Transportation in Tuvalu

Tuvalu's transport is refreshingly simple: a single paved ring road on Funafuti Atoll is the only real "network," served by shared minivans and motorbikes that locals flag down. There is no formal bus company, no ride-hailing app, and no rail, just hop on whatever passes and pay the driver a coin or two; it's cheaper than bottled water. For anything beyond the main islet, small fiberglass outboard boats shuttle to the eight outer islands on an informal, weather-dependent timetable, moderate cost. But the only way to see the country. First-timers should know the entire capital "town" is walkable in twenty minutes. Anything with four wheels is a luxury. Bring exact change for the vans and agree on the boat fare before you board, there's no ticket office at the wharf. Taxis exist but are a splurge. Most visitors only use them for the five-minute hop from Funafuti International Airport to the guesthouse strip. Skip the lone "airport transfer" tout who meets every flight. The regular vans wait just outside the gate and cost a fraction of the price.