-to-surf boards; several reef breaks are visible from the breakfast table, the nearest five minutes away by boat
- a swimming pool, an air-conditioned gym open around the clock, a tennis court with racquets and balls, and a pétanque court
- bicycles and walks along dirt roads around the peninsula as far as Teouma Bay, with green palm lorikeets in the forest and barn owls in the evening
- weekly outings with the resort's guides: forest walks, kayak trips and snorkelling
The resort can also arrange days out on Efate, to waterfalls, blue holes and snorkel spots, and a day trip to the island of Tanna, an hour's flight away, followed by a drive of about an hour and a half to Mount Yasur; an evening visit to the crater rim means staying the night on the island.
Restaurants & bars
Eratap Restaurant stands right on the beach, with a dining room opening onto a verandah, a terrace, a lounge and a bar. The chef writes a daily menu of local and international dishes from fresh catch and farm produce from around Vanuatu: organic beef, the deep-water red snapper known as poulet, and fruit and vegetables grown in volcanic soil. Alongside pasta and pizza come curries, seafood risotto and dishes built around kumala. Wines are from Australia, New Zealand and France, with island cocktails at the bar; dinner can be taken on the terrace under the stars or on the sand. The kitchen is open from 7.30 to 22.00, drinks are brought to the pool, and lunch and dinner can be served in the villa.
Swimming
The peninsula has three white-sand beaches. The lagoon side is always calm, while the ocean-facing beach sometimes takes big surf, and guests are told when it does. Swimming is safe at any time off the four nearby islets, and Castaway Island, five minutes away by boat, is open to resort guests. There is also a pool with drinks service, and beach towels are left in every villa.
Rooms
Fourteen one-, two- and three-bedroom villas stand on the water's edge among tropical gardens, with bedrooms and living rooms set in separate pavilions; six have private pools.
Each villa has air conditioning and ceiling fans, a bathroom with a bath, an indoor shower and an outdoor courtyard shower, a furnished terrace, a bar fridge, tea and coffee, a safe, a smart TV with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, bathrobes, a hairdryer and an iron, daily housekeeping and in-villa dining.
Honeymoon Villa No.11
A one-bedroom villa on its own small peninsula between the beach and Etlau Lagoon, with views of all four islets, a covered outdoor lounge and a plunge pool at the water's edge. King-size bed; for two guests.
Honeymoon Villa No.12
A one-bedroom villa above Etlau Lagoon with a private plunge pool and a thatched pavilion at the water's edge, from which guests can swim straight out into the lagoon. King-size bed; for two guests.
Deluxe 2 Bedroom Beachfront Villa with Pool
A large villa on the main beach with its own pool a few metres from the sea: two bedroom wings, each with its own bathroom, a separate living room and two covered decks. The second bedroom has a king-size bed or two single beds; up to five guests.
2 Bedroom Beachfront Villa with Pool
A secluded villa at the end of the beach with its own plunge pool, a lawn and a waterside pavilion; two bedrooms with their own bathrooms and a living room with a deck. Up to five guests.
1 Bedroom Beachfront Villa with Pool
A north-facing villa looking out to Castaway Island and the waves over the reef, with a plunge pool on the edge of the deck and a waterside lounge pavilion. King-size bed; for two guests.
1 Bedroom Beachfront Villa
A bedroom pavilion with a king-size bed and French doors onto ocean-view decks, a bath overlooking the reef and an outdoor shower, plus a separate lounge pavilion with a wide deck steps from the beach. For two guests.
2 Bedroom Beachfront Villa
Two bedrooms in separate pavilions, each with its own bathroom, and a living room with a deck; a king-size bed in the main bedroom and a king-size bed or two single beds in the second. Up to five guests.
The Point - 3 Bedroom Beachfront Villa
A villa on the headland with three pavilions facing different ways, views over the whole Eratap coast and Castaway Island, and a large waterside pavilion for sunset drinks. Three bedrooms and two bathrooms; the king-size beds in two of the bedrooms can be split into two singles; up to six guests.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.