Important: Wikitravel is exploring a license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0, please give your consent or refusal here.

Yasawa Islands

From Wikitravel

(Redirected from Yasawa islands)
Jump to: navigation, search

The Yasawa Islands are a group of islands in north-western Fiji. Approximately 30 resorts are spread through the 12 major islands in the group. Most resorts provide basic accommodation and meals with access to natural and cultural sites.

[edit] Islands

[edit] Get in

Awesome Adventures Fiji [1] provide the Yasawa Flyer as the primary transport to and through the Yasawa Islands from Nadi. Although local taxis can provide better value on short trips in good weather, the Flyer is your best bet for longer trips, like travelling to and from the Islands. Awesome Adventures have an office in the main street where you can book. They will help you plan your itinerary - which islands to stop off at, for how long, and where to stay. The Yasawa flyer is a good organisation who don't try to rip you off or convince you to stay at one place in preference to another.

[edit] Get around

If you came by the "yellow boat" (Yasawa Flyer) then it will pick you up on its daily run and take you to your next island. If you have a 7, 14 or 21 day 'Bula Pass', this is included in your fare, otherwise, it can cost between $45 to $70 to go from one island to the next. A local water taxi can provide a far cheaper means to transfer between islands, especially for shorter trips when the weather is reasonably clear. Some resorts will pick you up from your current resort for free, otherwise rates tend to range from $5-$15. It always pays to ask around before you book, especially with the resort you are travelling to (that wants your business more than the one you've just paid for). Like all prices in Fiji, these charges are often negotiable, especially if you are travelling in a group (since most charges are per head, you can bargain for a group discount). One caveat: Local boats have been known to run out of fuel and never carry oars, so don't take local boats if such surprises would ruin your holiday (but if slow, reactive responses to problems is going to frustrate you, Fiji is probably not your ideal holiday location - Fiji time!

[edit][add listing] See

The Yasawas are beautiful and unspoilt. The best two natural activities are hiking (many of the islands have high hills that provide great views of all the nearby islands) and snorkeling or diving (most of the islands have some level of reef life, although note the comments under 'Sleep' about the re-growing reefs).

[edit][add listing] Do

Snorkeling and diving are excellent. Some islands even have spectacular snorkeling right off the beach. Diving rates are cheap. You can get certification if you need it.

Most islands have good hiking, e.g. Wayalailai where you can climb to the top to see the sun rise, or hike the length of the island and cross the spit to Waya. Guides are available, or you can go alone.

Almost all islands will have someone who can teach basket or bracelet weaving, using palm fronds and banana leaves.

There are regular kava ceremonies on many islands. Guests are invited to join. On smaller and more intimate islands it would be rude to refuse.

Go to church in one of the villages for the Sunday service. The locals are welcoming, and you will be awed by their beautiful harmonious singing.

Ask the locals to take you through their plantation and show you the bananas, papaya, mangoes, breadfruit, casava and other fruits and vegetables growing for your eating pleasure.

Various day trips are available including the Cave trip (diving through a tunnel 30cm down and 1.5 metre long to visit several underground caverns), the Blue Lagoon (not the real one, which is privately owned) and local trips such as fishing or snorkeling. You can also do day trips on the island to visit local villages and schools.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Some islands have souvenirs but these are generally cheaper to buy on the mainland (e.g. in the streets and markets of Nadi). The key souvenir you may like to buy is a local sulu for that resort. Otherwise, your money is likely to be spent on drinks (water, beer or cocktails) and snacks (chips, biscuits, etc.).

[edit][add listing] Eat

There are three levels of catering - (i) sparse plates and buffets that run out, (ii) generous serves of high carbohydrate meals and (iii) broad balanced meals with endless buffets to suit all appetites and preferences. If you like fish, please be sure to let the locals (especially the chef) know - they often think people prefer chicken. Beef is quite expensive in Fiji and you are not likely to see it very often. Vegetarianism is generally poorly understood and for strict vegetarians or people with allergies it can be quite difficult to explain that even sauces, spices and flavourings are not suitable. If you have any kind of allergy or strong dietary preference you must talk to the chef as soon as you get on the island (lunch often follows shortly afterward) and explain it in detail (e.g. "must be cooked completely separate from any meat, fish, chicken, oyster sauce, seasoning, etc."). It is often valuable to say what you *can* eat (e.g. "any vegetables or fruit, even raw!") to give them a sense of what they can do.

Most people are reasonably happy with the food provided at resorts, although healthier eaters may miss a balance of non-starchy veggies.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Most resorts provide drinking water at meals, but sell water ($4-$5 for a 1.5 litre bottle) at other times. Water supplies are generally from rain (off corrugated roofs), springs or imported from the mainland.

English backpackers will be happy to hear that beer (Fiji Bitter or Fiji Gold) is in plentiful supply, and most resorts will also provide other forms of alcohol including cocktails.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

This article or section does not match our manual of style or needs other editing. Please plunge forward, give it your attention and help it improve!

Most islands have some kind of budget resort, where you sleep in a dorm or bure (thatched hut). Food (set menu, mostly local dishes) is usually included in the price or is a compulsory addition (no local alternatives exist). Some islands have considerably more upmarket hotels.

