Fiji Travel Guide: Island Hopping, Kava Ceremonies & the Warmest Welcome on Earth

# Fiji Travel Guide: Island Hopping & Bula Spirit

Fiji isn't just about beaches — it's about the people. Fijians are genuinely, overwhelmingly friendly. You'll hear "bula!" (hello/welcome/life) shouted at you from every village you pass. It's impossible not to smile back.

The closest island chain to Nadi airport — picture-perfect castaway islands. **Monuriki** (where Tom Hanks filmed Cast Away) is a popular day trip. Cloud 9 is a floating bar/pizzeria anchored in the middle of the lagoon — two levels, wood-fired pizza, and swimming off the deck.

Beachcomber Island and South Sea Island are the party islands for backpackers. For quieter luxury, Likuliku Lagoon Resort has Fiji's only overwater bures.

Further north, wilder, more dramatic. The Yasawas are a chain of volcanic islands with steep green peaks plunging into electric-blue water. **Sawa-i-Lau Caves** are the highlight — swim through an underwater tunnel into a hidden cavern. The Blue Lagoon (made famous by the Brooke Shields film) lives up to the hype.

The Yasawas are mostly backpacker-to-midrange. Beachfront bures (thatched huts) start at $50/night, often including meals. The Yasawa Flyer catamaran connects the islands daily.

The traditional welcome ceremony. Kava (yaqona) is a muddy-looking drink made from the root of the pepper plant. It numbs your lips and gives a mild relaxing buzz. When offered, clap once, say "bula," drink the whole bowl in one go, then clap three times. It's rude to refuse — and it's an experience you won't forget.

The Garden Island — lush, wet, and home to the best diving in Fiji. The Rainbow Reef in the Somosomo Strait has some of the world's best soft coral. The International Date Line runs through the island — you can stand with one foot in today and one in tomorrow.

- **Lovo** — Traditional earth-oven feast. Meat, fish, and root vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and slow-cooked underground