Blue Lagoon Resort, Fiji: Detailed Review + Tips

Considering a stay at the Blue Lagoon Resort in Fiji but not sure if it’s the right choice for you?

This detailed review shares our thoughts on Fiji’s Blue Lagoon Resort, including accommodation options, food choices, activities and more.

We stayed at the Blue Lagoon for 10 days in February 2023. When researching for the trip, I didn’t find a lot of post-pandemic information.

Fiji closed its borders to international tourists for almost two years and some resorts have experienced significant changes.

With that in mind, this post will cover everything you should know about planning a trip to the Blue Lagoon Resort in Fiji.

I’ll share advice regarding the best activities, how long to stay and which accommodation offers the best value. I’ll also reveal whether we would go back.

Here’s what to expect:

• Resort overview
  • Essential details
  • Our experience
• Rooms and villas
• Food and drinks
  • Mandatory meal package
  • What to expect
• Activities
• Other resort amenities and facilities
• Our review
• How to get to the Blue Lagoon Resort
• Tips and advice

Please note that as with our entire Fiji trip, we paid for our 9 night stay at the Blue Lagoon Resort with our own money (no sponsorship or media rate).

Published December 2023. There are affiliate links in this post. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, we may receive a percentage of the sale.

All prices in this post are Fijian dollars unless otherwise specified. At the time of writing, $1FJD is $0.61CAD, $0.45USD, $0.68AUD.

Blue Lagoon Resort: Overview

Blue Lagoon Resort is the epitome of a tropical paradise destination. Perched just behind a palm-fringed white sandy beach, the ‘blue lagoon’ in question is a deep turquoise-coloured bay with a large offshore coral reef.

The usually calm, crystal-clear water is perfect for snorkelling, swimming, diving, kayaking and paddleboarding.

With a total capacity of around 120 guests, staying at the Blue Lagoon Resort feels pretty exclusive.

It is far from pretentious, however, with the resort having a casual, relaxed vibe. So relaxed, in fact, that shoes are not even needed since all of the buildings are connected by sandy paths. Part of the dining room at the restaurant even has a sand floor.

The crowd is a blended one, with British and German backpackers mixing with Canadian and American couples, Australian families and multi-generational groups.

Guests receive heartfelt and warm hospitality from the Fijian team, as is the Fiji way. Expect ‘bula!’ (hello) to become a way of life as well as ‘Fiji time.’

Walking around the resort takes just 8 minutes at the most, with the dive shop and office at one end and the Palms Villas, swimming pool and restaurant at the other. The remaining villas and rooms are all situated in between, all bordered by the beach and ocean.

Backdropped by rugged volcanic mountains, a rough hiking trail leads from the resort up to several lookouts, offering spectacular views of the ocean and surrounding islands.

For most guests, the Blue Lagoon is breathtaking enough at sea level (or just below). The ocean temperature is usually a warm 28°C. The colourful and healthy house reef is visited by hundreds of colourful tropical fish.

If you want to go deeper, the resort has an on-site PADI 5* dive centre, with three daily dives available. Incredibly, the water temperature remains the same 20m down!

Essential details and location

The Blue Lagoon Resort is situated on Nacula Island, part of the volcanic Yasawa Islands chain. The Yasawas are northwest of Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu.

Nacula Island is one of the largest and most northern islands in the Yasawas and is 47 nautical miles from the mainland. Around 600 people live on the island, spread across four villages.

Like the other islands in the Yasawas chain, there are no shops, no restaurants and no formal roads on Nacula Island. There is a total of four resorts – Blue Lagoon, Safe Landing, Oarsman Bay Lodge and Nabua Lodge.

Though the name (and appearance) may hint at it, the Blue Lagoon movie (1980) was not shot at the Blue Lagoon Resort. It was filmed on the private island of Nanuya Levu, which is a 20 minute boat ride south of Nacula Island.

Blue Lagoon Resort is owned by a New Zealand company (all website prices are quoted in NZD by default). The same business owns two other resorts in the Yasawas – Paradise Cove (higher end) and Octopus Resort (slightly cheaper than Blue Lagoon).

99% of Blue Lagoon’s staff are Fijian. We also stayed at Naqalia Lodge which is owned and operated by a local Fijian village.

