Fiji tours: Nadi, Mamanuca Islands and Yasawa Islands

BULA! (you will hear this expression many times when you visit Fiji)

Bull, like the nail in Italian or the Hawaiian aloha, is a word in the Fijian language that is imbued with a variety of meanings, each of which depends on the given situation. The word (pronounced boolah) literally means “life” and is most commonly used as a greeting, which means “hello!” Using package insert is a way of expressing desires for good health. An appropriate answer for the label would be “Bula vinaka”.

So: BULA! Set your internal clock with ‘Fiji Time’ and travel through one of the paradises of the South Pacific. There is definitely no need to rush to explore the archipelago’s exquisite beaches, underwater wonders, exuberant interiors and fascinating culture. This is the place to relax and experience the local beauties.

Fiji is made up of more than 300 islands and surrounded by vibrant coral reefs filled with tropical fish.

The people of Fiji are undoubtedly one of the attractions of this destination. They are welcoming and at the same time relaxed. Visitors are constantly involved in the pace of life full of traditions and culture.

The chain of islands near Nadi, known as Mamanucas, are beautiful and concentrate the most famous resorts in Fiji. In the Mamanucas Islands, visitors find an impressive variety of activities: parasailing, windsurfing, dolphin watching, scuba diving and much more.

Our tour explores two of Fiji’s most impressive regions, the Mamanuca Islands and the Yasawa Islands.

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Confused? Not sure where to start planning?

1. Follow the tips below to check the best time to visit
2. Search for resorts and islands (see which fits in your pocket)
3. See the ferry schedule and how to buy transport (choose the package that best suits you)
4. View accommodation in Nadi for your days on the main island
5. If you decide to stay in Nadi and do day-tour or half-tour tours, choose the best location for your hotel / hostel / resort
6. Calculate how many days on each island / resort if you choose not to stay in Nadi every day
7. Check the prices of meals on the islands / resorts (the accommodation package includes compulsory food)
8. Enjoy paradise!
9. If you still have doubts, consult SOUL Viajero

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What do you need to know to visit Fiji?

• Currency: Fijian Dollar
  
• Language: Fijian, English and Fiji-Hindi
  
• Visas: visas are granted to most nationalities at the airport and are valid for 3 to 4 months (Brazilians do not need a prior visa to enter Fiji)
  
• Money: ATMs and banks are scattered in large cities on the main islands, but scarce or nonexistent on distant islands
  
• Mobile phone (cell phone): Vodafone and Digicel are the most famous phone service providers in Fiji. With an unlocked cell phone, the visitor can buy a SIM card and use credits (we used the Vodafone service and it was great)
  
• Local Time: Fiji Time (GMT / UTC plus 12 hours)
  

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When to visit Fiji?

• High Season: June to September and December to January
  

High season and coincides with school holidays in Australia and New Zealand. Prices rise around 10% to 20% (June and July are the peak months).

During December and January it is normal for cyclones, typhoons or tropical storms to occur.

• Half Season: May and October
  

This season is considered the winter period in Fiji or the dry season. During this period the visitor finds little rain, low humidity, average temperatures and low risk of cyclone.

Good time to see the manta rays in Fiji.

• Low Season: November and February until April
  

From November to April it is considered the rainy season (wet season) with heavy rains and high humidity. Few tourists and low rates (values ​​fall). 

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How to get to Fiji?

Most visitors arrive in Fiji from Nadi airport. There are some options from there:

• Bus: $ 0.90 (US dollars) to downtown Nadi
  
• Most hotels have a free or paid transfer (seek information from your hotel)
  
• Taxi: $ 15 Fijian dollars
  

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Daily Costs *

For Savers (budget): less than $ 180 (US dollars)

• Dorm with meal: $ 40-120 (US dollars)
  
• Local transport and markets: good value on the main islands
  
• Half day snorkeling: $ 40-70 (US dollars)
  

For those who enjoy comfort but don’t spend a lot: $ 180 – 400 (US dollars)

• Double dorm: $ 140-300 (US dollars)
  
• Local Restaurant: $ 10-30 (US dollars) for a meal
  
• Activities: $ 80 (US dollars) per day
  

For those who like and pay for comfort: over $ 400 (US dollars)

