←Solomon Islands travel guide
Western Province, Solomon Islands
Gizo
Diving hub of the Western Province lagoons
AdventureBeachesNature & Outdoors
Gizo sits on Ghizo Island as the capital of Western Province and the second-largest town in the country, surrounded by some of the Pacific's most celebrated dive sites including Second World War aircraft wrecks and pristine coral drop-offs. The town serves as the main base for exploring Marovo Lagoon and the reefs where manta rays, dolphins, and sea turtles are regular sightings.
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Best time to visit
May to October (dry season)
Region
Western Province
Main airport
Gizo (GZO)
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Gizo
Nature
Marovo Lagoon
Marovo Lagoon is widely regarded as the world's largest saltwater lagoon, stretching across the New Georgia Islands in Western Province with crystal-clear waters sheltering extraordinary coral reefs and hundreds of reef-fish species. Divers and snorkellers encounter nudibranchs, pygmy seahorses, and vibrant drop-offs, while the surrounding islands are home to skilled woodcarvers whose work is sought across the Pacific. The lagoon is also a candidate for UNESCO World Heritage recognition, underlining its global ecological significance.
Culture
Skull Island
Skull Island, located in the Western Province near Mbughotu, is a small sacred islet where ancient skull shrines bear testament to the head-hunting traditions that shaped pre-colonial Solomon Islands society. Visitors reach it by boat and can observe the carefully arranged skulls of former chiefs and warriors, accompanied by local guides who provide context on the kastom beliefs surrounding ancestral veneration. The site offers an unusually direct encounter with the islands' pre-contact history.
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Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Gizo
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Solomon Islands
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Solomon Islands page at Yoogo.
The Solomon Islands dollar (SBD) is the national currency. Card acceptance is limited largely to hotels and a small number of restaurants in Honiara, so carrying sufficient cash is advisable, particularly when travelling to outer islands.
Petty crime including pickpocketing and theft is a concern in Honiara, and visitors are advised to remain vigilant, avoid displaying valuables, and exercise extra caution after dark. Unexploded Second World War ordnance also poses a hazard in some rural and coastal areas.
Inter-island travel relies primarily on domestic flights operated by Solomon Airlines and Fly Solomons, which connect Honiara to provincial centres across the archipelago. Boat services, including passenger ferries and small motorised vessels known locally as banana boats, provide a slower but widely used alternative between closer islands.
The dry season from June to September offers lower rainfall, more bearable humidity, and excellent underwater visibility, making it the most popular period for diving and general tourism. April to May and October to November are also reasonable shoulder periods, while the wet season from November to April brings heavy rain and an elevated risk of tropical cyclones.
English is the official language and is used in government and education, though it is spoken fluently by only a small proportion of the population. Solomon Islands Pijin, an English-based creole, serves as the common lingua franca understood by most Solomon Islanders, alongside more than 70 local Melanesian and Polynesian languages.
Malaria is present throughout most of the Solomon Islands year-round, and antimalarial medication is strongly recommended; travellers should consult a travel health clinic well in advance of departure. Hepatitis A, typhoid, and routine immunisations are also widely advised, and a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk.
Tipping is not a customary practice in the Solomon Islands and is generally not expected in restaurants, hotels, or taxis. Appreciation for good service is warmly received, but visitors are under no social obligation to leave a gratuity.
Local SIM cards from Our Telekom and Bmobile are available in Honiara and provide 3G and 4G coverage across the main islands, though connectivity on outer islands is limited. International eSIM plans from providers such as Airalo also offer data coverage for the Solomon Islands, and can be set up before departure for convenient connectivity on arrival.