Our experience

Return flights to Fiji from Canada for $600? Sign us up! Scoring incredibly cheap promo fares with Fiji Airways, we booked a 16-day trip for February, wanting to get away during our least favourite month of winter.

Arriving in Nadi at 5.30am after an overnight flight (during which neither of us slept), we were very glad we had decided not to head to the Yasawas straight away.

Having paid for the previous night as well, we were able to check into our hotel (Aquarius On The Beach in Wailoloa) at 6am. This gave us a chance to get over jet lag and also pick up some supplies from a local grocery store.

For our first week in Fiji, we stayed at Naqalia Lodge, a Fijian-owned resort located in the southern Yasawas. While we loved this experience, we were looking forward to hot showers and air conditioning at the Blue Lagoon.

The first half of our Blue Lagoon stay was simply idyllic. We snorkelled every day, joined as many activities as could and lazed around the beach.

Sadly, this wasn’t to last. Our trip was during Fiji’s wet/storm season, which runs from November to April.

Inbound cyclone

A cyclone was approaching, with another not far behind. The winds started to pick up and the water visibility decreased. Frustratingly, that was just when we decided to try some scuba diving.

We both managed to fit in a couple of great dives before the boat was no longer able to go out for safety reasons. Unfortunately, the winds and resulting wave action meant it was also impossible to snorkel or swim.

The resort began to clear out, with as few as twenty guests remaining at one point. Our last second-to-last day was a bit of a panic after the manager announced that the Yasawa Flyer ferry may not arrive for our departure date.

After checking our travel insurance (which covered new flights and two days of expenses), we decided to risk staying. Luckily, the ferry did arrive the next day, though it was cancelled for the next three.

Taking a different route back to the mainland, the boat ride wasn’t as rough as it could have been. We arrived with plenty of time for our late flight back to Canada.

I’ll share more about our personal opinions of the Blue Lagoon Resort later in this post.

Blue Lagoon Resort Fiji rooms and villas

The Blue Lagoon has 8 different room and villa configurations. The latter is inspired by traditional Fijian ‘bures,’ which are traditional wood-and-straw huts.

We stayed in a Deluxe Garden Villa for 6 nights (30% discount offer) and a Beachfront Villa for 3 nights (upgrade) but also visited every other type of accommodation as well.

If I went back, I’d probably just choose a regular Garden Villa. I think they offer the best value for money for couples and still retain a great level of comfort and privacy.

The 30% discount we received meant that our Deluxe Garden Villa was only slightly more expensive than the Garden Villa, so it seemed silly not to upgrade (the discount could not be applied to the Garden Villa price).

Budget options

• Blue Lagoon has two air-conditioned mixed-sex dorm rooms, each with eight single beds (no bunks)

The communal bathrooms offer four toilets and six hot showers. The dorms are situated in a garden area behind the dive shop/office and in front of the staff accommodation building.

• The Bula Lodge rooms are located next to the dorms, with five sets of two rooms forming a circle around the garden. While basic, the lodge rooms are decorated nicely and feature a king bed (or two singles).

Each room has a deck looking out into the middle of the garden, with seating and a washing line. The bathrooms are shared with the dorms (up to 34 people total). It’s important to know that there is no air conditioning, just a fan.

• There are nine air-conditioned Garden Villas at the Blue Lagoon, each featuring a large sleeping room with seating, a private open-air bathroom, an outdoor day bed, hammock, tea and coffee-making facilities, an empty mini fridge and TV

Most of the Garden Villas are situated behind the Beachfront Villas, along the sandy path connecting the dive shop and restaurant. The others are found behind the pool and kitchen and are a little more private due to this, but can be noisier.

Additional beds can be added to the Garden Villas to host up to four people.

Premium options

• Blue Lagoon’s one and two-bedroom Deluxe Garden Villas are located along a quiet pathway behind the pool area. While very private, these villas have the longest walk to everywhere else.

Twice the size of the Garden Villas, the Deluxe version features a huge open plan sleeping/living room with couches, air conditioning, a private open-air bathroom and a smaller twin sleeping room (that is usually locked off when sold as a one-bedroom).

There is a large day bed outside plus a hammock, tea and coffee-making facilities, a complimentary mini-bar fridge (two beers plus assortment of soda, no refill) and television. We stayed in Villa 19 and had decent wi-fi.

