Crystal Blue Lagoon
Crystal Blue Lagoon
2.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
2.5
85 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
17
Average
12
Poor
13
Terrible
28
RUTH H
Sydney, Australia20 contributions
Jan 2024 • Family
Very pretty and peaceful place but I found it unsuitable for younger or elderly people to access the water easily. The steps were steep and slippery. Obviously a great deal of fun was being had for older kids and their parents with the rope swings, towers and platforms around the lagoon. However it gets very deep, very quickly.
I would suggest that you wear your costume and not use the amenities unless necessary. It is a long drive from Port Vila.
I would suggest that you wear your costume and not use the amenities unless necessary. It is a long drive from Port Vila.
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lia S
3 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
You MUST spend an hour or 2 at Blue Lagoon, probably the best swimming hole weve ever visited. So much fun jumping off the platforms, trees and swing ropes. Hilarious watching people succeed and fail dives and flips. Beautiful warm water. We took a tour out there which seems to be the easiest way to visit, its quite a trek out from Port Vila.
Written 24 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Neil W
Sydney, Australia116 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Beautiful refreshing swim in the crystal clear lagoon. Large swimming area fed by the adjacent entrance from the beach. Only a relatively small area to stand up around the edges and deeper in middle. There were much needed repairs being undertaken to one side of the decking which perhaps blocked some access. Very limited entry points to water unless you jump in from deck. Could definitely improve for elderly and little children. Change room just a dirty concrete room and mens' toilet not flushing and putrid.
Written 13 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laloumarie
4 contributions
This isn't a turtle conservation sanctuary. There are a few little turtles in some concrete tanks, and then you get showed around a weird collection of animals that will be eaten. And then there is a small pen with fully grown turtles (that people ride) and some reef sharks. They told us that they're not going to release the turtles so it's really very odd. My advice is don't go, it's a lot of money, it doesn't help turtles, and it will detrimentally change the way you see Vanuatu. I was really enjoying the island and then i saw this and felt very sad that I'd contributed to the plight of these animals, and that they are suffering for the likes of me.
Written 2 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marie L
Papamoa NZ138 contributions
We visited recently with out toddler as part of a trip around the island with a driver. We stopped here at his suggestion. We did want to expose our child to turtles but in a sensitive manner and a breeding program. Firstly it was expensive to get in @1200 Vatu each with our toddler being free. We were assigned a guide and expected a tour with some relevant information in respect of the conservation efforts and turtles in general. Our guide was terrible and effectively pointed at the various animal life and stated the obvious with one word ie crab, pig ,bat, turtle with no further explanation. We were taken to a series of concrete bunker style pools with turtles ranging from 1 month to 18 months. It was simply sad. We were then taken to the beach front natural built inlet where the turtles and reef sharks are enclosed. Although this was pretty and it was interesting to see such large turtles our guide was simply useless offering no information about age, efforts and interest in turtles. He ultimately answered his cellphone and walked off with no explanation never to be seen again. We eventually left after witnessing a tourist child left unattended at the bunkers to pick up, prod and drop small turtles at whim. We are embarrassed that we contributed to such a rundown, pointless effort in terms of turtles. This place should be closed down. I am embarrassed we contributed to such an industry and write this review in the event it will stop others making the same mistake.
Written 11 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie M
Sydney, Australia7,845 contributions
So after seeing turtle sanctuaries & breeding programs in Samoa, we pulled in here. We paid 1800VT to enter each & my husband & I paid 2200VT each on top per person to swim with turtles & reef sharks. After a hot walk through baby turtle tanks, flying foxes, green iguanas & pigs we reached a smallish pool with 4 very large turtles (shouldn't a sanctuary release them when fully grown) & 4 reef sharks plus some fish. While our elderly Mother watched we were taken down & allowed to feed the turtles a single piece of paw paw before being told the sharks were too angry to swim. Having paid 4400VT to do so we asked more information. Apparently a tourist had been bitten by the sharks the day before on the leg, yet they happily take our money, deny the promised experience & withhold safety information. After considerable arguing we received a refund. This is not what it seems. It is not run safely. They animals do not look like they should be kept there. Avoid!
Written 5 January 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wright0
Golden Beach, Australia45 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
Anyone how cares about turtles would be shocked to see this place. Turtles kept in small tanks and then beautiful large green turtles in smallish enclosure on the beach. People touching and playing with the turtles which a fed paw paw by hand. I doubt that this is their natural food! No seagrasses or seaweed to be found for them to eat - no wonder they eat paw paw. They actually call this place a turtle conservation park. My 12 year old grandson was just as horrified as we were. Please keep away from this place. No beautiful turtle should be treated this way.
Written 23 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clear_Blue
Australia14 contributions
Apr 2019
I went on a tour to this place, I hear mixed reviews on this and I thought to avoid it but another couple wanted to see so we thought it might not be too bad. But we were all very upset to see sharks, turtles and 2 pigs in such small areas.
The shark tanks are small small and big turtles are in a little area with no plans to get out, stuck in a few metres area with dirty water (you shouldn’t go swimming in that) and just eating fruit all day which is not their normal diet. I refused to pick up the small turtles out of the water even though they insisted, I just don’t think it’s right to handle them so little.
The 2 pigs had no room to move and had no shade, no mud. It was quite sad.
I heard there was a sanctuary place but maybe that’s the turtle zoological. I didn’t go to the turtle zoological so I can’t comment, but please avoid this place at all costs. By having tourists pay for this, we are encouraging it more. I’m sure there are tours that you can see turtles in their natural habitats.
The shark tanks are small small and big turtles are in a little area with no plans to get out, stuck in a few metres area with dirty water (you shouldn’t go swimming in that) and just eating fruit all day which is not their normal diet. I refused to pick up the small turtles out of the water even though they insisted, I just don’t think it’s right to handle them so little.
The 2 pigs had no room to move and had no shade, no mud. It was quite sad.
I heard there was a sanctuary place but maybe that’s the turtle zoological. I didn’t go to the turtle zoological so I can’t comment, but please avoid this place at all costs. By having tourists pay for this, we are encouraging it more. I’m sure there are tours that you can see turtles in their natural habitats.
Written 29 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rachelllsmith
London, United Kingdom4 contributions
Mar 2019 • Friends
I urge you not to go here. I think some people are reviewing this as the blue lagoon, not as the turtle 'sanctuary.'
The turtles are trapped in a tiny enclosure, and you pay $20USD per person to 'feed' them.
Go for a snorkel in another location and see them in their natural habitat.The cages are tiny, the water is filthy.
I specifically asked the 'tour guide' who could not speak english if they were helping to conserve the turtles and he said no, he basically agreed that they catch the turtles to keep in small cages and charge extortionate rates for tourists to see.
The turtles are trapped in a tiny enclosure, and you pay $20USD per person to 'feed' them.
Go for a snorkel in another location and see them in their natural habitat.The cages are tiny, the water is filthy.
I specifically asked the 'tour guide' who could not speak english if they were helping to conserve the turtles and he said no, he basically agreed that they catch the turtles to keep in small cages and charge extortionate rates for tourists to see.
Written 7 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AMCW2013
Melbourne, Australia60 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
This is a lovely place to visit. A little off the beaten track and the road is very rough to get there but the work they are doing to help the turtles and wild life is fantastic. After paying an entrance fee you get a guided tour to see (and touch) 5 month old turtles, then look at older turtles. The guide was very informative. They had other animals to look at and touch (coconut crab, snakes, etc.)
Then you had the chance to hand feed a 160kg turtle.
Following this you were free to roam around the sanctuary. We went snorkelling in the beautiful clear waters and saw heaps of fish just swimming around near us. The beach was white sands.
This sanctuary got badly damaged by Cyclone Pam and needs tourists to help them help the turtles and wildlife. Well worth a visit.
Then you had the chance to hand feed a 160kg turtle.
Following this you were free to roam around the sanctuary. We went snorkelling in the beautiful clear waters and saw heaps of fish just swimming around near us. The beach was white sands.
This sanctuary got badly damaged by Cyclone Pam and needs tourists to help them help the turtles and wildlife. Well worth a visit.
Written 14 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place does not care for the welfare of the animals here. The animals were not supervised and tour guides were pulling a 120kg turtle out of the water by is shell for tourists take take photos next to. There was baby turtles in extremely small enclosures to the point where they can’t even swim around. Children and their mothers were pulling them out for photos and dropping them back in from a descent height, meanwhile there is a sign saying ‘do not touch’ and a staff member standing by watching this all happening. None of the animals had space to move live their life, pigs were in enclosures they could lay down in and not do much else. The turtles are visibly hanging around the grates that seperate them from the ocean trying to get out. There is a much nicer turtle SANCTUARY close by called ‘the reef zoological’ where the aim is actually to rehabilitate the turtles and give them a better chance rather then trapping them. At The reef zoological you actually learn about the numerous animals there whilst getting a super personal experience, the staff are amazing and care so much about the work they are doing to save our wildlife. As someone who loves animals, I was horrified leaving this place and wouldn’t recommend it at all. The reef zoological was an incredible experience and I will definitely be going back!
Written 21 February 2020
Is it best to visit on a high tide?
Written 4 December 2018
Yes, we just went on a spring low and had to be careful jumping in as water was only about 1.2m deep
Written 7 August 2019
shirleywillie
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Can you cater for 40 guests for one night 27 April 2018. If so give me a quote please.
Written 9 January 2018
How do you get there by public transport
Written 11 January 2016
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