Yasawa

Isla Fiji

The Yasawas are a chain of islands linked together geographically, historically and culturally. Consisting of seven main islands and numerous smaller islets north-west of Lautoka they stretch in a north-easterly direction for more than eighty kilometers and are separated by narrow expanses of what is known as Bligh Water.

The Yasawas are a paradise for not only cruisers, yachties, divers, packpackers and of course the Fijian inhabitants, but also those who are looking for an exclusive retreat and total anonymity from the pressures of fame and fortune. Almost every Yasawa Island has its own fabulous beach especially around Blue Lagoon (more on that shortly) between Tavewa and Nanuya Lailai.

The larger islands of the group are Waya Island, the highest in the group, Tavewa Island, renowned for its natural beauty, Turtle Island, an exotic and exclusive recluse for the rich and famous, Sawa-i-Lau Island with its limestone cave, Nanuya Levu, home of yet another exclusive honeymoon resort, Naviti Island the largest of the Yasawas and Viwa, the most remote of the sister islands.

The Yasawas wasn’t always tourism orientated. Until 1987 it was the policy of the then government that the Yasawa Group was closed to land-based tourism and was restricted to cruise operations with passengers unable to leave the ships up until the 1950s. Due to its freehold real-estate status it wasn’t long before small budget resorts commenced operations.

The lifestyle for the locals over generations has been subsistence based however with the advent of tourism into the group, local entrepreneurs diversified and now the Yasawas are dotted with small resorts and backpackers.