Funafuti: Atoll Nature and History

Funafuti brings together natural history and traces of the past. If you’re looking for a hotel in Funafuti, you can take these themes into account when planning your trip: the Funafuti Conservation Area represents the marine environment, while David’s Drill and the remains from the Second World War offer different historical perspectives. The wider context of Tuvalu adds national themes of culture and handicrafts to this local perspective.

Coral Reef and Marine Habitat

The boundaries of the Funafuti Conservation Area encompass about 20 percent of the total coral reef area of the Funafuti Lagoon (Te Namo). The protected area’s marine habitat includes reef, lagoon, channel, and ocean; numerous species of fish, coral, algae, and invertebrates live there. Two perspectives complement each other: the approximate size of the protected area puts it in context within the lagoon, while its habitats and species groups give a fuller picture of its natural environment. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you’re most interested in the extent of the reef area, its marine environments, or its wildlife.

History and Places in Funafuti

David’s Drill is a landmark on Funafuti. It commemorates experimental drilling by the Royal Society of London in the late 19th century, which was intended to test Charles Darwin’s theory of atoll formation. The site thus connects a specific scientific question with a historical context. If you’re interested in natural history when planning your trip, this offers a different perspective from the Conservation Area: the focus is on the testing of a theory about how atolls form.

The Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau is located at the southern end of the settlement of Funafuti.

The history of war also has a specific location. Funafuti Atoll was a major base during the Second World War, and remains from that period can be seen along the main island of Fongafale. Unlike David’s Drill, this is not about a 19th-century scientific question, but about the Second World War and its visible traces.

Tuvalu in the Wider Travel Picture

The wider destination of Tuvalu offers other themes to explore. Te ano, a ball game, is Tuvalu’s national game. Tuvaluan handicrafts include fans, mats, and baskets, as well as necklaces, wood carvings, and fishhooks. Places to buy them include the Women’s Handicraft Center near the airport, small handicraft stalls outside the airport, and the outer islands. If you’d like to visit a particular shop, check its opening hours and the availability of the items you want in advance. Also in Tuvalu, the Afelita Day Tour takes you to Afelita Island; the boat trip from Funafuti takes about ten minutes. This approximate ten-minute boat ride can help you factor the journey to Afelita Island into your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Vaiaku

Go to the main travel overview: Tuvalu.