Transportation in Funafuti

Funafuti is small enough that your feet and the island's shared minivans do most of the work. The minivans run a loose loop along the main road from the airport through the government offices and on to the northern end of Fongafale islet, flag one down anywhere along the coastal road. Rides are cheap and you'll rarely wait more than a few minutes. Bicycles are the other staple: guesthouses rent them for a token sum and the flat coral runway makes pedalling effortless. First-timers should know there's no formal bus station or timetable, just wave when you see a van with locals already aboard. Avoid the temptation to hire a private car at the airport; it's a splurge that buys you no real speed on an island barely 12 km long. Instead, walk the 200 m to the main road and catch the first shared van heading south; you'll pay a fraction of the private rate and get a free island orientation from the driver. The airport arrival hall empties straight onto the coral runway. Turn left for the coastal road and you'll hit the minivan circuit within minutes.