Bula (Hello in Fiji)! You’ve heard plenty of hype to lure you to the Fijian Islands, but is it worth the trip?
It’s a long journey, but your toes sink into warm, soft sand, and the water is so clear that you don’t need your snorkel in the shallows. Is it worth it? I’ll let you decide, but I’ll always be thinking of ways to return.
Endless beaches stretch with few footprints. Fiji boasts the world’s third-largest barrier reef, the Great Sea Reef, along with the Rainbow Reef and Great Astrolabe Reef.
The Fijian people are some of the most welcoming I’ve ever met. One moment, I’m walking along the beach, and the next, I’m sharing dinner with a local family.
Imagine looking up to see three small children holding out their hands with smiles as big as a drua (double-hulled canoe) on their faces while you’re enjoying a sunset walk along the beach. Hand in hand, you walk to a house just off the shoreline where a family sits around a mat spread out on the sand.
Cups and plates are picked up, and there’s some shuffling to make space for us at their dinner table. That is, we are sitting on the ibe ni kana, which means a mat for eating. Extra plates are brought out and filled with delicious food — potatoes and root vegetables with fish — that was sure to be still swimming that morning.
We enjoy a fun conversation in between bites of this unexpected meal, with laughter at the attempt to further understand each other’s cultures. These are the people you’ll want to meet.
Getting There Beyond the Flight
After visiting many of the islands and “mainlands,” I would definitely take this trip again, even though I usually visit a location only once. Once my feet touched down at Nadi International Airport, I grabbed my one bag.
You heard that right—this trip involves a lot of moving around, so pack light. Then, I put on a lei infused with aromas I feel are found only in Fiji, though perhaps I was already becoming immersed.
A tekieki (flower) in the appropriate ear—right for available, and left for in a relationship. With flowers adorning me, I headed to one of several accommodations on the “mainland.”
I spent the first night shaking off the real world and slipping into the Sega na leqa (no worries, no problems) of Fijian culture.
Yadra (good morning). It’s time to head to Denarau for the ferry to the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. South Sea Cruises is the ferry I took to reach the islands.
There are many options to hop on and off the ferry, allowing you to experience the different islands and drink in all the unique aspects of each.
Mamanuca Islands
These islands are perfect for movie buffs. “Castaway” was filmed on Monoriki Island, and The Survivor Series has a seasonal filming set on Mana Island.
Qalito Island features the Castaway Resort, which is ideal for families with a floating playground and is also where “Wilson” lives. I did it all, and my favorite was the small island of Monoriki.
Uninhabited, it offers a short trek to the top for a view of nothing but water as far as I could see—the “spot” that Tom Hanks stood on and looked for a way off this island. This was the first time I had seen small blue starfish in the shallows around the island.
Yasawa Islands
This is the place for Sega na leqa—only boutique resorts, no branded resorts here. You won’t even find a dock for the ferry to drop you off.
A runabout picked me up from the ferry and transferred me to shore. What does that look like? The runabout pulls up to the ferry and tosses a line to tie up.
Then your luggage is handed down to the runabout; afterward, you step from the height of the ferry across crystal-clear waters into the transfer that will take you to your stay.
Island Hopping and My Reasons for Wanting to Hop In
- Is trekking at the top of your list? Waya Island is ideal for both short and long treks. A brief trek to the village along a paved road was a nice bonus for the feet and lungs. The long trek, while less accommodating for the feet and lungs, focused on the stunning scenery and provided an opportunity to connect with our guide.
- Naukacuvu Island is Paradise Cove, and you have to see it to believe it. We took a day trip to Manta Ray Alley to swim with these majestic creatures. I lost myself in the gentle flow of water as the Manta Rays swam and did flips in front of us.
- Naviti Island is ideal for travelers who prefer not to move around too much. Naviti offers everything you come to Fiji for, and you can take day trips to most of the other islands. I would fly back to visit the village of Somosomo. This is not a tourist attraction; it is a village where, if you’re fortunate enough to inquire within the village, you could enjoy dinner and an authentic Kava ceremony—sitting in a circle on a mat made from local trees and experiencing how dinner is served and eaten. It’s much different from Western ways, but we were getting to know each other over food rich in aromas and flavors to match.
- Nanuya Levu Island (Turtle Island) transports you back to the 1980s Blue Lagoon set. See if you can find the spot where Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins first landed. I was happy to keep my feet in the water and my face in the sun.
- Nanuya Lailai Island is a fantastic place to enjoy the birdsong while waiting for the tides to change. My sweet tooth led us to trek to the other side of the island to Lo’s Tea House. The trek is definitely worth it for the fresh donuts with your choice of toppings, and the view overlooks the Pacific Ocean with the swell slapping the beach below your feet.
- Nacula Island boasts some of the most enticing waters around. I dove right in, floating and snorkeling until dusk, and was not happy to get out. I followed Nemo and his friends around until a turtle appeared (squirrel), and I might have spotted a blacktip shark, unless that keeps you from swimming. From Nacula, it’s easy to take a day trip to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, which feature a swimming hole inside. Pack your mask to sneak a peek at the eels, or you can float on a refrigerator door (can’t make this up) around the cave.
Add-On Trips Worth Your Time
You’ll want to dip your head in the water at Rainbow Reef, where you can snorkel and discover why it’s called Rainbow. I was in search of soft corals, so I spent my time looking under the ledges for the corals that prefer the shade.
They are there waving in the water at you. Then, if you still have your mask on and crave more underwater adventure, head to Great Astrolabe Reef on a calm day to see the ledge that appears to dive endlessly.
The pass showcases the most stunning colors of corals and a great variety of marine life. I saw the biggest clamshell I’ve ever seen, and do you ever wonder what it would be like to snorkel and encounter a pod of whales? It happened, right there.
Need a hand planning your trip? Here are the sites and services we rely on most, from booking tools to travel products we love.
Links to Make Your Trip Planning Easy
- Useful Words and Phrases
- Culture of Fiji
- My experience – @travelindigenous – Aug 18, 2024 to Nov 20, 2024
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Author Bio: Michelle is a digital nomad, travel writer, and travel planner with a passion for exploring the world. A lifelong lover of travel, she has embraced a remarkable, location-independent lifestyle living aboard a sailboat.
As a storyteller, Michelle brings each destination to life in a way that makes readers want to pack their bags and go. She prioritizes meaningful encounters with local communities and embraces slow, intentional travel to uncover hidden gems. Her fresh perspective on travel writing aims to inspire others to embark on their own adventures.
michelleshultz.com
@travelindigenous
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