Things to Do in Temotu

Temotu Province sits at the eastern edge of the Solomon Islands, a collection of remote volcanic islands and coral atolls that feels genuinely untouched by mass tourism. The main islands of Santa Cruz, Reef Islands, and Duff Islands offer some of the most pristine marine environments in the Pacific, where traditional Melanesian and Polynesian cultures blend in fascinating ways. You'll find communities that still practice ancient navigation techniques and create intricate shell money, while the surrounding waters hold some of the region's most spectacular diving sites. This is raw, authentic Pacific island life - the kind of place where you might be the only visitor for weeks, and where local hospitality tends to be both generous and genuinely curious about why you've made the journey this far east.

Dining options in Temotu are extremely limited and largely based on local subsistence foods. Most meals consist of fresh fish, root vegetables like taro and sweet potato, tropical fruits, and rice. A few small stores in Lata sell basic provisions, but you'll mainly eat whatever local families are preparing - which actually tends to be quite good, featuring incredibly fresh seafood and organically grown vegetables. If staying in villages, meals are typically included with accommodation arrangements. It's wise to bring some supplementary food items from Honiara, particularly if you have specific dietary requirements, as Western-style restaurants simply don't exist here.

The best time to visit Temotu is during the dry season from April through October, when rainfall is lower and sea conditions are generally calmer for boat travel between islands. However, even during the 'dry' season, expect regular tropical showers and high humidity. The wet season from November through March brings heavier rains, rougher seas, and increased risk of cyclones, making inter-island travel more challenging and sometimes impossible. That said, the wet season also means lusher vegetation and fewer crowds (not that crowds are ever really an issue here). Flight schedules to Lata are most reliable during the dry months, though 'reliable' is still a relative term in this remote location.