fiji travel hotel guide

Yasawa Islands Travel Guide

he Yasawa Islands is a chain of 16 gorgeous sun drenched and rather barren volcanic islands with a scattering of smaller islands within its lagoons. The islands are renowned for their gorgeous beaches, tranquil lagoons, backpacker resorts and a handful of exclusive resorts and luxury overnight cruises. This is Fiji's tourism at its best - but its popularity in recent years has seen a gradual shift from a backpackers undiscovered paradise to a commercial well trodden tourist route with inflated prices. Nevertheless, the stunning coastal beauty remains and there are enough small hideaways to keep crowds to a minimum.

Yasawa Islands Accommodation


 The closest of the Yasawa Islands lies about 40km north west from Nadi and the islands extend almost 90km in a north easterly line. The 16 main islands can roughly be divided into four groups:


Kuata & Waya Island
These are the closest islands to Nadi. Scenically, they are the most spectacular with high rocky peaks and sheer cliffs dropping into deep bays. There are some lovely beaches with budget resorts, particularly the sand spit that joins Waya and Wayasewa islands which can be traversed at low tide. Both islands have excellent walking tracks making this the choice for explorers. Uninhabited Kuata Island has a busy backpackers resort and offers excellent snorkelling and diving.


Kuata Island is an uninhabited island owned by the people from Namara Village on neighbouring Wayasewa Island. The island has mostly a rugged and wild coastline except for a protected picturesque beach on Likunivisawa Point facing the spectacular cliffs of neighbouring Wayasewa Island. In 2001, the villagers from Namara Village set up a community tourism project: Kuata Island Nature Resort offering 12 thatch bures, three modern family bungalows and two large dormitories There are kayaks and snorkelling equipment for guest use and the management rotates on a yearly basis to give every member of the community a chance to run and learn about business management. The beach offers fine white sand with excellent snorkelling offshore and superb diving off the Kuata Wall on the west coast of the island (snorkelling trips here are also arranged). However, for the very best snorkelling in the region, guests are taken on a 30-minute boat ride to tiny white rock which sits off the east coast. Here you'll find fine coral heads, lots of marine life and the chance to spot reef sharks! Kuata has several fascinating rocks with caves and overhangs making it a good island to explore. there are several walking tracks to the 171 metre summit.

Wayasewa Island is dominated by the 349 metre rocky peak that towers above Old Namara Village on the south coast. Adjacent to the village is Wayalailai Eco Haven Resort. A steep track winds its way up the hill, passing the Wobbly Rock, a huge bolder that seems to balance precariously on top of other rocky boulders, and winding its way around the peak. The last 50 metres ascent is quite steep, but once on the summit, there are unbelievable views looking across the bay to Kuata Village and a sweeping panorama looking north to Waya Island. From the summit, a rough track leads through the middle of Wayasewa to the north side of the island for more stunning coastal views. Both the east and west coast of Wayasewa is steep and rocky. The two fishing villages on the island are on the protected north west coast. Naboro is the largest and boasts one of only two secondary schools in the group - with a large boarding house. Right next door to the village is Bonini Point, a sand spit that extends 80 metres across the shallow lagoon to Waya island. At low tide you can walk ankle deep across the spit whilst waves wash up on either side. As high tide approaches, the conflicting waves meet head on and make a spell binding vision.

On the Waya Island side of the sand spit is Twin Bay Resort, one of the most spectacular beach settings in Fiji and one of the best backpacker resorts in the Yasawas. The resort has just a handful of traditional thatch bures and a small 6-bed dormitory for its guests making it ideal for couples or simply those looking for a peaceful retreat. Located at the very southern tip of Waya, there's a sand bank exposed at low tide which connects to Wayalailai island at the village of Naboro and a boarding school. The hills around here make great viewpoints at sunset and sunrise.


From Twin Bay Resort, a walking track leads through cassava plantations to a sunset lookout which offers a spectacular view looking down at the sand spit as well as sweeping views of stunning Yalobi Bay and of the sun setting over Loto Point. Set on a secluded beach a short walk around the bay from Yalobi Village is the quiet Bayside Resort. With just two thatch bungalows, this is a lovely retreat with amazing views across the bay to the mountains and village of Yalobi. A walking track leads along both the east and west coast of the island offering fantastic views of the mountains, its steep ridges, deep bays and out over the string of Yasawa islands to the north and south. Head west with a local guide if you want to scale Batiareba, the highest point in the Yasawas at 510 metres. The gentler east coast track follows the rolling hills overlooking the coastline with spectacular views of Natewa Village, Wayalevu Village.


Naviti Island
Naviti is the largest of the Yasawa Islands and is located across a 10km wide windy passage from Waya Island. The hilly island is covered in sparse forest with grassy ridges in many places. Naviti is also the most populated island in the group with half a dozen small fishing villages. At the southern tip of Naviti is a cluster of five small islands which offer tranquil lagoons and chance to swim with Manta Rays between May and October. There are several lovely resorts on white sandy beaches here.

Nanuya Balavu & Drawaqa
One of the great highlights of the Yasawas is swimming with the Manta Rays between Nanuya Balavu and Drawaqa Island. These small hilly islands at the southern tip of Naviti Island offer the ideal snorkelling environment and resting place for the Manta Rays - a warm shallow lagoon protected from the winds but fed by rich currents. The Manta Rays are here in numbers between May and October and on most days you'll be able to swim peacefully with them. From December on the Rays disappear to deeper waters and are seldom seem again until May although there are plenty of other colourful reef fish to keep you busy. You can stay on Nanuya Balavu Island at the well organized Manta Ray Resort (European management). This is an extremely efficient and well organized backpackers set up with two large dormitories each segregated into 4-bed cubicles for a little more privacy. There are eight jungle huts for couples scattered around the light bush that has been retained. All guests share a modern bathroom block boasting environmentally rotary loos and with water being recycled to feed the vegetable gardens. Water is a scarcity in the Yasawas and without any wells for fresh water, the resort has invested in a de-salinator which draws water from the sea and turns it into paletable drinking water. This is a great activity centre with experienced PADI scuba diving, game fishing boats and good equipment, lots of sea kayaks, wake boarding, tubing and occasional reef surfing best off the west tip during the summer months of November to April (surfers must bring their own boards). The Manta Ray lagoon is also the base for the Wanna Taki Cruise which is basically a rather claustrophobic overnight accommodation - the 27 metre boat cruises around the nearby islands but doesn't go very far.

Naviti Island
Naviti Island is the largest of the yasawa islands. About 10-minutes boat ride from the Manta Rays up the west coast is the delightful Botaira Beach Resort. This is one of the nicest mid range resorts in Fiji boasting a gorgeous white sandy beach and swimming lagoon, spacious traditional beach bures and lovely Fijian hosts. the snorkelling offshore is excellent, there are plenty of sea kayaks for guest use to explore the beaches either side of the bay, and if you can break away from the relaxing atmosphere of the beach there is a stunning hike in the hills overlooking the resort. The track is best walked in the early morning or late evening as there are no trees and shade from the sun. The trail follows the grassy ridge of the spine of Naviti with sweeping coastal views either side of the island. The track leads all the way to the southern point of the island from where there are breathtaking views looking down on the small offshore islands surrounding Manta Ray lagoon. For the more adventurous, it is possible to walk the entire length of the island following the local tracks that connect the small fishing villages.

On the north western tip of the island, about a 40-minute boat ride to the Manta Rays, is a large bay with three adjacent budget beach resorts. The beach is picturesque being backed by steep hills and curving in an enviable crescent for almost a mile. However, the lagoon offshore is not good for swimming or snorkelling. However, a ten minute walk over the hill to the next bay leads to a great swimming beach with few people and several good snorkelling spots. There's also a track leading to the summit of the bays point which is a great spot for sunsets. Of the three resorts, each has its own character. Pick of the bunch is White Sandy Beach Resort which offers just three A-frame bungalows and a lovely traditional thatch dormitory with 12 beds. There's also a lovely beachside restaurant with outdoor dining and its the closest resort to Honeymoon Beach over the hill. The local hosts provide scuba diving for PADI certified divers only (no instruction). Next door is the rambling Korovou Eco Tour Resort, one of the largest backpacker resorts in the Yasawas and the only one with a swimming pool. The ugly concrete walkways and sea wall may discredit the Eco Tour labelling in its name, and with a huge dormitory and lively party style atmosphere this is more of a budget resort than one for discerning eco travellers. At the far end of the bay is Coconut Bay Resort which offers rather cramped duplex bungalows, each with tiny private bathrooms (no sink) and a single dormitory. A steep track leads from near Coconut Bay into the lightly forested hills and connects to Gunu Village on the east side of the island. All resorts offer guided visits to Gunu by boat, as well as snorkelling trips to Manta Ray Lagoon provided a minimum of 6 guests go.


Northern Yasawa Islands
About 10km north of Naviti is another cluster of small islands where the original Yasawa islands tourism began. Two backpackers set up on freehold Tavewa Island in the 1980s at about the same time the exclusive Turtle Island Resort opened its door on the adjacent island. Apart from Blue Lagoon Cruises which uses the beach front on the third small island in this cluster as a day destination, there was virtually no other tourism in this group until the late 1990s. That's when backpacking sky rocketed and there are now more than 20 budget beach resorts here. This is a great place to relax on the gorgeous beaches, swim in protected lagoons, meet fellow travellers or do a little fishing or scuba diving. But expect to see lots of travellers up this way - the Yasawas have been discovered.

The cluster of small hilly volcanic islands with Tavewa at its heart are the most popular tourist destination in Fiji amongst backpackers. A few of the backpacker resorts have redefined themselves as more upmarket budget style resorts for couples and there are several small exclusive resorts in the region. This is Fiji's most rapidly growing tourism hot spot.

The southern most island of this cluster is Yaqeta which boats a new Italian managed resort on a rocky outcrop overlooking the protected turquoise lagoon and Matacawalevu island. Matacawalevu is a hilly island with sparse forest covering its upper hills and coconut palms covering the flatter regions around the coast. There are two fishing villages here; the picturesque Catholic village of Vuake is perched between a long sandy beach, a hill and a mangrove bay and can be visited on a guided walking tour from Long Beach Resort. This idyllic resort, as its name suggests, lies at the point on a sweeping stretch of white sandy beach that extends for over a mile. There are several other small beach resorts popping up along the beach front, but none yet have the facilities and organisation offered by Long Beach Resort, and its location, in the shallow lagoon opposite Goat Island, in unsurpassed. Goat Island can be climbed for stunning sunsets and there is good snorkelling off its west coast.


Almost touching Nanuya Island is its slightly smaller sister, Nanuya Lailai Island. This island is divided into two halves: the southern half is owned by Blue Lagoon Cruises and being territorial of their beautiful sandy beach (one of the most picturesque ion the region) they exclude any outside guests from walking on the sand. They even try to discourage tourists from swimming in the blue lagoon offshore but have no powers to enforce it. The snorkelling here is excellent and the fish, which are fed by visitors from the Blue Lagoon Cruise when it calls in every second day, are extremely friendly! Extending from the Blue Lagoon beach is another private property which has been developed into a mid market resort, Nanuya Island Resort. This is a much more down to earth place than its neighbour and offers spacious wooden bungalows, a large restaurant and lots of activities including scuba diving and kayaking. A 30-minute walk to the other side of the island (the more exposed east coast where the seas are often quite rough) leads to a small settlement where four families have set up small budget accommodation. The largest of these is Sunrise Beach Resort which is often full and provides basic wooden bungalows with shared bathrooms and two large dormitories in a rather cramped setting. This resort offers excellent organisation and frequent trips to the Sawa-i-Lau caves. Guests staying at the other resorts are welcome to join in - the resort owners here are all from the same family and get on well. The pick of the four resorts is the quiet Gold Coast Resort, more suited to couples and set beyond a rocky point that divides it from the other resorts enabling more privacy. Kim's offers delightful bures with hanging beds and sand floors all et up on the hillside overlooking the beach. The restaurant, tea house and communal bathroom are set beachside. Guests staying at all resorts can wander over the hill to the calmer west coast where there's a public access stretch of beach between Blue Lagoon beach and Nanuya island Resort.


