According to medicinelearners, Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Islands) is a Polynesian archipelago in the Pacific Ocean (Oceania) consisting of 9 atolls (approximately 113 islands). The capital of Tuvalu is Funafuti. A number of major cities in Tuvalu are: Lolua, Asau, Tonga and Tanrake.
Tuvalu is a very sparsely populated archipelago and is rarely visited by tourists. According to localcollegeexplorer, the archipelago is only just above sea level and could therefore disappear under water in the future. The government of Tuvalu is already working to find a new destination for the current residents. The islands offer white sand beaches, palm trees, a few hotels and plenty of sunshine. The water is clear blue and excellent for diving and snorkeling because of the many coral reefs. You can also take beautiful walks and enjoy the many bird species. In addition, Tuvalu is known for the domain extension.tv. The rights to this were sold for a large amount.
Where is Tuvalu located?
Travel information of Tuvalu
Official name: Tuvalu
Continent: Oceania
Area: 26 km²
Capital: Funafuti
Country code: TV, TUV
Population: 11,342 inhabitants (2020)
Form of government: Parliamentary monarchy
Highest point: 5 m
Distance (Amsterdam – Funafuti): 15,114 km
Flight time: unknown
Travel advice
Current status: Attention, safety risks.
Current color code: Yellow.
Travel offer
At the moment there are no travel organizations that offer travel to Tuvalu.
Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, walking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Tuvalu?
Weather and climate
Tuvalu has a tropical climate. Temperatures are around 28 degrees all year round.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Tuvalu can be found on our extensive weather page.
Detailed information about the climate of Tuvalu can be found at Climate info.
Best time
January, February and March are the best months to travel to Tuvalu. This avoids the prolonged rainy season.
Language
Tuvaluan and English are the official languages in Tuvalu.
Travel documents
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months upon arrival in Tuvalu.
A visa is not necessary if you stay in Tuvalu for less than 1 month.
Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in New Zealand (also for Tuvalu):
netherlandsworldwide.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.
Vaccination (inoculation)
Before visiting Tuvalu it is advisable to get one or more vaccinations.
For extensive vaccination advice and to make a vaccination appointment at home, please visit Thuisvaccinatie.nl. You can also see here whether your health insurance reimburses the vaccination(s).
Money and Currency
In Tuvalu, payment is made with the Australian dollar (AUD).
The current position of this currency (currency, currency) can be found on our exchange rate page.
There are no ATMs in Tuvalu.
Tipping
In Tuvalu it is not customary to tip.
Time difference
During our summer time it is 10 hours later in Tuvalu.
During our winter time it is 11 hours later in Tuvalu.
Tuvalu has no difference in winter time and summer time.
The local time, date and time zone for Tuvalu can be found on our time difference page.
Traffic
In Tuvalu you must drive on the left.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Tuvalu. However, you must first show the Dutch driving license to the police.
Electricity
In Tuvalu you need a travel plug.
More information about common plugs and sockets in Tuvalu can be found on our electricity page.
Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 911
– Fire: 911
– Ambulance: 911
Tap water
It is not recommended to drink water from the tap.
If you are unable to buy bottled water, use a water purifier to purify the water or boil the water for 5 minutes. After this you can safely use it as drinking water and for things like brushing teeth, cleaning lenses and washing vegetables and / or fruit. More information about drinking water and/or the purchase of water purification products can be found on our drinking water page.
News and newspapers
The latest news related to Tuvalu can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from Tuvalu can be found on Abyznewslinks.
Internet
Websites from Tuvalu end in.tv.
Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Tuvalu is 00688 or +688.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from Tuvalu? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos of Tuvalu.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from Tuvalu.
Reviews and travel experiences
On TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotel), restaurants and destinations in Tuvalu, supplemented with photos, videos and points of interest.
Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Tuvalu?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Tuvalu. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.
Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Tuvalu can be found on Protected Planet.
Tuvalu is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Tuvalu? On the IATA website you will find an overview with the maximum quantities of cigarettes, alcohol and money, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.
Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant laws and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Tuvalu.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 20.
– Alcohol and traffic: Maximum alcohol allowed is 0.
– Tobacco: Unknown
– Smoking ban: No
– Homosexuality: Not allowed for men (imprisonment more than 10 years), allowed for women.
Did you know…
…Tuvalu was called the Ellice Islands until October 1, 1978?
…Tuvalu sold the Internet top-level domain.tv in 2000 for $50 million?
…The population of Tuvalu has doubled since 1980 to 11,000?
…Foppe de Haan was football coach of Tuvalu in 2011?
