Denarau Island Travelers Recommend

With three days to spend on Denarau Island, you have time to get out on the water to island hop and snorkel, tour Nadi’s cultural and historic attractions, and spend some time away from the beach for a different kind of outdoor adventure in Fiji. Here’s how to make the most of your three days.

Day 1: Sail, Swim, Snorkel

You haven’t seen Fiji until you’ve seen it from the water. While Denarau and Nadi might be the most developed areas of the archipelago, Fiji comprises some 300 islands, more than 100 of them uninhabited. Play Robinson Crusoe today by setting sail to one (or more) of these idyllic escapes. Spend the day basking on Fiji’s best beaches on the hilly Yasawa Islands, snorkel the coral reefs of the aptly named (and uninhabited) Snorkel Island, enjoy the water sports and amenities of Mana Island, or hop through the Mamanuca Islands to visit a variety of swimming and snorkeling spots. Finish off your day of sun, sand, and sea with a relaxed dinner at one of the resort restaurants on Denarau Island; many offer toes-in-the-sand dining, as well as nightly live entertainment.

Day 2: Around Nadi

You’ve experienced some of Fiji’s natural appeal, so today is all about enjoying the local culture. Start your day with a guided sightseeing tour around Nadi, Fiji’s tourist hub and fastest growing area. Many tours include stops at Vuda Lookout for views of the Yasawa Islands, the orchid-filled Garden of the Sleeping Giant, Namaka Market, and a local Hindu temple. Polish off your tour with a little relaxation in the thermal pools and mud baths of Sabeto Hot Springs. This afternoon, you may be ready for some time spent poolside, but for a deeper cultural experience, take a hands-on Fijian cooking class, which often includes a visit to a produce market to shop for local ingredients.

Day 3: Adventures on Land

If you can tear yourself away from the water today, your reward is a wealth of adventurous options on land. Depending on your interests and capacity for adrenaline, you might whiz down Fiji’s longest zipline, bounce through mud puddles and sugarcane fields on a guided ATV or quad bike tour, rappel in the Tau Caves, or, for the ultimate adventure, skydive above the archipelago. Finish your trip by taking a sunset dinner cruise on your final night in Fiji. Some cruises are followed by a beach bonfire and cultural performance featuring fire walking, music, and dancing.