Beautiful Fiji!
“Bula”! | “Bula Vinaka”! | “You’re on Fiji time!”
These are just a few of the terms you’ll hear while visiting these beautiful islands located in the South Pacific. Pure white sand, transparent water and island hospitality is what you’re in for on a holiday in Fiji!
Travelers from all over the world are drawn to the crystal clear waters of Fiji for diving, while others come to explore the sheer beauty of this place all while meeting some of the nicest people on the planet!
But before you start packing up your bikinis/wetsuits/sunscreen and booking flights to Nadi International Airport (Fiji’s main airport – pronounced “Nan-di”), let’s go over a few things to know before visiting Fiji!
Passport/VISA info: To enter Fiji, a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended period of stay is required. For VISA info, click here.
The best time to visit Fiji: Whenever you have the chance! It’s pretty much warm ALL year round (80 degrees for it’s high)! However, from November – April, tropical storms are quite common. Peak season is between July – September when the weather is dry, sunny & absolutely perfect! But hotel prices will be expensive. The off season runs May to June & October when temps are still in the 80’s with rain on & off throughout the day.
Fiji is situated in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean…..which may seem far away, but in actuality it’s just an 11 hour non-stop flight from L.A! Fiji’s national airlines, Fiji Airways has regular direct flights from the United States (Honolulu, Los Angeles & San Francisco). Other airlines heading to Fiji from the U.S are Qantas Airways, American Airlines, Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia International, etc. One of my favorite websites to check for reduced flights to Fiji is The Flight Deal!
Choosing an island to stay on for your 1st visit to Fiji may be an overwhelming task for some (I know it most certainly was for me). So my friend & I decided to play it safe and stay on the main island of Viti Levu. Take a look at the map below to get an idea of where certain Fijian islands are located –
Let's explore a few of the island groups in Fiji:
Fiji Island Groups
☀️ Mamanuca Islands – The closest island group to Nadi Intl’ Airport with picture perfect white sand beaches. The classic Tom Hanks film, ‘Cast Away’ was even filmed here!
Getting to the Mamanuca Islands – South Sea Cruises will be your connection for the Mamanuca Islands. At the airport, you will be greeted by a SSC Staff Member who will direct you to your transportation to Port Denarau. From there, you will catch the boat.
Looking to island hop? Then check out the ‘Bula Pass‘!
Hotel Options – ★★★ star: Beachcomber Island Resort | ★★★★ star: Mana Island Resort | ★★★★★ star: Likuliku Lagoon Resort
☀️ Yasawa Islands – This group of islands lie north of the Mamanuca Islands. These islands are a bit more secluded (no banks or shops), but a 10 when it comes to pure, natural beauty! It’s a backpacker’s paradise!
Getting to the Yasawa Islands – You can reach the Yasawas by seaplane (the quickest way), or by the ‘Yasawas Flyer’ ferry from Port Denarau.
Hotel Options – ★★★ star: Boathouse Nanuya | ★★★★ star: Paradise Cove Resort | ★★★★★ star: Yasawa Island Resort
☀️ Kadavu Islands – If you’re looking to go “off the beaten path” during your stay in Fiji, the Kadavu Islands is the way to go! Kadavu has only 1 town and very few roads but is home to the world famous diving spot, the Great Astrolabe Reef!
Getting to the Kadavu Islands – You can reach Kadavu by flight with Fiji Airways. There are daily flights to Kadavu from Nadi and Nausori Airport just out of Suva. But if you want to travel like a local, catch the ferry that departs from Walu Bay, Suva, on Tuesday evenings and travels to Vunisea and Kavala Bay on Kadavu.
Hotel Options – ★★★ star: Matava – Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort | Tiliva Resort | Papageno Resort
☀️ Viti Levu – One of Fiji’s main islands and the international gateway to Fiji. This is where Nadi airport & Port Denarau is located (Port Denarau is a 25 minute ride from Nadi airport). Viti Levu will offer an array of resorts, shops & great local culture! However, if you’re looking for the crystal clear water that Fiji is known for…..you won’t find much of it on the main island. You’ll have to visit the outer islands.
Hotel Options – ★★★ star: First Landing Beach Resort & Villas | ★★★★ star: Naviti Resort | ★★★★★ star: Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Now that you have an idea of Fiji's beautiful island groups, let's get to the action!!
FUN THINGS TO DO IN FIJI
☀️ Malamala Beach Club – A day trip here is definitely recommended! Malamala Beach Club is the world’s FIRST island beach club and is only a 25 minute boat ride from Port Denarau!
Sip delicious curated cocktails, enjoy the music, relax in the beachside cabanas, walk the white sand beaches and snack on the delicious a-la-carte menu at Malamala!
The easiest way to book your Malamala excursion is on their website. We opted to snag the beachside cabana with butler service which was worth the money! You can also choose the poolside day beds or the Grand Cabana if you’re with a small group. Prefer not to book the extra options? Then enjoy Malamala’s covered bar area and infinity edge pool with a stunning view of the ocean!
Malamala has some of the clearest water I have ever seen! We were able to see so many beautiful starfish! A day trip here is defintiely worth it!
