Fiji – The South Pacific beckons

When we think of a dream vacation on an island, 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 ready. Additionally, Fiji offers accommodations from 5-star to modest and clean, making vacations affordable for just about anyone. The icing on the cake that makes Fiji a world-class vacation spot is the friendly and outgoing people, who welcome everyone with an enthusiastic ‘bula’, which means 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 on Viti Levu. Flights land at Nadi International Airport, and the thriving Nadi area, with its wide variety of resorts, serves as a base for many wishing to tour other islands in Fiji.

The Yasawa Islands, a series of islands with rugged mountains and brilliant white sand in northwestern Fiji, are an oasis of unspoiled beauty and famous for having the best beaches in the world. The beaches include Champagne Beach, Lovers Beach, Paradise Beach and Valawalu Beach. Viti Levu is also notable for its excellent beaches in areas such as the Sunshine Coast on the northeast side, the Coral Coast on the southeast, and the Pacific Harbor on the far south. The Yasawa and Viti Levu Islands 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 village where old Fiji comes to life. It can be explored on foot or by boat and contains the tallest traditional temple in Fiji and bures, which are Fijian houses built cheaply from local materials such as leaves, reeds and bamboo. Arts Village is full of shops and restaurants. Another popular attraction is the Coral Coast Railway in Sigatoka on the southeastern edge of Viti Levu. The landscape of the adventure varies from a picturesque coastline to 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, parasailing, kayaking, water skiing, snorkeling, and fly fishing. For golfers, the Denarau Golf Club, while pricey, is championship-caliber, with a par 72 course, driving range, two putting 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 Dinner Cruise and Cultural Show, and the Suva Full-Day Sightseeing Tour.