• Resorts: meals and activities included in the package
  
• Bure (bungalows): $ 300-3000 per night
  

* According to Lonely Planet

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Best Luxury Hotels * 

• Likuliku Lagoon
  
• Emaho Sekawa Luxury Resort
  
• Taveuni Palms
  
• Turtle Island Resort
  
• Wakaya Club
  

* According to Lonely Planet

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Best Hotels for Backpackers *

• Beachcomber Island Resort
  
• Mantaray Island Resort
  
• Bamboo
  
• Mango Bay Resort
  
• Uprising Beach Resort
  

* According to Lonely Planet

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Best Romantic Hotels *

• Tokoriki Island Resort
  
• Savadi Island
  
• Nanuya Island Resort
  
• Navutu Stars
  
• Matangi Island Resort
  

* According to Lonely Planet

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Our trip was divided as follows:

1 night in Nadi (arrival)

3 nights in Yasawa Islands

5 nights on Nacula Island

Total of 9 nights and 10 days

Note: The original itinerary included 4 nights on Nacula Island and 1 more night on Nadi (last night). We did it this way to have peace of mind on the return and so we can catch our flight to Sydney. It was more for safety reasons, as we had read that sometimes the seaplane delays or cancels. However, due to the cyclone that passed in Fiji during this trip, we had to add another night on the island we were on (Nacula Island), for security reasons and because there was no transportation to return to Nadi.

SOUL Viajero review

With this amount of days (10 in total), we believe that there is a possibility to visit more islands. We stayed in two only by choice, as we wanted to rest and not be “jumping from island to island”. But, as previously mentioned, in ten days it is very possible to make 3 or even 4 islands (everything will depend on the will and disposition). 

Later on we will present the transport options and tickets to visit the islands. The most famous option is via the Bula Pass (hop-on hop-off on the ferry). 

Another suggestion / opinion if you want to buy the Bula Pass is to try to make as many islands as you want, but starting with the most distant ones and then “returning” to Nadi. This way, in the last few days, the traveler will be closer to Nadi (the return will be less tiring and with less danger of having a problem and not being able to return to his flight).

The trip to Nacula Island (one of the most distant from Nadi), for example, takes approximately 4 hours by boat. It seems tiring and a lot of time in a boat, but in fact it ends up not being, as the ferry stops at the resorts and this “breaks” the long trip a little.

# 1 Day: Sydney to Nadi

The first day consisted of our arrival in Fiji, the transfer between airport and hotel in Nadi and rest so that the next day we could take the boat / ferry to go to our island season in this country.

The taxi from the airport to our hotel cost $ 15 (Fijian dollars), and this amount is fixed until the center of Nadi. 

We arrived at the hotel, settled down, put on beach clothes and enjoyed a walk on the sand and dinner at the hotel to relax.

We ended our activities around 10 pm.

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Review de Hotel: Aquarius On The Beach

$ 82.37 Australian dollars value for 1 night for a double room with private bathroom

The hotel is nice and simple. It is in a region of hotels in the city of Nadi. However, a region simpler than that of resorts near the main port, Port Debarau.

# 10 Nadi to Sydney

For our tenth day the schedule was to return home (Sydney) . 

As our trip to the islands was by ferry, we wanted a different and more comfortable experience on the way back. We then chose to buy a seaplane ticket (those planes that land on the water). We bought the return with Pacific Island Air . Check out the details below:

Pacific Island Air

London Avenue / CAAF Compound, Nadi Airport, Fiji

P: +679 672 5644 | F: +679 672 5641

Email: reservations@pacificislandair.com

Website: www.pacificislandair.com

The value for this adventure was $ 603 Australian dollars for two people. The flight takes approximately 30/40 minutes.

The value is a little “salty” but it is very worthwhile if the traveler wants more comfort on his return, wants to enjoy a moment and experience in this type of plane and still give a stunning view of Fiji seen from the top (the corals in the water give a show aside). 

The view along the way can be compared to that of flying by plane under the Great Barrier Reef in Australia (but, of course, in smaller proportions).

The flight was super smooth and in 35 minutes we were disembarking at Nadi airport. Our return to Sydney was guaranteed. It was in this way, more than perfect, that we ended our holiday season in Fiji.

Vinaka, Fiji! (ie, thanks, Fiji)