• There are six air-conditioned Beachfront Villas between the dive shop and the restaurant, each with unobscured views of the ocean, a hammock, exclusive-use sun loungers, private open-air bathroom and television

Villa 6 is a ‘Deluxe’ version with two bedrooms (bunk beds). We stayed next door in Villa 5, which had a single bed as well as the king. The mini bar fridge was empty but I believe it would have been full (had we not been upgraded). The wi-fi did not work very well.

• The most expensive accommodation at the Blue Lagoon is the Palm Villas, of which there is a total of two

Situated on the far side of the pool, both villas enjoy unobstructed ocean views and easy access to the beach. Villa 2 is quieter and more private.

Even bigger than the Deluxe Villas, the air-conditioned Palm Villas also have a large open-plan sleeping/living room with a smaller second bedroom. There is a private open-air bathroom, television, an outside day bed, exclusive-use sun loungers and a mini bar fridge.

Food and drink at the Blue Lagoon Resort Fiji (and the mandatory meal package!)

The Blue Lagoon Resort’s restaurant is centrally located and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The attached bar looks out over the swimming pool.

Mandatory meal package details

Like most of the resorts in the Yasawas, Blue Lagoon has a mandatory meal package.

This means that guests have to pay a set price for three daily meals. In 2023, the Blue Lagoon charged $115NZD per adult, per day (around $158FJD).

The mandatory meal package system definitely catches some guests out.

Prices on accommodation booking websites, such as Booking.com, do not usually include mandatory meal costs at resorts in the Yasawas. Be sure to read all of the details carefully.

When booking the Blue Lagoon directly, the meal plan fees are automatically added after selecting your desired accommodation.

The Yasawa Flyer arrives at the Blue Lagoon during lunchtime. After checking in, head to the restaurant for lunch. It is important to note that lunch is not included on the check-out day. It is possible to pay for a takeout lunch for the ferry.

Blue Lagoon Resort food: what to expect

Fees aside, food at the Blue Lagoon Resort is of a good standard, with plenty of choice and medium-sized portions (in comparison to Canada).

Most of the food is international, mostly Western, cuisine. There are only a couple of Fijian dishes and specialities.

There is table service, with allocated tables for dinner. Guests usually have the option to dine alone (just with their group) or join other parties.

There are around seven tables with unobstructed views of the ocean.

There is a children’s menu available. Other guests told us that families can pre-order dinner so the children can eat soon after being seated.

I’ll break down what to expect for each meal, starting with breakfast. Snacks are available between meals for an additional fee.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 7.30 to 10am and features a continental buffet (pastries, cereal, bread, fruit) and a la carte menu (any type of eggs, pancakes, French toast. bacon, sausage).

Lunch

Lunch is a la carte, with around a dozen different dishes offered on the menu. It is served from 12 to 2pm.

Some of the lunch meals are customisable, with a choice of protein, cooking style or side dish. Others change flavour every day (such as the pie or curry).

Expect to see a couple of salads, a Buddha Bowl, spring rolls, a choice of burgers, fish of the day (fried or battered), pie, curry, stir fry, pasta and quesadillas.

The stand-out lunch dish is the traditional Fijian Kokoda. This features fish pieces marinated in lemon juice, served with fresh coconut cream and vegetables (almost like a soup). Choose between rice, salad or root crop fries on the side.

Dinner

Dinner is a five-course a la carte meal, which is replaced twice a week with a themed night or buffet. Live guitar music is usually played throughout dinner.

Guests are asked their preferences for dinner at lunchtime – a start time of 6.30, 7.00 or 7.30pm (reduced options during low season), desired group (private or shared) and/or specific table.

I’d recommend going for the earlier seating if possible – it offers the best choice of tables and service will be faster.

The five courses include an amuse bouche, soup, entree (choice of four), main course (choice of four) and dessert (choice of three). The meal generally takes around 1.5 hours, sometimes 2 hours.

Of all the meals at the Blue Lagoon, the dinner dishes are the smallest in size. With five courses, it was more than enough for us. The dishes are very well presented with some artistic flair.

The a la carte dinner menu is rotated between four different set menus, with at least one fish dish, one vegetarian dish and a gluten-free option per course.

