Solomon Islands Travel Tips

The Solomon Islands’s mention might bring up reminders of our history classes and the fierce battles that took place there. Indeed, the islands were a major turning point of the Pacific Word War II history. Today, the Solomon Islands are still some what remote and attract scuba divers and outdoor enthusiast.

The Solomon Islands became an independent country and member of the Commonwealth on the 7th of July 1978. The country has six major islands and over 900 smaller islands, which are divided into 9 provinces and the Capital Territory.

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Solomon Islands:

Where to stay?

Guadalcanal Island, is the largest island of the Solomon Islands and is where the majority of the tourist visit. Honiara is the Capital of the Solomon Islands and is located on Guadalcanal. Most of the modern tourist accommodations are located within the city limits.

Gizo, located on Gizo Island, and Munda on New Georgia island, are also destinations with great small resorts. Plus, many of the islands offer cultural stays. These are native accommodations located in small, often remote villages. Indeed, in such cases you will often be the only visitor to the village and are made to feel that you belong there.

Activities and excursions in Solomon Islands

Scuba diving is the number one activity that attracts visitors to the Solomon Islands. However, there are other very specialized tourism draws. The Solomon Islands played a pivotal role during WWII. Many visitors come to pay homage to those who lost their lives in and around the islands. WWII buffs also come to see the battle grounds and some of the relics that are found in the area.

Bird watchers are drawn here as well. The islands have a wide range of species with a number of them found only in a few islands.

Sport fishing is also a big draw for those in the know. The pristine water conditions and deep waters lure sport fisherman to challenge a range of sport species. In addition to the deep water fishing, anglers will find many locations for flat fishing. Plus, if you seek for a change of pace, you can also go fishing in some of the many jungle rivers.

Moreover, as the Solomon Islands are mostly uninhabited and mountainous, hiking is a common sport there. Otherwise, you will be able to immerse in the islands’s culture while visiting villages that remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Also, you can even stay overnight in a few villages.

 

Best time to visit Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands has an equatorial climate which means there is little temperature change over the course of the year. Expect an average temperature of about 27°C.

Also common to this type of climate is that the islands have two distinct seasons. A wet season from November to April with the rest of the year considered the dry season. The wet season is not monsoonal as days of sunshine will happen between days of rain and even on rainy days it likely will not last all day.

Most noteworthy is that the transition months, April–May and October–November, offer some of the best weather/price combinations. Also, scuba diving can be done year round, but the seas are rough at times from June to September.

Health and Safety

Hospitals and pharmacies in Solomon Islands are very basic and limited to populated areas and religious missions. The country’s main hospital, The National Referral Hospital, is in Honiara and is the only hospital on Guadalcanal. It is only a 400 bed facility and serious cases are often medical evacuated to Australia. Each province in the country has a hospital, however, these are small and understaffed. Many of the provincial hospitals have only one or two doctors and some have no surgeons. The hospitals support outlying clinics that are staffed by nurses.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Solomon Islands, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is Solomon Islands located in the world?

Solomon islands are located in the Pacific Ocean in the sub region of Melanesia. It is located close to Papua New Guinea with some island of both countries being in the same island chain. Scuba divers should know that this places the Solomon Islands at the edge of the Coral Triangle. This means there is great biodiversity in the waters around the islands.

Moreover, the Solomon’s are also located on the “Ring of Fire” a horseshoe shaped area around the Pacific Ocean that accounts for 90% of the worlds earthquakes and active volcanoes.

How to get to Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands has just one international airport, Honiara International Airport on the island of Guadalcanal. Honiara International Airport, also called Henderson Field, is located approximately 12km east of Honiara. Solomon Airlines, Virgin Australia, Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific), Air Niugini and Air Vanuatu all provide international flights to the Solomons. Plus, Qantas is a codeshare partner to Solomon Airlines.

Moreover, it’s Solomon Airlines, the national carrier, that has the biggest flight offer. Indeed, you can fly to Honiara from Brisbane four times per week, from Sydney once a week, and weekly from Nadi, Port Vila and Port Moresby. Also, Virgin Australia flies direct from Brisbane, twice a week.

Do I need a visa for Solomon Islands?

Entry into the country for most travelers is fairly easy. A Commonwealth citizen, citizen of the United States, or a national of a Schengen Agreement country do not need a visa to travel to the Solomon Islands. They can be issued a visitor permit upon arrival. The requirements that need to be meet by these citizens are:

• Hold a valid passport. It must be issued by the proper passport authority of the country to which you are a citizen or national, valid for 6 months beyond your departure date and have sufficient blank space to accommodate the necessary stamps,
• Have either a return or an onward ticket,
• Be able to show evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself while in the Solomons
• Have a valid visa to enter other countries from the Solomon Islands, if required.

Other nationals should check with the Solomon Islands government for visa requirements.

Getting Around

There are limited airports/ air strips in the country. Getting to the most frequent tourist destinations, which are located away from Guadalcanal, is mostly done by small aircraft. If your destination is not on one of the islands with air service, then you will transfer to your destination by boat.

Formal Public transportation is limited. Honiara has public transportation and taxi service. Outside of the city and other locations, you will most likely hitch a ride on a truck or tractor. They operate as an informal transport system, discuss destination and fare before boarding.

The Solomon Islands is definitely a place for those who like adventure. You will find that nature is the leading attraction. Scuba divers will find that the dive sites are pristine, filled with marine life and perfect for being away from crowds. Hikers and bird watchers will have unlimited options. Plus, those who enjoy experiencing different cultures can really step back in time and have an authentic cultural experience.

Solomon Islands Photos

Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Solomon Islands Diving