Guadalcanal Island Destination Guide

Overview of Guadalcanal Island The largest of the Solomon Islands and the site of the capital city Honiara, Guadalcanal should be the first port of call for foreign visitors to the pristine archipelago. First 'discovered' by European navigators in 1568, the island enjoyed a relatively quiet and peaceful history until World War II when fierce fighting between Allied and Japanese troops broke out. Since then, despite suffering severe tsunami damage in 2007, life on Guadalcanal has returned to its relaxed and peaceful pace, as the vast majority of its 90,000-strong population continue to make ends meet through subsistence fishing and farming practices. Guadalcanal Island is either home or provides easy access to most of the Solomon Islands' best tourist attractions. The moving US and Japanese Peace Memorials are worth visiting, especially for those interested in historical sites, while several old battlefields such as Red Beach, Alligator Creek and Bloody Ridge can also be visited for a sobering reminder of the devastation wrought on the island during WWII. It is also possible to make a few exciting excursions from Guadalcanal. The best of these are to the Tenaru Falls, a lovely waterfall complex that is reached after a long walk through dense tropical forest; Skull Island, where mounds of human skulls (the relics of head-hunting raids) are proudly displayed; and Kwaio Island, where visitors will be allowed to observe a community that has rejected modern life, choosing instead to live by the traditions of their ancestors. Seashell jewellery is a popular Solomon Islands souvenir, and tourists can either visit the folk art enclave of Betikama to watch its production or else simply visit the Honiara Central Market to pick some up. The Central Market is the best place to shop in the Solomon Islands, largely consisting of stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, and an incredible selection of fish and seafood. However, the Solomon Islands's greatest tourist attraction remains the diving and snorkelling opportunities available to visitors. The area off the coast of Honiara is known as Iron Bottom Sound, and tourists will have the unique chance to dive among sunken transport ships, submarines and even fighter planes. For those seeking a luxurious getaway, the nearby beach resort of Uepi Island is the archipelago's most lavish, and provides drop-off diving sites that rival the very best in the world. There is a lot to see and do on Guadalcanal. Tourists seeking an idyllic island getaway free from tourist traps and modernisation should seriously consider a trip to this rarest of holiday destinations.

Key Facts

Language: English is the official language. Passport/Visa: Visitors are required to hold return or onward tickets and proof of sufficient funds. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources. Currency: Electricity: Electrical current in the Solomon Islands is 230 volts, 50Hz. The most commonly-used plug is the three-prong Australian plug.

Travel guide by wordtravels.com © Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Travmarket cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above. Event details can change. Please check with the organizers that an event is happening before making travel arrangements. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.

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Travel to Guadalcanal Island Health Notes when travelling to Solomon Islands A yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers to the Solomon Islands arriving from an infected area, while the territory has in the past few years been subject to outbreaks of dengue fever and rubella. A measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is recommended for all travellers born after 1956, as is a typhoid vaccine (except short-term business travellers or cruise ship passengers). Tap water should not be drunk unless it has been boiled, filtered or chemically disinfected. Medical facilities are very limited so pack a personal medical kit and bring adequate supplies of all medications. Should a doctor be needed, the main facility is the Central Hospital and National Referral Hospital in Honiara. Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended for travellers. Customs in Solomon Islands Local culture in the Solomon Islands is relaxed but traditional. While informal dress, including shorts, is acceptable, you should avoid wearing beachwear off the beach. Always show respect for older people, especially in rural areas. Girls are not to show friendliness to strangers of the opposite sex when accompanied by their relatives. If invited into a local's home, the guest will be expected to eat first. Duty Free in Solomon Islands Travellers to the Solomon Islands age 18 and older may import the following goods duty-free: 200 cigarettes/250g cigars or tobacco, two litres liquor, other goods valued to SBD400. Offensive weapons, pictures, and literature is prohibited, and firearms and ammunition require a police permit obtained prior to arrival. Passport/Visa Note Visitors are required to hold return or onward tickets and proof of sufficient funds. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

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Currency

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