Yasawa Group

The Yasawa Group is a chain of 20 volcanic islands famed for its rugged hilly landscapes, dazzling beaches and striking blue lagoons. A favorite destination for those touring Fiji, these pristine islands stretch from north to south for some 90 km, forming a roughly straight line. Located north of the Mamanuca Group and 40 km northwest of Viti Levu, the Yasawa Group is sparsely populated, giving it a secluded and tranquil ambiance.

Made famous when the romantic movie The Blue Lagoon was filmed here in the 1980’s on Turtle Island, the Yasawas today is a tourist hotspot, especially for young backpackers. Around 30 resorts are spread out across 12 of the main Yasawa Islands, catering to everyone from couples on their honeymoon to families and single travelers. A number of affordable accommodations are located here, and most of the resorts offer basic bure or small thatched bungalows to stay in. Meal plans are usually included in your room rates, with access to a number of activities such diving, snorkeling, kayaking, fishing, underwater cave trips and local village visits.

Beautiful and unspoilt, the Yasawa Group was initially closed off to land based tourism until the late 1980’s when the Fijian government revised this policy. First spotted by Captain William Bligh in 1789 after the ill-fated mutiny aboard the HMS Bounty, the Yasawa Group was first visited in 1794 by Captain Barber and the crew of the HMS Arthur. Chartered in 1840 by a US expedition under Charles Wilkes, these islands were by and large ignored till World War II, when the US military used them as communication outposts.

A wonderful place to unwind and do some exploring, the Yasawa Group is known for its great hiking, snorkeling and diving. In fact, most of the snorkeling here can be done right off the beaches. When you visit, don’t forget to mingle with the locals who still live in traditional fishing villages. Fairly quiet, no banks, hospitals, shops or post offices can be found in the Yasawas, and the further north you go, the more quiet the landscape gets.