{"id":7053041,"date":"2026-08-31T20:40:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:40:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/vanuatu-chocolate-adventure-sophies-world-travel-inspiration\/"},"modified":"2026-08-31T20:40:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T20:40:27","slug":"vanuatu-chocolate-adventure-sophies-world-travel-inspiration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7053041","title":{"rendered":"Vanuatu: Chocolate & Adventure | Sophie’s World Travel Inspiration"},"content":{"rendered":"


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I\u2019ll just start with the conclusion, shall I?<\/p>\n

Vanuatu: Turquoise water beneath your feet, the delightful rush of waterfalls, and the unmistakable feeling that life moves a little slower here. Add handmade chocolate, the aroma of freshly roasted Tanna coffee \u2013 and because apparently one can never have too much novelty \u2014 a post office underwater.<\/em><\/p>\n

Have I made you curious? That underwater post office, right?<\/p>\n

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2024 earthquake<\/h3>\n

My first impression of Port Vila, Vanuatu\u2019s capital, is a mix of beautiful tropical scenery, friendly people, and real and near reminders of what this community has been through in the recent past.<\/p>\n

On 17 December 2024, a magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck just offshore, causing widespread destruction throughout the city, killing 14 and injuring hundreds.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m told the building that housed the Billabong shop in the town centre was one of the hardest hit. It simply collapsed, and four of the confirmed deaths were attributed to this building. I\u2019ve been in many Billabong shops over the years, and I can\u2019t help but imagine what it must have been like, casually browsing kids\u2019 surf shorts one minute, and in the next, the whole building coming down. It\u2019s a chilling thought.<\/p>\n

18 months on, and people are getting on with everyday life, resilient and optimistic. There\u2019s something quite humbling about wandering around in Port Vila now. The earthquake is no longer just another disaster story in the news; being here makes the reality of it much harder to ignore.<\/p>\n

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OK, on to the lighter side of Vanuatu\u2026 if I haven\u2019t scared you off!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m joining Eriko from Japan, and Nadia and Fyodor from Siberia, for a guided tour of Efate, the main island.<\/p>\n

\u2018Shall we begin with chocolate?\u2019 our guide asks.<\/p>\n

Why, yes. That sounds like a very good place to start.<\/p>\n

We set off for Gaston Chocolat. The name alone makes me think of one of my favourite films. You can probably guess which one, can\u2019t you? Juliette Binoche, Judy Dench, Johnny Depp\u2026 I must have watched Chocolat<\/em> at least five times.<\/p>\n

Gaston Chocolat<\/h3>\n

The smell of chocolate hits as soon as we arrive.<\/p>\n

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Olivier Hernandez founded the chocolate factory in 2017, naming it after his grandfather, Gaston. The little factory is closely connected to Vanuatu\u2019s cocoa-growing tradition, and the delicious choccies are made using cocoa grown in the islands.<\/p>\n

Here at Gaston Chocolat<\/a>, the humble cocoa bean is transformed into handcrafted chocolate. Olivier hands us hair nets, and takes us through the operation. Turning beans into the yumminess we know and love takes plenty of work, involving both humans and machines. And Olivier and his team must be doing something right, because their chocolates keep on winning awards and accolades.<\/p>\n