Fiji

The Yasawa Islands

If you are planning a trip out to Fiji, I highly recommend visiting the Yasawa Islands. This volcanic group of islands is made up of 6 main islands, and a number of smaller ones. These islands are located in the Western Division of Fiji.

To get to the Yasawa Islands, you will first need to fly into the mainland, Nadi. From there, you can take a boat from the marina in Nadi out to the islands. Until 1987, it was illegal for tourists to visit these islands. This makes it an ideal destination to visit today, for the islands are not too crowded with tourists and are much less of a visited destination then other spots in Fiji. 

I highly recommend booking through the company Awesome Adventures Fiji. They work with the resorts on each island and coordinate boating from the mainland out to the different islands. You can also read about each different resort on their website, and book your trip through them. http://www.awesomefiji.com/

It is ideal to stay out on the Yasawa Islands from 1 week- 3 weeks. I recommend booking stays at about 3 different resorts so that you can experience different parts of the islands. My top 2 recommendations are the Blue Lagoon Resorts, Manta Ray, and Octopus Resort. 

It is ideal to pack lightly, perhaps only bringing a backpack and small duffel bag, as you will be moving around a fair bit and hopping on and off the boat during your stay. 

Be sure to try everything- snorkel, kayak, visit the local villages, hike, try kava and make friends with the local Fijian workers at the resorts who are most friendly.