Village stay/ Homestay in the Yasawas

Full disclosure- I'm a volunteer living in a village in the Yasawas, working for an organization that probably doesn't want to be identified (it's been around for 50 years). I don't stand to profit from this post that I'm making here, although I am somewhat biased. In addition to selfish (but good intentioned) motives, I'm trying to inform those who might want to stay in a village in the Yasawas (see the cover of the current LP Fiji, that's the view off the village I'm privileged to live in) in a more culturally-oriented stay. I feel like I'm treading in a grey area between advertising and a review- I cannot profit from the place, and I've also been a western guest in this village for 14 months. I'm not that different from your traveler or tourist, just better informed. I'll just provide facts.

The villagers in Navotua, on Nacula island in the northern Yasawa islands, have recently opened a 'Village Stay', which is a small traditional Fijian 'bure' (hut) on the edge of the village. It has new beds and mattresses, and can sleep up to four. The bure is about 5 meters from the beach. Food is provided by the villagers, and 3 meals are included in the cost, which is $80/night for up to two, and $20 each for the third and fourth guests (so four would cost $120 FJD with food). Nothing too fancy, just the local diet of fresh fish, root crops, and some greens and fruits, often prepared in coconut milk.

Navotua is located on the same island as Oarsman's Bay and Blue Lagoon Beach resort, but it's a 2.5 hour hike from those nearest resorts to the village. Therefore, if you would like to go to this 'Village Stay', it's possible to arrange a direct transfer from the Yasawa Flyer/the aforementioned resorts for about $70/person, or, if you ride up to the Sawa-i-Lau caves, it can be arranged for those boats to drop you off one day and pick you up another for minimal extra cost, or perhaps none at all. Those of a hiking bend can cross the island, but it is difficult and the trail isn't up to western standards- you'll need a guide, which will cost $20.

Contact is Se (pronounced 'Say'): +679 7620870, or 862 8105

30-40 FJD per person with 3 meals is certainly a very reasonable rate for Fiji, especially for the Yasawas.
This village is really far from the resorts of Nacula though... I'm not sure many visitors would get there by hiking!
A direct boat from Lautoka would have to be the best (certainly cheapest) way of reaching it.

I hope it goes well for them.

Cheers,
Peter

You might have answered my questions about where to go if I ever actually get to Fiji. That is, provided there is a boat transfer direct to to village. I can't manage hiking these days.

You would always be able to get a water taxi from somewhere nearby.

Cheers,
Peter

what do you do in the village volunteering? I've stayed at Oarsmans and they took us on a boat trip around the island and we stopped at various beaches to snorkel - it is quite a big island - if you caught the yasawa flyer would the village have a boat they could pick you up?

I find this a great idea and am considering going there this summer. But since I am travelling with family I am looking for some more information about the bure, the village, the organisation, the island, the beach.
Has anybody been there and could share his experience with me? Were the huts clean, is the beach clean, how is snorkelling, how is the food, how easy is it to get and be in touch with the locals?
So any feedback and pictures would be highly welcome!!!

we have been to Navotua many time. The homestay is new and Navotua is the best place in Fiji

Hello World,
we have found out about this homestay here in this forum and decided to go there as family. So we were there this August 2012 for 8 days - as the very first guests in this village homestay. Basically the whole village was anxiously expecting (even praying for) us, welcoming us, looking after us. The bure to sleep was nice and new, right at the beach. The waters are clear and blue. They also built a hut just for dining - here a different family was responsible every day to provide lunch and dinner. We had solely local food - kasava, fish, vegetable, crab, papaya, coconuts plus fresh buns every morning, rice.
The village has no electricity, no TV, no access to internet.
It was great if you are looking for something genuinely different and natural.

I came back from this amazing village week ago...

I've visited thorntree forum quite often for some travel tips, but this is my first reply ever and the reason for it is that I truly feel this Navotua village is worth writing about...

Normally when finding amazing places (not spoiled by mass tourism) I would keep my lips sealed and selfishly keep it to myself, but in this case, I feel that the people in this village were so great that I want to promote this little bit, just to help them out, because few visitors every once in a while could have positive impact on their life...

I've noticed that a lot of people are asking for these types of places in Fiji, that are cheaper and which still have that authentic vibe to it, but not many know where they are. Navotua is definately one worth visiting!

I had just 10 days to spend in Fiji and I wanted to experience village life. Everybody highlights the Yasawa's as the must see thing when going to Fiji for the first time. So that's where I went too, but I was really lucky to find about this Navotua village. I didn't know what to expect beforehand but as soon as I arrived there, I knew that I would LOVE it. I bought the Bula Pass, just give me an option to visit other islands but after Navotua didn't need to :)
Sure those resorts in other islands look nice and sure you can have good time there too, but in this village you get so much more.

Just like mentioned in other comments, place is really good. Bure is clean and comfortable, food is good (you have the priviledge to eat every meal with different family at their home). People are SUPER friendly! Location is not bad either, nature is beautiful, with the Sawa-i-Lau cave just next door (worth visiting too).

I paid 40 Fiji dollars/day for everything and that is very cheap in Fiji and good thing is that the money that you pay will be shared with the whole village.

-Conor, if you still read this thread, I have a message from the village families for you. I could e-mail it to you. They really miss u there, and your impact to their daily life was huge, respect!
(kimmoilanen@hotmail.com)

Edited by: Gimble00

Thank you for the feedback from the two people who have visited. I have one question: does the bure have real beds (not mats and mattresses on the floor)?
This is the sort of place I would love to visit when I get to Fiji, but for physical reasons, I can't sleep on the floor.
(I regularly stay in similar villages in Solomon Islands).
For similar reasons, I need a chair to sit on, not the floor or a low deck chair or sun lounge. Would this be feasible with the families that provide meals?

Bure has a good double bed, no need to sleep on the floor.

When visiting village homes for meals or evening meetings everyone is sitting on the floor, but if you have difficulties with it, I'm sure they can arrange some chair for u. Sitting on the floor cross-legged is part of the culture but for us not "born" with it, your legs can get sore doing it for hours, but if they saw me struggling they told me to relax and sit what feels best.

I have had more than 20 years experience with it in Solomon Islands, and even 20 years ago, found sitting on the floor difficult due to anatomical issues.
Now, with one artificial knee, and another one to be done, sitting on the floor, or trying to get up again, is impossible.
Fortunately, on my recent visit (before knee operation), they had provided a VIP area with chairs at the feast I attended. I think some of the older islanders are finding sitting on the ground difficult these days too.
I guess if I warned the village stay people in advance, they would organise something, as they do in SI.