Solomon Islands: Santa Isabel Black-faced Pitta Tour 2026

Destination: Santa Isabel
Duration: 6 Nights, 7 Days

Description:
Santa Isabel is the 3rd largest island in the Solomons Islands archipelago. The Pacific Ocean lies to its north while Guadalcanal and the capital Honiara, lie to the south.

It was the first island in the Solomons to be contacted by Europeans when in 1568 it was charted by Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana. Soon lots of Spanish ships were visiting the island and relationships which were originally cordial became more tense as the visiting ships needed food and freshwater. A small Spanish settlement was set up but after finding no gold and suffering attacks and sickness it was moved to Guadalcanal. 

Santa Isabel suffered from blackbirding, the often brutal recruitment of labourers for the sugar plantations in Queensland and Fiji in the 19th century and in 1885 became a German protectorate. In 1900 all the North Solomon Islands with the exception of Bougainville were transferred to the British. 

During world war 2 there was a Japanese seaplane base at Rekata on the north east coast which was heavily bombed by the Americans and evacuated in 1043.

With Solomon Island independence in 1978 it became part of Isabel province with Buala as its administrative centre.

Despite beautiful beaches and coral reefs and some great surfing on the north coast it is still underdeveloped for tourism. The Black-faced Pitta found in the central mountains is a great draw for birdwatchers.

This tour starts and ends in Honiara, Solomon Islands.