Formerly known as theEllice Islands,Tuvaluis aPolynesianisland nationlocated in the Pacific Ocean, midway betweenHawaiiand Australia.Its 9 islands comprise small, sparsely populated atolls and reef islands with palm-fringed beaches and WWII sites.
The island's heartbeat,Funafuti,offers calm waters for diving and snorkeling among sea turtles and tropical fish.The main island ofFunafutiis the focus of travellers, since the only airport in Tuvalu is theFunafuti International Airportand the island has hotel facilities.TheFunafuti Conservation Areaconsists of 12.74 square miles (33.00 square kilometres) of ocean, reef, lagoon, channel and six uninhabited islets.
The outer atolls can be visited on the two passenger-cargo ships,Nivaga IIandManú Folau, which provide round-trip visits to the outer islands every three or four weeks. There is guesthouse accommodation on many of the outer islands.