Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are an island state in the south-west of the Pacific Ocean. The capital city is Honiara located on the Guadalcanal Island. It shares its water boundaries with Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The climate on the Solomon Islands is monsoon sub-equatorial. The temperature is around +30°C throughout the year. Plan your holidays on the islands during the second half of the year when breezes make the temperature not so hot.

The majority of the population are the Christians and the official language is English.

To spend time on a beach, head right to the New Georgia Island, the Tavanipupu, Jupi, and Guadalcanal.

The lovers of diving will discover a unique underwater world and sunken ships near the Tulagi Island and Savo Island.

A fantastic fishing is waiting for you in Kirakira and Guizot on the San Cristobal Island and Kembakale on the Choiseul.

Good trekking and hiking routes start from Guizo to Titiane and from Honiara to the Mataniko Falls, Makira, Santa Isabel Island, and Choiseul. Santa Isabel is also a great destination for out-of-town tourism. There, you will see Arnavon or the Turtle Island. This island is a nesting site for rare hawksbill sea turtles. The Arnavon Marine Nature Reserve is also here. Take an impressive trip to the Rennell Island, the largest atoll on the planet.

Honiara is a centre of city entertainments and shopping.

Get in

By Plane

To travel to the Solomon Islands, the tourists should take a flight. The most convenient route is through Australia or New Zealand. Solomon Airlines offer flights to Honiara from Brisbane or Auckland.

Brisbane welcomes the flights from hub airports of Hong Kong, Dubai, Seoul, London, Tokyo, and Singapore.

There are regular flights to Honiara from Fiji through Vanuatu.

Visa

The tourists from EU can travel to the Solomon Islands visa-free.

CIS citizens have to obtain a visa to come to the Solomon Islands. The tourists should apply for a visa two months prior to the anticipated date of the travel.

After you have submitted the documents, you will receive a Visitor Permit on your e-mail. This permit allows staying on the Islands for 3 months.

One can extend the permit if there are certain reasons.

Customs

On the Solomon Islands, there are no restrictions concerning the import of foreign currency. The import of national currency is limited to 250 SBD. The tourists can export foreign currency in the same amount as indicated in the declaration form.

The tourists can import the following things duty-free:

• goods the total cost of which does not exceed 400 SBD;
• alcohol and tobacco.

It is not allowed to transit art objects through the territory of the Solomon Islands.

The tourists are not allowed to export:

• items having an artistic or historical value;
• things made of turtles’ shells and coral;
• non-canned meat products;
• animals’ skins and feathers of tropical birds.

Jewellery and gold must be declared.

Cuisine

The cuisine of the Solomon Islands is a mix of cooking traditions of Oceania, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

The locals typically use taro leaves, yum, tapioca, and coconuts. The dishes are usually prepared in the ground oven «umu». Fish and meat are roasted with spices over the charcoal.

The coastal waters offer plenty of fish, so fish is the main ingredients for many dishes as well as seaweed and seafood. The travellers will be delighted with the taste of crab with tapioca and light salads with clams.

The locals prefer pork and beef to prepare meat dishes.

On the Solomon Islands, one can try a beer and wines produced in China, New Zealand, Chile, Australia and some local beverages.

Money

The official currency on the Solomon Islands is the Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD). The bank notes from 2 to 50 SBD are in circulation.

We recommend exchanging currency only at authorised banks, exchange offices, hotels, large restaurants and stores. Near large stores and banks in Honiara, there are ATMs accepting major foreign currencies. There are offices of the National Bank of the Solomon Islands throughout the country offering their currency exchange services.

The tourists can pay with the credit cards of the leading payment systems which are serviced by the NBSI, Westpac, and ANZ banks. Outside the capital, the cards are not accepted so make sure you have enough cash. There are ATMs only in the capital city.

One can cash traveller’s checks in the offices of large banks (NBSI, Westpac, and ANZ). To avoid additional costs, take the checks in sterling pounds or Australian dollars.

Details of interest

Sightseeing on the Solomon Islands

• If you stay in Honiara, go to the National Museum of the Solomon Islands, look at the building of Hotel Mendana, visit the National Parliaments, and the exposition in the Central Bank. The Melanesian Cultural Village is a great interest for the tourists. They will learn more about the traditions of the islanders and will see houses made from palm leaves.
• The Mataniko Waterfall actually splits in two and you can see a spectacular thundering of water down a cliff straight into a canyon below.
• The American Memorial Park and the Japanese Peace Memorial are situated on the Mount Austin Ridge and the Skyline Ridge.
• On the volcanic Savo Island, the travellers will see sunken ships, hot mineral springs, and a steaming crater of a volcano.
• The tourists will want to visit the picturesque villages Manaafe, Aumea, Aofia, Anoano, Alite, and Uru.
• Marovo Lagoon is the largest salt lagoon on the planet near the New Georgia Island. It attracts people with its amazing beauty.
• The tourists can enjoy fantastic coral reefs and lagoons in New Georgia and Vaughn-Vaughn. If you are adventurous enough, climb the Kolombangara Volcano and take a look at the oldest holy place of the local tribes Megapod.
• On the Rennell Island, one can enjoy the largest freshwater lake in the southern part of the Pacific Ocean. The East Rennell National Park Wildlife on the Rennell Island inscribes on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• The Mount Marakomburu on the Guadalcanal island is the highest peak on the Solomon Islands. It is 2.330 metres high.

Souvenirs on the Solomon Islands

• Bone carving can be bought on the Rennell Island.
• Pottery is made in the Church School Betikama close to Honiara.
• Decorative ritual balls, wooden figurines, and masks are sold on the Makira Island.
• Miniature canoes can be bought on the San Cristobal Island.