Accommodation varies significantly in quality, from vary sparse rooms with open windows for cats to jump on your bed (Barefoot) through to comfortable, Western-style private rooms with a toilet, hot shower and secure doors and windows (Nalova Bay). If the bures are not reasonably airtight then a good mosquito net is a real necessity, although a top sheet can also help to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Most beds are not grungy but do vary from vary soft through to firm.

Sleep is also affected by the nightlife of the resort. Most resorts have a main bure with a bar and some form of night activity (dancing, international night, singing, etc.). Usually this concludes at a reasonable hour and people continue to talk quietly and drink until they go to bed. At some locations, a much more festive spirit is felt, and if the dorm/bures are anywhere near the main bure, sleeping may prove difficult.

Cold showers are the norm, which is fine during the days (usually quite warm), but salt water or mixed salt/fresh water showers are not uncommon. Drinking water is a somewhat scarce resource on the islands, but is usually provided free at meals. Some resorts have unlimited water, others require you to buy bottled water outside of meal times (typically $4-$5 a 1.5l bottle).

The final factor in deciding where to stay is the natural surrounds and activities, which is somewhat subjective, although the below table attempts to categorise the reef life. Up until about five years ago, many areas in Fiji dynamited their coral to sell to aquariums, so there are large patches of dead coral with the occasional patch of life. However, there are an increasing number of marine sanctuaries and even coral farming that are bringing the coral (and accompanying sea life) back. Some places have a great variety of fish up to one metre in length and some even have sharks and turtles. On the whole, however, Fiji reef life is not yet up to the standard seen in other tropical areas, especially the Whitsundays and Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Awesome Adventures Fiji, [2] provides backpacker accommodation packages throughout the islands. Packages range from 1-11 nights and include accommodation, vessel transfers, meals and activities. Alternatively, the 'Accommodation Pass' provides an easy, hassle free way to pay for accommodation as many properties do not accept credit cards or travellers cheques - just cash.

Resort Island Phone/RT Private bure (max) Dormitories (max) Mosquito protection Food Vegetarian support Water source Showers (water type) Nightlife Coral Fish
Kuata Natural Resort Kuata 651 0504 / 651 3598 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Waya Lailai Eco Haven Resort Waya Lailai 666 1572 10+ (4+) 1 (20+) Flywire and mosquito nets Buffet Very poor Spring Cold (spring) Quiet Good Okay
Sunset Waya Waya RT 6383 10+ (4) 1+ (20+) Flywire with some mosquito nets Buffet Poor Spring Cold (spring) Quiet Good Okay
Bayside Resort Waya RT 6383 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Adi's Place Waya 665 0573 / 992 6377 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Octopus Resort Waya 666 6337 / 666 6442 15+ 2+ mosquito nets plate and buffet probable spring/stream Solar, but good Active/noisy good good
Manta Ray Island Resort Nanuya Balavu 664 0520 / 672 6351 8+ (4+) 1 (30+) Mosquito nets Buffet Excellent Desalinated and rain Cold (desalinated) Active / noisy Very good Very good
Barefoot Island Lodge Drawaqa 670 1823 / RT 1825 20+ (2) 0? Mosquito nets Buffet Poor Mainland imported Cold (Mainland) Active / noisy Okay Okay
Botaira Beach Resort Naviti 666 2266 ? ? Mosquito nets Plate ? ? Solar, but good Depends Very Good Very Good
Coconut Bay Resort Naviti RT 1300 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Korovou Eco-Tour Resort Naviti 651 3173 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
White Sandy Beach Naviti RT 1360 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Qereqere Resort Naviti RT 6558 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Manuka Bay Resort Naviti 672 3559 / RT 5860 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Navutu Stars Yaqeta 664 0553 / RT 8031 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Sanawai Resort Yaqeta RT 3726 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Long Beach Resort Matacawa Levu RT 3032 4+ (4) 1 (10) Mosquito nets Plate Okay Mainland imported Cold (Mainland) Very quiet Good Okay
Coral View Resort Tavewa 922 2575 / RT 8876 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Very active / noisy Poor Poor
Kingfisher Lodge Tavewa 665 2830 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
David's Place Tavewa 665 2820 / 672 1820 10 (2) 1 (10+) Flywire and mosquito nets Plate Good Rainwater Cold (rain water) Quiet Okay Okay
Otto & Fanny's Tavewa 666 6481 ? ? ? Buffet (limited) ? ? ? ? Okay Okay
Oarsmans Bay Lodge Nacula 672 2921 / RT 6789 4 (2+) 1 (20+) ? Plate ? ? ? Active / moderate Very good Very good
Nalova Bay Resort Nacula 666 9055 5 (6) 0 Flywire Plate (high quality) Very good Rain Hot None (go to Oarsmans) Very good Very good
Nabua Lodge Resort Nacula RT 6369 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Melbravo Resort Nacula RT 7472 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

[edit] Get out

  • Mamanuca Islands - also serviced by the Yasawa Flyer on the way to the Yasawa Islands

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!

Retrieved from "http://wikitravel.org/en/Yasawa_Islands"