Solomon Islands

Blessed with sun-soaked, coconut palm-fringed beaches and crystalline waters, the remote and unspoiled archipelago of nearly a thousand islands and atolls of the Solomon Islands is becoming an increasingly popular eco-tourism destination, offering world-class snorkelling, scuba diving, fishing and surfing. Much of the country's economy is still based on subsistence fishing, and although the Solomon Islands deserves to be a world beater of a tourist destination, an unfortunate lack of infrastructure and amenities has kept the growth of the country's tourism sector in check. This is great news for those seeking a beach holiday in a tropical paradise, but who don't want to go anywhere where the effects of mass tourism are already widespread. Visitors of this ilk should act fast, however, as the island has recently been used as the location for the hit American TV show Survivor: All Stars 2, a bit of publicity that is sure to bring thousands of eager visitors to the unspoilt archipelago.

Sprinkled across the South Pacific, these Melanesian islands have seen a lot of history. It is believed that Papuan-speaking settlers arrived around 30,000 BC, while the first European to discover these gems was Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, a Spanish navigator who set out from Peru in 1893. During WWII the Solomon Islands saw some fierce battles between the Japanese and the Allied forces, including the Battle of Guadalcanal, and the shipwreck graveyards beneath the turquoise waters bear testament to this.

Explore some of the world's most diverse aquamarine life, while landlubbers can marvel at the islands' unique animals and plants, majestic volcanoes and the world's rarest orchid. History buffs will love the WWII historical sites such as Iron Bottom Sound, where the remnants of sunken vessels lie in their watery graves. Popular islands and groups within the archipelago include Guadalcanal, Santa Cruz, and Choiseul. The capital city of Honiara on Guadalcanal has a number of interesting historical sites and a bustling Central Market for souvenir shopping, along with several restaurants and nightclubs.

Passport Visa

Visitors are required to hold return or onward tickets, 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.

Entry Requirements

• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. A three-month visitor's permit can be issued on arrival. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance.
• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. A three-month visitor's permit can be issued on arrival, as well as a seven-day transit visa. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance.
• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. A three-month visitor's permit can be issued on arrival, as well as a seven-day transit visa. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance.
• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. A three-month visitor's permit can be issued on arrival, as well as a seven-day transit visa. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance.
• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance. In addition to a visa/transit visa, prior approval from the Directorate of Immigration must be obtained.
• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. A three-month visitor's permit can be issued on arrival, as well as a seven-day transit visa. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance.
• A passport valid for six months after intended travel is required. Visa required. A three-month visitor's permit can be issued on arrival, as well as a seven-day transit visa. All visitors must hold confirmed onward or return tickets, all documents required for their next destination and sufficient funds for maintenance.

Embassy Consulates

Foreign Embassies