Cruises to Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands

Guadalcanal (Isatabu) is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the formerly British and now independent Solomon Islands (Bougainville Island, which is far larger, was part of German New Guinea, administered by Australia from 1914 to 1975, and part of Papua New Guinea since that country's independence), it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña in 1568. The name comes from Guadalcanal, a village in the province of Seville, in Andalusia, Spain, birthplace of Pedro de Ortega Valencia, a member of Mendaña's expedition.During 1942-43 it was the scene of bitter fighting between Japanese and American troops; the American forces were ultimately victorious.At the end of the war, Honiara, on the north coast of Guadalcanal, became the new capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. Guadalcanal is mainly covered in tropical rainforest and jungle, and it has a mountainous interior with an active volcano, Mount Popomanaseu. Guadalcanal is known as a top diving spot, with clear water and a rich array of wildlife, as well as shipwrecks to explore. The island is also a wildlife and bird watcher's paradise, where over 200 species of birds can be seen. Many tourists also come to Guadalcanal to visit World War II battle sites and museums and take in the culture of the island at traditional performances.