We had two buffets during our time at the Blue Lagoon – BBQ and lovo (Fijian underground oven) and we really enjoyed them. I liked the additional variety and the more relaxed vibe (no table service).

The weekly Curry Night features a table buffet of up to five different curries with popadoms, salad and naan bread. As a huge curry fan, this was my favourite dinner at the Blue Lagoon.

Dietary requirements/preferences

Guests with dietary requirements are asked to share their needs at check-in.

Vegetarians (eggs and dairy, no meat or fish) and gluten-free guests are catered for quite well on the standard menus.

Several vegetarian guests told us that the Blue Lagoon offered much more variety than other local resorts. Most served vegetarian rice dishes only (no pasta, for example).

Blue Lagoon Resort serves gluten-free bread, muffins cakes and pasta.

Being vegan is a little more difficult but I have read many reviews in which vegan guests have raved about the meals specially created by the kitchen team.

I do not eat meat but eat fish, eggs and dairy (pescetarian). I initially wasn’t sure whether to mention this at check-in but decided to….and wish I hadn’t!

The request confused the kitchen team and the standard menus catered for me fine anyway. So if you’re also a pescetarian, don’t worry about it.

Drinks at the Blue Lagoon Resort Fiji

Basic drinks are included in the Blue Lagoon Resort’s mandatory meal package. This includes water at any time of the day as well as during meals.

Coffee and tea are offered at any time (self-service). All of the villas have tea and coffee-making facilities as well. A choice of juice is available at breakfast.

Beyond the above options, guests must pay for drinks at the Blue Lagoon Resort.

Fiji Bitter (the local beer) is the cheapest option, at $12FJD a bottle. Wine is around $18-25 a glass, $70-100 for a bottle.

Cocktails range from $25-30 (try the ‘Coconut Kiss’!) Local spirits with mixer are $16, with imported varieties being $22.

Drinks are added to your final bill and paid at check-out.

If drinking in the restaurant area isn’t important to you, there is the option to bring your own alcohol to the Blue Lagoon Resort. Drinking at your villa is allowed. Wine glasses are even provided.

We purchased alcohol duty-free at Nadi Airport and were glad we did so as we saved a lot of money. The duty-free limits are generous!

Wine ranges from $10-30FJD a bottle. 1l of vodka/rum is around $50. I’d suggest buying mixers at the grocery store in Port Denarau.

Blue Lagoon Resort Fiji activities

There are many free and paid activities at the Blue Lagoon Resort. All are optional, so you can do as little or as much as you like.

Some activities run daily while some are on select days of the week only. I’d recommend checking out the schedule soon after arrival. Most of the paid activities have limited spots and you may miss out without a reservation.

The daily schedule is displayed in the restaurant lounge area, at the dive shop and also at the office.

With the free activities, I’d recommend chatting with a member of staff before the timed start. Some of the free activities seemed to only happen because we asked about them (Fiji time!)

Prices are subject to change.

Free activities

• Snorkelling. Guests have free use of masks, snorkel tubes and fins. Available daily from the dive shop
• Kayaks and paddleboards – Guests have free use of a selection of paddleboards and kayaks. Available daily from the dive shop
• Kava ceremony and band – Interactive kava ceremony with the opportunity to try Fiji’s traditional national drink (mild sedative, tastes a bit like muddy water). Runs daily from 6pm to around 8pm, join for 10-15 minutes
• Meke night – Traditional song and dance performance by staff, guests can join in with the final dance. Runs once a week, 30 minutes
• Mountain peak hike – Guided uphill walk to the peak behind the resort. Runs twice a week, one hour. Does not operate after rain (too muddy)
• Basket weaving – Small group craft activity weaving palm fronds into a basket. Runs once a week, one hour

• Voivoi weaving – Small group craft activity weaving voivoi leaves into bracelets. Runs once a week, one hour
• Coconut demonstration – Short presentation on the many uses of coconuts – super interesting! Runs twice a week, 20 minutes
• Cooking class – Short interactive demonstration of traditional Fijian dishes, including Kokoda. Includes food. Runs twice a week, 30 minutes
• Cocktail class – Short demonstration of four different cocktails in the bar area. Includes tasting (one cocktail shared with the group). Runs once a week, 30 minutes
• Yoga – Guided early morning yoga class. Runs twice a week
• Survivor Night – Fiji trivia event in the restaurant. Join with other guests to make teams. There is a prize for the winner (our team won a bottle of champagne!) Runs once a week, 45 minutes
• Crab racing – See who chooses the fastest crab from those gathered around the resort. Free to watch, $5 to bet on a crab. There is a prize. Runs once a week, 30 minutes (JR won twice!)
• Coconut bowling/beach games – Join with other guests to make teams and play games on the beach. There is a prize for the winner of coconut bowling. Runs once a week, 30 minutes (90 minutes for beach games)

