Santa Isabel

Long mountainous Solomon Islands province where Alvaro de Mendana made early European contact in 1568

Santa Isabel is the longest island in the Solomon Islands — a narrow, mountainous strip of land that was the first of the Solomons to be contacted by Europeans, when the Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana arrived in 1568. The island remains one of the least visited provinces in the country, with about 30,000 inhabitants, limited infrastructure, and the unhurried pace that comes with genuine remoteness.

Buala, the small provincial capital, has no vehicles. The airstrip is at Fera, a 15-minute boat ride away, served by Solomon Airlines. Kia village on the northern tip is recommended by locals as the place to visit. Mount Kubonitu is the highest point, with rivers running down its flanks to the coast on both sides.

Facilities are basic — change your currency in Honiara before you come. Accommodation means rest houses or staying with locals. Malaria is present, so take precautions — mosquito nets, long sleeves in the evenings, and repellent. Clinics exist but only for basic care. What you will find is warm hospitality, spectacular reef diving, and one of the most unspoiled corners of the Pacific.

Guide

Getting There

Solomon Airlines operates scheduled flights from Honiara to Fera Airport (FRE) on Santa Isabel. Fera is a grass airstrip on a small islet just off the southern coast, a 15-minute boat ride from Buala. Flights take around 30 minutes from Honiara; the schedule changes seasonally, so confirm with Solomon Airlines directly or through your accommodation.

There is also a weekly ship service from Honiara operated by the National Shipping Corporation of Solomon Islands, though travel times are long (typically 12–18 hours depending on stops) and schedules are unreliable. The ship carries both passengers and cargo and calls at several islands before Santa Isabel.

Bring sufficient cash from Honiara — there are no ATMs on Santa Isabel, and banking facilities are extremely limited. Stock up on any medications, snorkelling equipment, or specialized gear before you leave Honiara.

Guide

Things to Do

Santa Isabel rewards visitors who come prepared for genuine remoteness. Reef diving in the waters around the island is exceptional, cultural encounters with local communities are authentic, and the landscapes — long ridgelines of rainforest descending to coconut-fringed coasts — are largely untouched. Infrastructure is basic and logistics require patience.