Island Hopping in Fiji

You know when you see those photos of that glorious island oasis with white sand, clusters of palm trees, and pristine blue water? That’s Fiji. Fiji is exactly as amazingly beautiful as the image you have in your mind. On land or by sea, there’s a treasure trove of wildlife and natural beauty whenever you look. Over the last few years, I was fortunate to visit the area twice to try to find the best island in Fiji around the Lautoka/Denaru area. I’m sure it’ll be easy to see why these island gems aren’t to be missed. No matter which one you choose, you are guaranteed amazing snorkeling. There’s one that’s ideal for couples, one for families, and one for everyone!

Planning Guide for your Fiji Island Hopping Trip

• Where to stay: Likuliku Island Resort for couples; Castaway Island Resort for families
• Flight details: Fly into Nadi International Airport (NAN)
• Time of year visited: Spring & Summer
• Time in Fiji: A little over 1 week in total
• Island Hopping Note: The islands around Fiji’s main island can be accessed by boat or seaplane. Since I think it’s not the most fun to get on a seaplane after being on a long plane ride, all of the islands I’m recommending below can be accessed from the Nadi area by boat.

South Sea Island – Great for Everyone

This is the cutest little island that there ever was. The smallest of the three I visited, South Sea Island still has it all! The snorkeling here was like nowhere I’ve ever seen. I literally didn’t know where to look because there were so many fish all around. And we’re talking huge, fully grown fish (and sharks!).

South Sea Island is great for families and couples alike. For couples, there are plenty of lounge chairs on the beach, hammocks, and private areas to get some R&R. There’s a boat that will take you out to the barrier reef where there’s fantastic snorkeling. For families, the surf on this island is basically non-existent. Kids can easily plan right off the beach. There’s also a fun glass-bottom boat ride, and tons of shelling. If you do plan to snorkel, make sure to bring one of the best snorkel camera options with you on your trip to capture some amazing underwater moments.

Though South Sea Island is tiny, it still boasts its own lodging (a backpacker resort), pool, full kitchen/bar, and water activities like stand up paddle boarding. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Malolo Island – Perfect for Couples

This delightful place is the most romantic option of the three islands. It’s home to one of the most beautiful adults-only resorts I’ve ever visited, Likuliku Lagoon Resort. The staff here literally has all of your wants and needs covered. They even deliver the most amazing freshly-baked chocolate cookies to your room every day around 4PM.

Malolo Island offers all of the stellar snorkeling and water sports you’ll find all over Fiji. The highlights on Malolo Island, since it’s the biggest of the three I visited, are hiking and additional land wildlife that you won’t find anywhere else. In a single day, I saw six different kinds of crabs on this one island! Where else would you find that?

With all of this amazing natural scenery, you really have to look the part of a carefree island hopper. How’s a girl to compete with all that natural beauty? Since my most recent trip to Fiji was part of my honeymoon, I called on the pros. Special thanks to Haute Mama Boutique and stylist Susan Padron for making me look the part in this flowy white dress (pictured below). Doesn’t it just scream Fiji honeymoon? 😍

Qalito Island (aka Castaway Island) – Best for Families

If you’re traveling with kids or you’re the adventurous type, Qalito Island/Castaway Island should be just right! Castaway Island (not to be confused with nearby Monuriki Island, where the movie Castaway was filmed) is a perfect spot for families. Unlike some of the other area islands that cater to honeymooners, Castaway Island is set up for family fun. The island is one of the places where neighboring resorts will shuttle guests for day trip activities like banana boar rides and parasailing. The island also has its own Kids Club, so parents can enjoy a little time to themselves.

If you don’t have kids, there are still tons of fun active things to do at Castaway like waterskiing and jetskiing. I went there specifically to go parasailing because I’d never and it before and #YOLO. The views did not disappoint!

The Fijian People

The Fijian people are some of the happiest and friendliest people in the world. I would be remiss to write about Fiji and not mention them, since they contribute so much to the overall feeling of joy that’s exuded from this island. Every local I interacted with had a permanent smile plastered on his/her face. They live in paradise, and everything is on “Fiji time”, meaning “whenever you get to it.” They’re as relaxed as the breeze blowing through the palm trees, as warm as the sun shining overhead, and as cheerful as the brightly colored fish you’ll see in every reef. Check out this video of some of the local Fijian I saw perform during my recent visit: