This archipelago of 332 islands is probably one of the most spectacular island destinations on the planet. Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Fiji is home to never ending tropical beaches, lush forests and friendly people, making it an ideal location for relaxing and recharging your batteries. Get your beach gear ready, consider proper travel insurance for Fiji, and go 'Where Happiness Finds You', as their tourism campaign says.
Travel Highlights Fiji
Suva is the capital of Fiji, its political centre and a major tourist attraction of the main island of Viti Levu. With just over 140,000 inhabitants the city isn’t huge, nonetheless there are some fun things to check out such as the:
- Municipal fruit and vegetable market, which offers an incredible range of tropical fruits and local produce.
- Handicraft Centre, where you can check out the local carvings and straw goods. If you are going to buy any of the local handicraft souvenirs, this is a good place to do so.
- Fiji Museum, a nice place to explore the history and culture of Fiji and one of only a few museums in the entire country.
- The strong Indian influence all over, and there are quite a few good curry houses to choose from.
Nadi is the other big city on the main island and is mostly a transfer point to other places. Although the Hindu Temple is the largest in the Pacific and worth a visit.
Leaving the big cities behind you will realize that there is one main thing to do in Fiji: lying on the beach. There are a variety of beach resorts scattered along the coast of the main island, and they cater to a wide range of different markets: from upscale luxury resorts to hammock based living for backpackers. There’s a place here for everyone to unwind, relax, and enjoy a little bit of island living. The Beachhouse, near the city of Sigatoka, is a famous backpacker destination and it can be quite fun to spend a few days here comparing stories with other international travellers.
Jumping on a boat in Nadi, you can travel to Vanua Levu, the second largest island in Fiji. You will find at least as many beach resorts here as in Viti Levu, as well as some spectacular diving sites such as Rainbow Reef and White Wall. There are a few places here where you can do a full PADI diving certification and if you have a couple of days, this may be worth your while. Another must see while you are on this island is the Waisali Rainforest Reserve where you can enjoy some spectacular hikes through a tropical forest. Considering arranging Fiji travel insurance before embarking on any adventures though, in case you run into anything unexpected.
Exploring the many smaller islands around the two main islands can be a bit tricky and expensive. Many are exclusive resort destinations that do not allow visitors, such as the world famous Tavarua Island Resort with its unique access to Cloudbreak. Other islands are still inhabited by local tribes and may only be visited with the chief’s permission. However, if you have access to a sailing boat, you can do some exceptional tours between some of these smaller islands, often not seeing many other tourists in the process.
Food is simple yet very tasty and enjoyable. After a hard day at the beach a hearty curry and some delicious tropical fruits are just what you need. A favorite local drink is kava. Kava is an extract of the pepper root with a flavor that can take a bit of getting used to. Kava has intoxicating effects, and is offered everywhere as a sign of friendship. Strolling through the main road in Nadi you will be offered kava by everyone having something to sell, and it is the polite custom to accept their offer - don't feel obliged to buy any of their wares though!
Fiji is an iconic island destination that everyone should visit at least once in their life!
Fiji has three official languages under the 1997 constitution: English, Fijian and Hindi. Fijian yolois a spoken either as a first or second language by indigenous Fijians who make up around 54% of the population. Fijians of Indian descent make up a further 37%, mainly speaking a local variant of Hindi, known as Fiji Hindi.
