Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Fiji in November - offroad Viti Levu or Yasawas?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Fiji

I need to decide between:

A) drive Nadi - Koroyanitu - Lautoka - Ba - Navala - Sigatoka, stopping along the way over 4 days. This was my original plan, but given the rain, unknown road condition, fact I'll be alone, relative remoteness, and fact I have not been able to get in touch with any of the villages I hoped to stay at, I am having second thoughts.

B) 4 day 3 night trip to Yasawa Islands, probably just one, Nacula. Total travel time is 8 hrs on boat I guess so it's really more like 3 days. Food, accommodation, transport costs are less than (A) but if I include off-shore snorkeling and the caves, it may be close to the same.

C) Your suggested alternative. I have 4 days. Actually, I have to be in Pacific Harbor sometime on Day 4. I don't mind getting there late at night, just not sure how late buses, cabs run.

Questions regarding (A):

Is it typically easy or hard to make accommodation arrangements at places like Bulou's at the last minute? Anyone know if Fiji Water factory will accommodate people who just show up hoping for a tour or are they pretty strict in only offering it if there are a certain # of people? Can anyone give me an idea of road conditions right now for this route? Should I be concerned about safety as a solo female traveler (seems pretty safe?) ? Is it easy or difficult to arrange accommodations at villages you pass on the road when simply showing up? This time of year, is there a real possibility of the road becoming impassable?

Questions regarding (B):

What is the water visibility at this time of year? How about the water conditions - calm, choppy, etc? How is swimming, snorkeling this time of year? Is the water temp really high 70s-80s F? I've heard snorkeling Waya is better? Is Nacula a good place to be based for cave trip? Aren't there other caves you can check out besides Sawa-I-Lau?

How do islands near Ovalau (e.g. Caqalai) compare to Nacula and Yasawas? Is it possible to arrange a day trip to one of these through Bobo's Farm? From looking at Google Maps it doesn't look like there are any beaches really on Ovalau - is this right?

thank you much!

Edited by: prioritymail

A) Probably not your best option. Particularly road conditions, and the uncertainty of accommodation.
B) Nacula - are you thinking of Blue Lagoon Beach Resort? Water conditions great, it is a particularly well sheltered beach. The snorkelling there is better than Waya. Cave trip - they leave from there early in the morning. We got to Sawa-i-lau well before hordes of other boats and had the caves to ourselves. Worth doing. If you want to see photos post an email address (either here or send me a PM).
C) Ovalau not renowned for beaches, although I have not been to Bobos, only round the Levuka area. I have stayed at Caqelai, drawn by good reviews, and found the beach and snorkelling there not a patch on Yasawas.

1

Are the caves open? We were there in August/Semptember and the were closed due to a legal dispute.

2

We were there last week in September, and yes, they were open then.

3