Yasawa Islands

The Yasawa Islands are a group of islands in north-western Fiji. Approximately 30 resorts are spread through the 12 major islands in the group. Most resorts provide basic accommodation and meals with access to natural and cultural sites.

Islands

 * Nanuya Levu – "The Blue Lagoon"
 * – airport
 * Nanuya Levu – "The Blue Lagoon"
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport
 * – airport

Get in
Awesome Adventures Fiji provide the Yasawa Flyer as the primary transport to and through the Yasawa Islands from Nadi. Although local taxis can provide better value on short trips in good weather, the Flyer is your best bet for longer trips, like travelling to and from the Islands. Awesome Adventures have an office in the main street where you can book. They will help you plan your itinerary - which islands to stop off at, for how long, and where to stay. The Yasawa flyer is a good organisation who don't try to rip you off or convince you to stay at one place in preference to another.

There is also Tavewa Seabus transporting passengers from Lautoka to Yasawa Islands at 8AM daily. The trip takes 3 hours.

Get around
If you came by the "yellow boat" (Yasawa Flyer) then it will pick you up on its daily run and take you to your next island. If you have a 5, 7, 10, 12, 15 or 21-day 'Bula Pass', this is included in your fare, otherwise, it can cost between $45 and $70 to go from one island to the next. A local water taxi can provide a far cheaper means to transfer between islands, especially for shorter trips when the weather is reasonably clear. Some resorts will pick you up from your current resort for free, otherwise rates tend to range from $5-15. It always pays to ask around before you book, especially with the resort you are travelling to (that wants your business more than the one you've just paid for). Like all prices in Fiji, these charges are often negotiable, especially if you are travelling in a group (since most charges are per head, you can bargain for a group discount). One caveat: Local boats are slower and have been known to run out of fuel and never carry oars, so don't take local boats if such surprises would ruin your holiday (but if slow, reactive responses to problems is going to frustrate you, Fiji is probably not your ideal holiday location - Fiji time!)

See
The Yasawas are beautiful and unspoilt. The best two natural activities are hiking (many of the islands have high hills that provide great views of all the nearby islands) and snorkeling or diving (most of the islands have some level of reef life, although note the comments under 'Sleep' about the re-growing reefs).

Do
Snorkeling and diving are excellent. Some islands even have spectacular snorkeling right off the beach. Diving rates are cheap. You can get certification if you need it. Manta Ray Island Resort offers special snorkeling trips to see manta rays when they are passing a shallow passage between islands. Be sure to stay alert - you have to jump the boat in 5 minutes from "manta ray alarm".

Most islands have good hiking, e.g. Wayalailai where you can climb to the top to see the sun rise, or hike the length of the island and cross the spit to Waya. Guides are available, or you can go alone.

Almost all islands will have someone who can teach basket or bracelet weaving, using palm fronds and banana leaves.

There are regular kava ceremonies on many islands. Guests are invited to join. On smaller and more intimate islands it would be rude to refuse.

Go to church in one of the villages for the Sunday service. The locals are welcoming, and you will be awed by their beautiful harmonious singing.

Ask the locals to take you through their plantation and show you the bananas, papaya, mangoes, breadfruit, casava and other fruits and vegetables growing for your eating pleasure.

Various day trips are available including the cave trip (diving through a tunnel 30 cm down and 1.5 metre long to visit several underground caverns), the Blue Lagoon (not the real one, which is privately owned) and local trips such as fishing or snorkeling. You can also do day trips on the island to visit local villages and schools.

Buy
Some islands have souvenirs but these are generally cheaper to buy on the mainland (e.g. in the streets and markets of Nadi). The key souvenir you may like to buy is a local sulu for that resort. Otherwise, your money is likely to be spent on drinks (water, beer or cocktails) and snacks (chips, biscuits, etc.).

