About this hotel
General information
Ratua Private Island occupies an entire island of 146 acres off the south coast of Espiritu Santo, not far from Luganville. Reefs, sandy coves and tropical forest surround it, and no more than 42 guests stay at any one time. The accommodation is built from vintage teak: free-standing bungalows and villas with rustic wooden furnishings sit right above the beach or around a quiet courtyard, joined by a tented marquee in the spirit of an African safari camp at the water’s edge.
Guests set their own pace here – there is no fixed schedule, only suggestions for the day. The Coral Reef Spa stands over the sea, the kitchen relies almost entirely on its own garden and the catch of local fishermen, and for the evenings there is a cinema, a library, a games room and the Yacht Club. The resort was built with reclaimed materials, and some of its produce is grown and raised on the island itself.
Location
Ratua lies off the south coast of Espiritu Santo, beyond the island of Aore and close to Luganville. A domestic flight of about 50 minutes links Port Vila with the airport at Luganville, where guests are met and driven to the departure point for a 30-minute motorboat crossing to the island’s jetty; the hotel arranges the transfer when flight details are sent ahead. The island also has its own grass airstrip, so a light aircraft can be booked from Port Vila or other islands to land directly on Ratua with no boat transfer.
Spa
The Coral Reef Spa stands above the water, with open-air treatment rooms set over the sea. The menu covers massages and body treatments made with natural, locally sourced ingredients.
Sports & leisure
Bicycles and non-motorised water-sports equipment are free for guests.
- Snorkelling on the house reef, with coral gardens, colourful reef fish and blue starfish; wild sea turtles are often seen in the bay and over the reef, and dugongs from time to time.
- Outrigger canoe trips along the shore and into secluded coves.
- Kayaking on the island’s inland river, a sheltered waterway lined with tropical greenery and easy even for beginners.
- Stand-up paddleboarding in the calm bay.
- Cycling on sandy tracks through coconut groves and old banyan trees, out to a secluded beach and a lookout over the lagoon.
- A full-day trip around Espiritu Santo taking in Champagne Beach, the coast at Port Olry and the Nanda blue hole, or a half-day trip to the Nanda blue hole alone.
- Stargazing from the beach: with almost no artificial light on the island, the Milky Way is clearly visible on cloudless nights.
Restaurants & bars
The restaurants stand over the water, and private dining can be arranged. The kitchen buys nothing from commercial suppliers: almost everything is grown, raised or caught within 50 km. Herbs, greens, root vegetables and tropical fruit are picked daily in the organic garden, chickens and ducks are raised on the island, and local fishermen bring in reef snapper, yellowfin tuna, octopus and slipper lobster. The menu blends French, Melanesian and island cooking and follows the season and the day’s catch – bread baked in-house, grilled fish with a tamarind glaze, coconut curry with taro, banana fritters with island honey. Dietary needs are catered for with notice before arrival. Guests of the Fish Village share a lounge with a bar set partly over Ratua Bay, and the Yacht Club offers another place to unwind.
Swimming
The island has its own white-sand beaches, and the water in the bay and lagoon is calm, so swimming starts right in front of the beachfront villas. The house reef and its coral gardens are explored with a mask and fins.
Rooms
Four categories of accommodation – from a bungalow for two to family villas and a safari-style marquee – range from 66 to 85 m². All are built from vintage teak, some of it 200 years old, and several stand in the Fish Village beside Ratua Bay.
The villas have air conditioning, and the rooms come with ceiling fans, mosquito nets, a minibar, fridge, safe, bathrobes, bath amenities, a desk and wardrobe, daily housekeeping and an evening turndown; Wi-Fi is available in the communal areas only.
Courtyard Room
A two-bedroom villa of 200-year-old teak in the Fish Village, opening onto a shared green courtyard: one bedroom with a queen-size bed, the other with two single beds, one bathroom and a balcony overlooking the garden. Sleeps up to four, with the shared lounge over Ratua Bay close by.
Beachfront Villa
A villa made of two vintage teak pavilions by the beach, the bedroom with its queen-size bed linked to a separate bathroom by an open-air patio. A verandah with lounge chairs looks out to sea; for two guests.
Two Bedroom Beachfront Villa
Three connected teak pavilions on the beach: a main bedroom with a queen-size bed, a living room with two single beds and a bathroom, linked by private patios. A verandah with lounge chairs faces the sea; sleeps up to four.
Beachfront Glamping Marquee
A safari-style marquee at the water’s edge with a king-size bed and two single beds, an en-suite bathroom and a semi-outdoor shower. A verandah with a daybed looks out over the ocean; sleeps up to four.
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.