Fiji

A sun-soaked collection of some 322 islands (approximately 106 of which are inhabited) located between New Zealand and Hawaii, Fiji is a true tropical paradise. The two main islands are Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, but the small group of islands known as the Yasawa Islands is also extremely popular for island hopping. Like most other countries of the South Pacific Fiji has its fair share of gorgeous weather, pristine beaches, and clear, blue waters. What really sets Fiji apart from other tropical destinations like Bali or French Polynesia, and what makes it a uniquely appealing place to take that dream vacation you’ve been thinking about, however, is its atmosphere.

Less developed than many other tourist-frequented locales, Fiji straddles the line between developed and developing nation. This means not only can you experience many of the environmental pleasantries of other South Pacific destinations, you can experience them in a nearly untouched setting. Sometimes when visiting an exotic destination, nothing can be more annoying than arriving only to find that what you’re presented with is an artificially constructed, idealized version of a place made especially for tourists. Not so in Fiji. You’ll get nothing but the real thing here.

RealTravelers Kyle & Dan recently visited Fiji as part of their extensive around the world trip this past year, and had this to say about a snorkeling trip they took in the crystal-clear waters of Naviti:

“On the morning of our full day on the island, we were taken, by our boat driver Moses… on a trip to the southern tip of Naviti where an expansive and beautiful coral garden was located; nearby was the channel used by manta rays when they were in the area from July-October, giving birth…

At our first stop, we saw many unique and brightly coloured coral formations. A lot of the fish we observed were different to those we had seen on the other islands we had recently visited, so the experience was excellent. During our second or third stop - we can’t remember which one - we saw a baby manta ray swimming underneath us in the channel where we were supposed to see them. The baby was quite large, around 4-5 feet wide, and we wished that we had seen the parents because they would have been around 12 feet wide!

In addition to the amazing coral garden and manta ray, we saw a few bigger fish a couple of feet in length, and a long white-tip reef shark, a new species of shark that we had not yet spotted this year. Overall, the trip was perfect, with Moses having let us snorkel at four different areas.” (more…)

Best of all, a dream vacation to Fiji may cost less than you think. In response to a reduction in tourism after a bout of political upheaval several years ago, much of the tourist industry has lowered prices, and increased its emphasis on main resort areas outside the capital. So start planning your trip now. Fiji just may end up being the dream destination you never knew you wanted to visit.

Useful Resources:

Sigatoka Hotels
Nadi Hotels
Suva Hotels

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From Fiji - Yasawa Islands by Becs and Chris

Time passes differently in Fiji. The ticking of clocks gives way to warm tropical breezes, gentle lapping of waves, soft patter of feet against beach sand, and the friendly voices of locals. Life here moves at a slower pace, inviting visitors to relax deeply as the shadows of palm trees stretch along the shores and the orange-red sun melts into the sea. Fiji is a tropical retreat, decorated in lush jungles, sparkling waterfalls, beautiful forests, and miles of unspoiled beaches — while one can pretty much get a PhD in relaxation here, Fiji is also a wonderland of adventure, with tons of activities to catalyze your adrenaline and kick up your fun quotient. Thousands of coral reefs make for excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, awesome reef breaks provide experienced surfers with something to write home about, the crystalline waters are a sailor’s dream, and the wild but safe jungle terrain beckons trekkers to explore.

Fiji’s summer spans April - December, bringing with it hot, sunshine mornings, rainy afternoons, and some of the greenest, most lush tropics you may have ever seen. No need for a jacket either day or night. If you’re ready to enter Fiji Time, here are some of the excellent activities and attractions you can look forward to on your next trip.

Watersports

Fiji is home to crystal clear, warm waters inhabited by over 1,200 species of fish and a kaleidescope of soft corals. Whether you’re new to scuba diving, or a seasoned veteran, you’re sure to the right scuba experience for you. You can go beach diving or join a live-aboard charter ship and sail around the islands, stopping in remote areas. The Somosomo Straits and the Rainbow Reef offer some of Fiji’s best dive spots.

Realtravel member Andrewdp recently experienced the colorful waters off Tevewa in Northern Fiji. He describes the sensations in his travel blog, Under Water Love:

“It’s quite breathtaking under the water with all the coral. The water in fiji is teeming with fish like vibrant clownfish and little neon blue fish and tons of others.

We were under for 22 minutes. I just found that the whole thing so relaxing and serene that at that point I knew it was something I’d take the time to do through out my life. My dive instructor pointed out any interesting fish or sea life he saw as we swan along like scorpion fish and sea anomies. we did a second dive in the afternoon and I had a blast.” (more…)

The Mamanuca Islands are splendid for watersports. 30 small islands pepper the emerald sea where dolphins and fish swim together. Why not join them? Scuba diving is excellent here, and sailing and fishing opportunities abound. After an inspiring day playing in the waters, you can relax on the beach, or enjoy the fabulous amenities of one of the many luxury resorts found here. Nananu-i-Ra Island is great for swimming, with two fantastic beaches. Feeling more adventurous? Take advantage of the surf here and spend the day kite, wind, or body surfing. Speaking of surfing, Fiji is actually one of the best surf locations in the world, with live-aboard surf charters, great surf specialist resorts, challenging reef breaks, and remote locations. The majority of beach resorts in Fiji offer kayaks to their guests, another great way to enjoy the beautiful waters.

Resources:
Diving and Underwater Adventure
Fiji: Sights and Activities
Fiji Scuba Diving
Shark Dive by Tonya

Other great attractions and activities

Some of the world’s top golf courses are in Fiji. You will find several incredible 18-hole courses on Viti Levu, Fiji’s largest island, like The Fiji Golf Club which is known for beautiful, level greens and tree-lined fairways. The Pacific Harbour Golf Club is another excellent place to tee off, with breathtaking scenery, challenging holes, and great facilities. Denarau Golf and Racquet Club, which is “set against a backdrop of a range of five-star resorts and lush greenery.” Follow these links for information on Fiji’s incredible golf courses:
Pacific Harbour Golf Club
Denarau Golf Club
Rob Kay’s Fiji Island Travel Guide
World Golf Travel: Fiji Islands

Trekking and hiking are also popular activities on the islands. There are many hiking and trekking tour companies located on the islands offering adventurous tours through jungle terrain, past sparkling waterfalls, into untouched, remote island paradises, beautiful villages, and more. Many of these companies also offer bike, kayaking, snorkeling, and kayaking adventures. Check the links below to get in touch with the right tour company for you.

Visiting the villages of Fiji is a special experience, as the islands are well known for some of the friendliest locals in the world. RealTravelers Becs and Chris stayed in a village on the Yasawa Islands, where they were initiated into the village with Kava, Fiji’s national drink, and learned about Fiji Time:

“Time at Nabua Lodge cannot be measured by the conventional means of date, hours and minutes. Time merely passes and if your attention and presence is required you are summoned by the beat of the lali (drum). Outside of activities this was heard three times a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner). On our first night at Nabua we had a traditional lovo (meat cooked in the ground in baskets weaved from pandanas leaves) and along with Murdoch and Jen (the only other guests) we enjoyed a wonderful feast complete with festive decorations and Christmas carols…” (more…)

Whether you want to spend your days lazing on pristine beaches, hopping from island to island, cruising in the mint green waters, snorkeling amidst hundreds of colorful fish, trekking through verdant rain forest, surfing wild reef breaks, or drinking Kava with the locals, you’re bound to find the perfect vacation in Fiji.

More Resources
Hiking Tours in Fiji
Easy Treks around Fiji
Fiji Travel Guide
Fiji Tourism
Top Spots in Fiji
Fiji Travel Blogs

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