Little has changed since 1568 when Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana first sailed into this tucked away corner of the South Pacific. And today, having escaped the ravages of mass tourism, this pristine, eco-paradise offers a rare alternative for travellers looking for true adventure.
The destination‘s steep walls, shallow reefs, tunnels, drop-offs, and unspoiled technicolour reefs brim-full of marine life make for a world-class offering for divers in search of the ultimate underwater world experience. Add to this the literally hundreds of WWII shipwrecks and downed aircraft that litter the seabed.
For surfers, and a previously well-kept secret closely guarded by a handful of hard-travelling board riders for many years, the Solomon Islands is home to some of the most perfect – and best of all uncrowded – waves to be found anywhere on the planet. From the months of November to April, the northern pacific swells sweep in and the destination’s extensive reefs and north-western facing islands come alive.
For sports fishermen too, the Solomons Islands presents an angling nirvana. Irrespective of whether you troll, fly fish, surf cast or simply dangle a hook, or whether you like deep sea, river, reef or estuary fishing, these Hapi Isles offer something to suit every type of angler, both those experienced enthusiasts looking for that monster catch or for those just happy to land a tiddler.
On land, ancient rainforests and volcanic landscapes, unspoiled jungle trails, and hidden waterfalls await the keen trekker and birdwatchers too will be equally captivated with the over 300 distinct bird species found here, 102 of which are endemic and acting as a magnet for twitchers from all over the world.
For those seeking adventure far beyond the ordinary, this is one part of the South Pacific that remains as it all once was and should be - raw and real!