When we think of a dream island vacation, the South Pacific often comes to mind. One of the most idyllic places in the area is Fiji, a destination that has it all. Beautiful beaches, delicious food, exciting nightlife, historical sites, camping, and water sports are all set. Additionally, Fiji offers accommodations from 5-star to modest and clean, making vacations affordable for almost everyone. The icing on the cake that makes Fiji a world-class vacation spot is the friendly and outgoing people, welcoming everyone with an enthusiastic “bula,” meaning cheers.
Fiji actually consists of more than 330 islands and is the crossroads for traveling in the South Pacific. The islands form an archipelago in an inverted horseshoe configuration around the shallow Koro Sea. Two of the islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for 87% of Fiji’s population of nearly 850,000. The capital city is Suva, located in Viti Levu. Flights land at Nadi International Airport, and the thriving Nadi area, with its myriad of resorts, serves as a base for many wishing to tour other Fiji islands.
A series of islands with rugged mountains and brilliant white sand in northwest Fiji, the Yasawa Islands are an oasis of unspoiled beauty and renowned for having the best beaches in the world. Beaches include Champagne Beach, Lovers Beach, Paradise Beach, and Valawalu Beach. Viti Levu is also noted for its excellent beaches in areas such as the Sunshine Coast on the northeast side, the Coral Coast on the southeast, and Pacific Harbor on the southern tip. The Yasawa Islands and Viti Levu also contain a wide variety of accommodation of all kinds.
Visitors can combine beaches and sightseeing when beach hopping on the beautiful Yasawa Islands, a 2-hour ferry ride from Nadi. Some of the islands are uninhabitable but have small resorts or beach bungalows designed for the budget traveler.
Fiji’s best land attractions are found on the island of Viti Levu. The Arts Village is a lakeside town where old Fiji comes to life. It can be explored on foot or by boat and contains Fiji’s tallest traditional temple and bures, which are Fijian houses built inexpensively from local materials such as leaves, reeds and bamboo. Arts Village is packed with shops and restaurants. Another popular attraction is the Coral Coast Railway in Sigatoka on the southeastern edge of Viti Levu. The adventure landscape varies from a picturesque coastline to a thick green forest and the underground caves of Muka. Guided by Mr. Cocos, the trip lasts 90 minutes.
Adrenalin Fiji on Denarau Island in the Nadi area is an excellent provider of numerous activities, including hot air ballooning, paragliding, kayaking, jet skiing, snorkelling, and fly fishing. For golfers, the Denarau Golf Club, while pricey, is championship-caliber, with a par-72 course, a driving range, two practice greens, a golf and tennis pro shop, as well as clinics and lessons. Finally, Fiji has no shortage of organized activities, such as the Nadi Tivua Island Cruise, the Nadi Culture Show Dinner Cruise, and the Suva Full-Day Sightseeing Tour.