Offering the third boundary of the protected Tavewa lagoon is the freehold island of Tavewa. The beaches here are not as fine as on either Nanuya or neighbouring Nacula, but being freehold, the island has developed without the commercial restriction imposed by traditional Fijian values. The three backpacker accommodations along the protected east coast have been here since the 1980s and the owners are dab hands at the tourism business. Otto & Fanny's is the pick of the bunch on Tavewa and offers private thatch bures and two dormitories as well as a camping ground. The hilly interior has few trees, and several walking tracks traverse the long grassy hills offering great views of the surrounding islands at both sunrise and sunset. Snorkelling is good off the north and south point of Tavewa and there are tea houses, massage huts and a water sport activity centre with scuba diving courses along the beach front.


Off the eat tip of Tavewa Island is Nacula Island. At ten kilometres long, Nacula is the third largest island in the Yasawas and there are several high peaks over 200 metres. The southern coast has some excellent walking tracks meandering over its grassy hills and leading down to several remote beaches. On the southern point near the village of Naisisili are three beach resorts owned and operated by the traditional landowners. The best run of these is Safe Landing Resort which fronts a gorgeous white sandy beach protected either side by rocky outcrops. One of these has an ancient burial site on its point with views overlooking the lagoon to Nanuya Lailai and Tavewa Island! The lagoon in front of the resort is a delightful turquoise and great for swimming - snorkelling is superb a few hundred metres offshore along one of the walls. Around the western rocky point from Safe Landing are two adjacent beach resorts: Melbravo is the largest with bungalows, bures and dormitories, although a large portion of the beach front is taken up by the local village grave yard and several of the bures face it. Next door is the more appealing Nabua Lodge which has traditional thatch bures for couples and a large dormitory but as yet few organised activities. If sitting on the beach and exploring the coastline is enough for you, then this is a good place to experience genuine Fijian hospitality.

On the south east coast of Nacula Island, the point closest to Tavewa, is the delightful setting of Oarsman's Bay Resort. Apart from the fine white sand backed by palm trees and the turquoise swimming lagoon, the accommodation and organisation at Oarsmans is a little more upmarket from the backpacker resorts. And so too has the price creeped up out of the range of backpackers with the clientele now more likely to be couples and families.


Yasawa Island
North of Nacula Island is the longest and most chiefly island in the group - Yasawa Island. Here are some of the most picturesque beaches in the South Pacific including one aptly names 6-month beach for the time it takes to rid yourself from the fine sand. Apart from one luxury resort on a splendid beach, and the two overnight cruise companies who drop their guests on Champagne Beach, few travellers make it this far north. This island is waiting to be discovered and you'll still find two of the most traditional and picturesque fishing villages in Fiji with thatch bures.


Luxury Overnight Cruises
A great way to explore the group is on a 3- or 7-night luxury cruise. Blue Lagoon Cruises offer small ship cruises for 3- 4- and 7-night itineraries visiting traditional villages, remote beaches and anchoring in exquisite sheltered lagoons. This is the only region in Fiji where overnight cruises operate. Yacht charters through the group are also available through several sailing charter companies.

Getting there and around

Flights to Yasawa Islands
The only island with an airstrip is Yasawa island in the far north of the chain. Pacific island Seaplanes fly their amphibious plane as a daily charter flight for Yasawa island Resort guests only. Turtle Airways sea plane offers private transfers to other island resorts.
Local Flights

Boats to Yasawa Islands
The 200 passenger Yasawa Flyer departs daily from Denarau stopping at Kuata / Waya (2 hours), Nanuya Balavu (2hrs 45 mins), Naviti (3hrs), Matacawalevu (3hrs 45mins) and Tavewa / Nacula (4 hrs 30mins). The 7-day travel pass costs around F$450 per person. Individual resort boats meet guests from the Yasawa Flyer and sometimes charge a few dollars extra. Local resort boats also depart Lautoka for Kuata / Waya taking just under 2 hours.
Local Cruises / Ferries