| schwabbie05:03 UTC19 Dec 2004 | Botaira Island Resort - http://www.botaira.com</b><BR><BR>Botaira Island Resort is location on Naviti Island in the Yasawa region. You can get to this resort on the Yasawa Flyer departing from Denarau Mariner daily at 9am. It takes 3 hours to reach the resort.
The resort itself has 7 beachfront bures (Bure = F$250 per night per bure F$60 per person x 3 meals daily) and two dorms each sleeping about 10 people (F$70 per person per night including 3 meals daily).
The beachfront bures are very spacious, with a queen size bed, settee and two chairs + coffee table. They also each have an ensuite. Each bure is approximately 5 metres from the water.
The dorm rooms are set further back - about 15 metres from the beach. There is one each side of the main dining bure. They were clean and comfortable and the backpackers staying on the island that I spoke to said they were very comfortable and highly recommended them.
The beach itself is very nice. White sand and blue water. It is however tidal, and during low tide the water extends beyond the general sand section and displays low lying rocks. You can walk out beyond the rocks (about 15 metres) to get out to an excellent swimming depth.
This resort has some of the best snorkelling I have experienced in the Yasawa region right in front of its resort. Because the resort it situate in a bay area and because the beach is tidal, boats cannot get all the way up to the beach and thus cannot ride over the coral and destroy it. Hence, I believe the coral here will always be very good.
The resort runs a morning trip (first trip for free) around to another bay where you snorkel in search of manta rays. Manta Ray season is from May to August. Unfortunately we didn’t see any however Joe, one of the local Fijians, was kind enough to sink to the bottom of the ocean floor and pretend to be a Manta Ray for us.
Several of the backpackers were extending their stay as they really loved the place. I think for their F$70 per day they were getting a really good deal. The accommodations and food were very nice. I would rate the food at about 20% better than Oarsmans.
I do think that the beachfront bures are somewhat overpriced. Particularly given that backpackers stay for F$10 per night food = F$70. A bure equates to F$370 per night x 2 people, or F$165 each.
The two negatives about this place are:
1. The bures and dorms do not have ceiling fans.
2. The resort only runs the generator at certain times of the day. This impacts the bar and their fridge. The drinks (including beer) were not always chilled.
I would definitely recommend this place to visit. I think 3 nights is a good amount of time to explore, partake in the morning Manta Ray search, do the ridge walk, a trip to the local village and do a bit of snorkeling off the beach. If I was to visit this place again I would definitely forego a beachfront bure and stay in a dorm (merely for the cost savings).
Happy travels to all.
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| Taimarilyn04:27 UTC28 Dec 2004 | Thanks for that Schwabbie - we visited Botaira in October (on a boat trip up from Octopus) & wondered about staying there for a few nights next year. I think we will probably stick with Octopus though.
Just a couple of things - our boat (& several others when we were there visiting) went right up to the beach for us to land (20 foot boat), and we were on a manta ray spotting expedition at the time and saw & swam with several, both on the way up & again on the way back.
Happy travels!
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