Tuvalu Travel Guide

Tuvalu travel tips & advice

Most of the activity in Tuvalu is found in the capital city of Funafuti. Most notable is the Funafuti Lagoon. The lagoon is absolutely huge at 9 miles wide and 11 miles long. It’s a perfect place for swimming, snorkeling, fishing or just lounging lagoon-side with a glass of your favorite beverage in hand. It should be noted that the island of Funafuti has no shops at all, so you’ll need to bring whatever you may need with you.

The second-most populated island is Funafala. Hop aboard the Funafala Island catamaran to get there, and like Funafuti, you’ll need to bring your own provisions with you.

Here you’ll find traditional thatched roofed buildings practically everywhere you turn. Go diving and admire the abundant sea life or cast out your line and see what you can catch. Water sports are fun also, but you’ll have to bring your own equipment; there’s not much available on the island. Additionally, you should wear sand shoes as the stonefish can sometimes be hazardous.

Dining on the islands of Tuvalu you’ll find a variety of differently prepared seafood. There are lots of local flavors to choose from as well. Some of the hotels offer barbecues, and there’s also a few privately owned snack food shops and restaurants on the main island.

The best place for shopping is on Funafuti. Although the stores aren’t geared toward visitors, you can still find some really nice, unique items. The best place to shop is at the Woman’s Handcraft Center. There’s a range of merchandise including hand-made crafts, shell jewelry, traditional wooden pieces and much more.