Why Honeymoon in Marovo Lagoon
The reefs are the headline. The lagoon's passes to the open ocean bring in nutrient-rich water and big fish, while inside the reef the coral gardens are shallow enough for easy snorkeling.
The scenery is the second reason. Seen from a small plane on approach to Seghe, the lagoon is a patchwork of greens and blues around dark volcanic peaks. On the water you weave between islets fringed with mangroves and white sand.
The third reason is that you will feel like guests rather than customers. Lodges are often family affairs, staff are from nearby villages and visits to carving communities happen at a human scale.
What you trade for all this is convenience. Electricity may come from solar panels or a generator, hot water is not guaranteed and menus depend on what the boats and gardens brought in. Pack patience along with sunscreen.
When to Go
Marovo is warm all year, with daytime temperatures around 30°C (mid 80s °F) and humid nights. Rain falls in every month, usually in short heavy showers.
The best months are May through September. Southeasterly trade winds bring the coolest and generally driest weather, seas inside the lagoon are often calm and underwater visibility tends to be good. June through August is the most comfortable stretch.
October and November are a good shoulder, with warm water and fewer visitors, though the weather becomes less predictable as the season turns.
December through April is the wet season, with northwesterly winds, more frequent squalls and a chance of tropical cyclones. Some lodges stay open and rates may be lower, but boat trips can be canceled and flights to Seghe delayed by weather.
Whatever the month, keep a buffer day in Honiara before your international flight. Small domestic flights in the Solomons are rescheduled often.
Where to Stay
Lodging in Marovo falls into two broad groups and both can make for a lovely honeymoon.
The first is the dive resort. Uepi Island Resort, on an island near the lagoon's eastern edge, is the best-known place to stay in Marovo. It is built around diving and snorkeling, with a house reef near the jetty, spread-out bungalows and meals taken together. It suits couples who want reliable boats, guides and gear.
The second is the village-run ecolodge. Scattered around the lagoon are small lodges owned by local families, often with a few leaf-roofed bungalows over or beside the water. They are simpler, with shared meals, basic bathrooms and limited power. They also put your money directly into the community.
Many couples split their nights: a few at a resort for diving and comfort, then two or three at a village lodge for a closer look at daily life. Book everything in advance. Lodges coordinate airport pickups and need to know your Seghe flight.
Romantic Things to Do
Start with the water. Snorkel off your lodge's jetty at high tide, when clear water floods over the reef flat, then take a boat out to an outer passage where the reef wall drops away and schools of fish ride the current.
If you dive, Marovo is a destination in itself. Channels, caverns and walls at the lagoon's edges suit experienced divers, while calmer inner reefs are fine for newer ones. Lodges can arrange training dives.
Paddle together. Kayaking between islets at sunrise or sunset is the quietest way to see the lagoon, with mangroves on one side and volcanic hills behind.
Visit a carving village. Marovo's carvers are known across the country. Watching them shape ebony or kerosene wood, then buying a piece directly, makes a meaningful souvenir.
Ask about a picnic on an uninhabited island. Your lodge can arrange a drop-off with a cooler and a promise to come back later.
Getting There and Around
Reaching Marovo takes three steps. First, fly from the US to Brisbane, usually nonstop from Los Angeles or San Francisco, or reach Nadi in Fiji on Fiji Airways. Entry and transit rules, including for connecting through Australia, depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government websites before you book.
Second, fly to Honiara, about three hours from Brisbane. Spend a night there if your arrival is late in the day or if the domestic schedule demands it.
Third, take a Solomon Airlines flight from Honiara to Seghe. Planes are small, so baggage limits are tight; ask your lodge or the airline about allowances for dive gear before you pack. Some flights stop at Munda or Gizo along the way.
At Seghe, your lodge collects you by motorboat. Depending on where you stay, the ride takes anywhere from twenty minutes to over an hour across open lagoon water, so keep a light rain jacket and a dry bag handy.
There are no roads to speak of inside the lagoon. Everything happens by boat or kayak.
Food and Drink
Meals in Marovo come from the lagoon and village gardens. Expect fresh reef fish and tuna, often grilled or cooked in coconut milk, along with root crops like taro, sweet potato and cassava, plus greens such as slippery cabbage. Fruit is abundant in season, including papaya, pineapple and bananas.
Most lodges serve meals as part of the stay, often at a shared table. Ask if your hosts can arrange an earth oven feast, where food is wrapped in leaves and baked over hot stones, especially for a special night.
Imported goods are limited and prices are high for anything shipped in. Lodges usually stock beer and soft drinks, sometimes wine, but bring any favorite spirits or snacks from Honiara.
Drink bottled or filtered water unless your lodge says its tank water is treated. Fresh drinking coconuts are everywhere and better for you than anything in a can.
Honeymoon Tips
- Take malaria prevention. The State Department recommends it for all visitors to the Solomons, even on short stays. Pack repellent and sleep under the nets provided.
- Carry cash. There are no ATMs in the lagoon, so bring enough Solomon dollars from Honiara for carvings, custom fees and tips.
- Respect custom ownership. Every reef and beach belongs to someone. Let your lodge arrange visits and do not take shells or coral.
- Dress modestly in villages. Women should cover their thighs and swimwear should stay at the lodge or on the boat.
- Dive conservatively. The country's only recompression chamber is in Honiara and is run by volunteers, so carry dive accident insurance.
- Bring a headlamp, a power bank and downloaded entertainment. Power and internet are limited.
- Watch for unexploded WWII ordnance on land and under water. Never touch old metal objects.