☀️ Cloud 9 – A floating bar in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean! A FLOATING BAR!!!!! There are a few sites online where you can book your Cloud 9 excursion, but we chose to book through the Cloud 9 website. If you choose the morning time slot, booking through them will allow your boat to unload first (so you’ll be able to pick a good seat once at Cloud 9) and receive a $60 bar tab. *Prices subject to change*
To get to Cloud 9, you’ll take a 45-minute boat ride from Port Denarau. Once you arrive, select your chill spot (hanging chair/daybed), enjoy the music, grab a cocktail…..then jump off the freakin’ bar into some of the most beautiful blue water!
Happy Birthday to meeeeeeee!
When you've worked up an appetite, grab some of their delicious Italian wood-fired pizza!
Cloud 9 was an experience I'll never forget! It was a GREAT way to celebrate my birthday! I cannot wait to visit again! Sooooo much F U N!
☀️Sleeping Giant Zipline Fiji – This zip line is located in the Fijian mountains and it’s absolutely beautiful! We booked this excursion last minute at Port Denarau. However, booking online works too. The course involves 5 separate zip lines, that will only take about 30-40 minutes to complete. The zip lines are in a very lush-green area, so bring repellent because the mosquitoes are EVERYWHERE!
The wonderful staff of ‘Sleeping Giant Zipline’ will take you on a guided tour through the jungle where you get the chance to experience a waterfall and the enormous “cannibal rock” (which I thought was insane. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a rock that big)!!
The sleeping giant zip line in Fiji is a lot of FUN!
Lunch will be included with your excursion – a very simple lunch (sandwich, chips & a drink).
☀️Tivua Island – We were able to experience Tivua Island by booking a day-trip with Captain Cook’s Cruises from Port Denarau. The boat ride to Tivua is about an hour from the port. While we sailed to Tivua, the awesome ‘Capt. Cook’ staff serenaded us with Fijian music to make our trip even more enjoyable!
Once you reach Tivua Island, you will be in awe! Tivua Island with it’s breathtaking atoll and white sand beaches is EVERY-THING! You’ll find plenty of petite Fijian bures to relax in on the beach. A tropical buffet lunch + unlimited drinks (wine included) is also provided on the island – at no extra cost. There will be lots of fun activities provided by Capt. Cook’s Cruises: paddle boarding snorkeling, scuba diving, beach volley ball, glass bottom boat tour & more!
While on Tivua Island, I took advantage of the PADI scuba diving (something I had always been too afraid to do). Since this was my 1st time scuba diving….I really needed an awesome instructor! …….and I got one! He was very patient, attentive & extremely helpful. After we were down a few feet in the water…..I became completely overwhelmed with the ocean’s beauty! Sea life is absolutely AH-MAZING! Capt. Cook made my time on Tivua Island an experience that I’ll NEVER forget!
☀️Visit a village – If you get a chance, carve some time out to take in one of Fiji’s many villages to see how the locals live. Our taxi driver, who was an incredibly kind elderly man, shared some details of his life – being born & raised in Fiji. He was nice enough to take us through the village where he lived, Korovuto Village.
We learned that the minimum wage in Fiji is $2.32 FJD ($1.14 in USD) an hour and that some parts of the island still operated without electricity. It put a lot into perspective for me. Although some of the Fijians didn’t have much, they were still some of the happiest, most kindest people I’ve ever met!
☀️Try some ‘Kava’ – I don’t think a trip to Fiji is complete until you’ve tried Kava: Fiji’s National Drink! I took part in an informal Kava ceremony while aboard Capt. Cook’s Cruise Day Trip. Kava is made from a pepper plant and has the resemblance of “dirt water”. Once water is added to the Kava powder and stirred in a large bowl called a tanoa, and the root is strained through a piece a cloth to keep out the grit – it will be ready to drink!
Trying Kava for the 1st time was very.....interesting! LOL!
Let’s talk about the taste…..whooooo…….very……ummmm……different. It’ll also leave your tongue with a numbing sensation!
When the Kava is ready to be drunk, you must:
Clap once || Yell “Bula” || Drink in 1 gulp || Clap 3 times || Yell “Mathe”
*Restaurants located on the main island of Viti Levu*
~ LuLu · Bar · Cafe · Restaurant – This is a great breakfast spot located at Port Denarau! The breakfast burrito is delicious! And so were the cocktails! The customer service here is definitely worth raving about!
~ The Rhum-Ba Restaurant – This spot is located at Port Denarau and it has an AH-MAZING Happy Hour! And a beautiful view as well! Enjoy great seafood here!
~ Nadina Authentic Fijian Restaurant – If you’re looking for traditional Fijian dishes with authentic ingredients, then look no further! The Fiji chicken curry is a popular dish here! Along with the fresh seafood!
~ Wicked Walu Seafood Restaurant – This gem was once voted the ‘Best restaurant in Fiji” and for good reason! Huge seafood platters, great cocktails & amazing customer service! Add in the restaurant’s perfect views of the ocean and you’ve got yourself a perfect evening!
At this point, I hope you're hopping on a Fiji Airways flight, heading to these BEAUTIFUL islands! I just may see you there!
Happy Travels to Fiji!
