Boutique hotels in Tuvalu

Tuvalu is a Polynesian nation of nine low coral islands halfway between Hawaii and Australia, with fewer than 12,000 people and a handful of visitors each year. Its highest point is only a few meters above the sea, which makes it one of the countries most exposed to rising oceans, and that fragility gives a visit a particular weight. Life is communal, with feasts, dancing in the maneapa meeting house and the smell of pandanus and frangipani.

Funafuti

The capital atoll holds almost all of the accommodation and the airport. The airstrip is the center of town, used in the evening for games and walks when no plane is due. The lagoon is vast and shallow, with snorkeling and a conservation area, and a day out to a sandbar islet is the highlight of many trips.

Where to stay

There is a government-owned hotel and a scattering of locally run lodges and guesthouses, usually with meals.

Good to know

Flights from Fiji run only a few times a week, so schedules shape the visit. Bring cash, check official travel advice and book directly with the property. The drier season runs from May to October.

When to go

Cyclone risk is highest from November to April.