Touted as the "crucible" of ecotourism in the Pacific, the Marovo Lagoon is held to be the largest marine lagoon of its type in the world and has been proposed for World Heritage listing. The Lagoon embraces a myriad of small islands in calm waters off the maternal coasts of New Georgia and Vangunu, with their deep jungles and navigable rivers. In recent years various environmental organisations have assisted village communities with setting up low impact "eco-resorts" which have opened up the area to small numbers of tourists.
Marovo Village Stay is located at Gepae on the Vangunu mainland, right in the middle of the Marovo district. A variety of interesting day trips by motor canoe are available, taking in uninhabited islands, local villages, pagan worship sites, caves, rainforest/wildlife areas and trips up some of the larger rivers (yes there are crocodiles!).
About Village Stays
Host families are well-established members of their village communities. Most of them follow subsistence lifestyles, growing food in extensive hillside gardens, raising domestic livestock and fishing in surrounding waters. Many village stay hosts carry responsible positions in community and church leadership. All members of the host family are involved in looking after guests, undertaking various tasks such as harvesting from the gardens, fishing, cooking, and acting as interpreters and guides. Village hosts speak English, but will of course be keen to teach you a few words of Solomons Pidgin or their local language.
Accommodation at village stays is usually a guest bungalow situated next to the family home, constructed in traditional style from logs, bamboo, loya cane, sago palm leaves and rough-cut rainforest timbers. Bungalows usually have two bedrooms opening onto a verandah, and can accommodate up to six people. Bedding is supplied by the hosts (mattresses, pillows, sheets and mosquito nets). Guests are provided with a private toilet and a screened-off outdoor bathroom (where showers may involve standing under a gush of piped springwater or scooping rainwater from a drum!).
Meals are provided by village hosts, who will sit you down to three big offerings of local-style food every day, and ply you with copious amounts of tropical fruit and fresh coconut juice in between. Typical village breakfast is billy tea with home-baked bread buns and jam. Lunch often features green vegetables cooked in coconut milk, with fish, sweet potato, rice and fruit. The evening meal is usually cooked motu style under hot stones. This may include vegetables, fish, chicken or pork, all wrapped in banana leaves and cooked to perfection. Guests are welcome to bring with them any additional food items. Village drinking water comes from rainwater tanks or is collected from underground mineral springs.