Guadalcanal, where the country's capital Honiara is located, is the largest island in the Solomons group. Honiara is the Solomons melting pot, where people from all over the country come to work, take their holidays, or just to shop.

The north coast is the hub of the nation. In contrast, the southern coast is much less accessible, and life moves slowly always dependant on the weather giving rise to its name "The Weather Coast". The main artistic products created in Guadalcanal are bukaware baskets, trays, bamboo panpipes, and lime containers.

Historically, it is believed that the island was first occupied 6,000 years ago, but European discovery was not until 1568 when the crew of a Spanish skiff first sighted Guadalcanal. In August 1942, the Americans landed on the island and the Guadalcanal Campaign was pivotal to the course of the war in the South Pacific.

East of the capital you will find Betikama High School, renowned for it's wonderful selection of wood carvings, handicrafts and WWII relics. Red Beach and Tetere Bay are scenes of the successful landing by the US Marines in 1942, the Oil Palm plantations and local villages. The road west takes you along the coast with stops to view the Japanese Memorial at Poha River, (Vilu Village Museum), Bonegi Beach, (a giant clam farm) and coconut plantations. Along the way pass Cape Esperance where 13,000 Japanese soldiers were evacuated.