How To Get The World’s Least Visited Country
The world’s least visited country is said to be the tiny remote Pacific island nation of Tuvalu. Those who have visited Tahiti (one of the most popular destinations in the Pacific) will be amazed at how different the two places are. Traveling to Tuvalu is an adventurous and rewarding experience – it is not an easy and straightforward affair like traveling to Tahiti or Hawaii.
The main way to get to Tuvalu is through another Pacific island country, Fiji. Three times a week there are flights between the country with an ATR 72-600 aircraft. There is one flight from Hawaii to Fiji, but many of the flights are via Australia. Build an unusual list of travel destinations by taking the time and effort to visit the country that few people get to see.
Tuvalu – The tiny remote Pacific country
Tuvalu is one of the smallest and most remote countries in the world. And thanks to its massive isolation, it’s one of the most authentic Pacific countries to visit. Formerly known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is about halfway between Hawaii and Australia.
It is a peaceful and uncommercialized island with vast oceans. It’s full of atolls, picturesque lagoons, coral reefs and a rich Polynesian island culture. It consists of three reef islands and six atolls.
- Population: 10,500 people
- Language: Tuvaluan & English
- Capital city: Funafuti
The country is highly vulnerable to sea level rise due to climate change as no point on the islands is higher than 4.5 meters or 15 feet above sea level.
The main island is Funafuti, which is home to more than half of the country’s population – around 6,000. Officially, the entire Funafuti atoll is the capital.
Background and History of Tuvalu
The Polynesians expanded from Samoa and Tonga to colonize the atolls of Tuvalu during the great age of Polynesian exploration. The first Europeans to see the archipelago were the Spanish in 1568. In the 19th century the United Kingdom claimed the islands and became a fully independent country in 1978.
The United States also has a history with the country. Several thousand American troops were stationed there during World War II (then called the Ellice Islands). The Americans built airstrips on the islands that are still in use today.
While Solomon Islands is the Pacific Cemetery for WWII military equipment, visitors to Tuvalu can see discarded WWII military equipment. See the remains of WWII aircraft long abandoned in the undergrowth, the wreckage of a landing craft and the old runways. See a well-preserved underground bunker and more.
Expect rudimentary but authentic services in Tuvalu
Tuvalu is considered one of the most peaceful but least developed countries in the world. But life on these remote islands is simple, yet often harsh. The country has no rivers or streams and little soil. The country has made some money by selling the Internet ending “.tv” for television stations.
- Currency: Australian dollar
- Visa Policy: 1 month visa free (90 days for Schengen area passports)
The currency used in Tuvalu is the Australian Dollar. Visitors should bring travelers checks or plenty of cash as there are no credit card services anywhere in Tuvalu. The country has one bank – the National Bank of Tuvalu, which is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
There is internet in the country but expect it to be slow.
Accommodation in Tuvalu
Visitors must remember that they are visiting a very small, very remote and underdeveloped country. So don’t expect the accommodation and service to be on par with Tahiti and the like. Tourism is still in its infancy here. For more detailed information about visiting the country and arranging your own trip, one should visit the country’s website and contact accommodation providers on the islands by email.
The list of accommodation in the country is:
- Afelita Island Resort ([email protected])
- Afelita B&B ([email protected])
- Fakasagi Lodge ([email protected])
- Guesthouse Funafala ([email protected])
- L’s Lodge ([email protected])
- Lanumoana Lodge ([email protected])
- Luta’s B&B (tel: 00 688 20794, mobile: 00 688 7003025)
It’s not every day that the full list of accommodations in a country can be found in a single article! Enjoy a very personal and friendly stay in Tuvalu with the locals.