Eat
There are three levels of catering - (i) sparse plates and buffets that run out, (ii) generous serves of high carbohydrate meals and (iii) broad balanced meals with endless buffets to suit all appetites and preferences. If you like fish, please be sure to let the locals (especially the chef) know - they often think people prefer chicken. Beef is quite expensive in Fiji and you are not likely to see it very often. Vegetarianism is generally poorly understood and for strict vegetarians or people with allergies it can be quite difficult to explain that even sauces, spices and flavourings are not suitable. If you have any kind of allergy or strong dietary preference you must talk to the chef as soon as you get on the island (lunch often follows shortly afterward) and explain it in detail (e.g. "must be cooked completely separate from any meat, fish, chicken, oyster sauce, seasoning, etc."). It is often valuable to say what you can eat (e.g. "any vegetables or fruit, even raw!") to give them a sense of what they can do.

Most people are reasonably happy with the food provided at resorts, although healthier eaters may miss a balance of non-starchy veggies.

Drink
Most resorts provide drinking water at meals, but sell water ($4-$5 for a 1.5 litre bottle) at other times. Water supplies are generally from rain (off corrugated roofs), springs or imported from the mainland.

English backpackers will be happy to hear that beer (Fiji Bitter or Fiji Gold $5-6 per can) is in plentiful supply, and most resorts will also provide other forms of alcohol including cocktails ($10-18 depending on resort and cocktail). Buy supplies like alcohol or cookies in mainland if you are short on budget.

Sleep
Most islands have some kind of budget resort, where you sleep in a dorm or bure (thatched hut). Food (set menu, mostly local dishes) is usually included in the price or is a compulsory addition (no local alternatives exist). Some islands have considerably more upmarket hotels.

Accommodation varies significantly in quality, from vary sparse rooms with open through to comfortable, Western-style private rooms with a toilet, hot shower and secure doors and windows (Nalova Bay). If the bures are not reasonably airtight then a good mosquito net is a real necessity, although a top sheet can also help to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Most beds are not grungy, but do vary from vary soft through to firm.

Sleep is also affected by the nightlife of the resort. Most resorts have a main bure with a bar and some form of night activity (dancing, international night, singing, etc.) Usually this concludes at a reasonable hour and people continue to talk quietly and drink until they go to bed. At some locations, a much more festive spirit is felt, and if the dorm/bures are anywhere near the main bure, sleeping may prove difficult.

Cold showers are the norm, which is fine during the days (usually quite warm), but salt water or mixed salt/fresh water showers are not uncommon. Drinking water is a somewhat scarce resource on the islands, but is usually provided free at meals. Some resorts have unlimited water, others require you to buy bottled water outside of meal times (typically US$4-5 a 1.5L bottle).

The final factor in deciding where to stay is the surroundings and activities, which is somewhat subjective. Up until about five years ago, many areas in Fiji dynamited their coral to sell to aquariums, so there are large patches of dead coral with an occasional patch of life. However, there are an increasing number of marine sanctuaries and even coral farms that are bringing the coral (and accompanying sea life) back. Some places have a great variety of fish up to 1 m in length and some even have sharks and turtles. On the whole, however, Fiji reef life is not yet up to the standard seen in other tropical areas, especially the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Awesome Adventures Fiji, provides backpacker accommodation packages throughout the islands. Packages range from 3-12 days and include accommodation, vessel transfers, meals, and activities. Alternatively, the "Bula Combo Pass" provides an easy, hassle free way to pay for accommodation, as many properties do not accept credit cards or travellers cheques, only cash.

Also consider using Airbnb, as several homestay listings are also listed there, with reviews and photos which can give you an idea of what to expect. Hosts listed under "Superhost" status are usually a good option, although they will clearly state that their island accommodation is not a resort.

Go next

 * Mamanuca Islands - The Mamanuca Islands just off the coast from Denarau offer beautiful crystal clear waters, palm fringed long sandy beaches and abundant coral reefs. There are islands, villages, resorts to visit, and snorkelling and swimming. South Sea Cruises have a range of day cruises to choose from. A popular choice for travelers is the Seaspray Sailing Adventure - an all-inclusive day, sailing the Mamanucas on an 83-foot (25-m) schooner.