Paid activities

• Snorkel trip – Short boat ride (typically 20 minutes) to different reefs or popular snorkelling areas. My tour went to a reef and then the famous Blue Lagoon beach. Runs almost daily, 1.5 hours, $45/adult
• Cave trip – Boat ride to the spiritual Sawa-i-Lau caves, which also features in the Blue Lagoon movie. Optional swim through to second cave. Bring cash for the small market outside the caves. Departure time varies with tides. Runs three times a week, 3 hours, $89/adult
• Cultural Village Visit – Short boat ride (20 minutes) to local village with choir and dance demonstration. Bring cash for the small market. Runs twice a week, 2 hours, $45/adult
• Village Church Service – Similar to the above village visit, but with Fijian church service (features choir singing). Runs once a week, 2 hours, $45/adult

• Hand line fishing. Guided fishing experience on boat. Runs once a week, 2 hours, $45/adult
• Discover Scuba – Try scuba diving for the first time in the resort pool. Runs three times a week, 2 hours, $99/adult
• Scuba diving – On-site Vertical Blue dive shop offers three boat dives for certified divers at 9am, 11am and 3pm (dive courses also available). Runs daily, 2 hours, $165 per dive
• Massage – The Blue Lagoon has two tables in the on-site massage hut. Enquire at the office for prices for various treatments
• Happy Hour – a selection of drinks is slightly discounted each day from 5-6pm

We tried almost every free activity and a few of the paid activities (cave trip, diving, snorkel trip). We really enjoyed weaving, the coconut demonstration, cooking classes and crab racing.

The mountain hike did not run during our visit due to regular rain but we did go hiking ourselves (highly recommended!)

While we snorkelled every day we could, we did bring our own equipment as we wanted to avoid having to organise rentals.

The cave trip is unique to this area of the Yasawas and I would say it is a must (great scenery, beautiful cave and overall fun experience).

I’d recommend taking a snorkel trip if you’re staying at Blue Lagoon for a longer time. It’s not really necessary since the house reef is good. I did enjoy visiting the real Blue Lagoon beach though.

Other resort amenities and facilities

There is a swimming pool next to the restaurant area. During our stay, it was used mostly by children. Swimming in the ocean is possible too.

The Blue Lagoon has free wi-fi access in the restaurant area and dive shop. We heard quite a few complaints about the reliability and strength of it.

Wi-fi is advertised as being available in certain room types as well. It worked fine in our Deluxe Garden Villa right at the back of the resort but it was a different story in our Beachfront Villa (didn’t get it to work at all).

With that in mind, consider wi-fi a bonus if you do get access to it but don’t rely on it for anything important. Download any e-books you may need before you go!

The Beachfront, Palm and Deluxe Villas all have complimentary mini bar fridges. Ours contained two Fiji Bitter beers plus a collection of sodas (Fanta, Coke etc). It was not refilled.

All rooms except the Bula Lodge Rooms have air-conditioning. We visited in February and I was thankful for the air-con! While we would have been fine without it, air-con was a lovely amenity to have.

The Blue Lagoon Resort has inexpensive babysitting available for guests, at $15/hour. Caring for children is very much a community responsibility in Fiji. Every adult we met was great with kids and treated every child like their own.

The Blue Lagoon has a free activity club for children three years old and up. It includes crafting, baking and beach activities. Younger children can join too, but a babysitter is needed.

Our review: What we loved about the Blue Lagoon Resort

It’s hard to know where to start when we loved so many things about the Blue Lagoon!

• The snorkelling is very good. Unlike some other local resorts, the reef is accessible at all tides. We saw a good variety of coral and fish. There’s an artificial reef as well
• The on-site PADI dive centre is excellent. The diving schedule provides plenty of opportunities to get out and see a mix of dive sites. The dive manager, Hannah, is particularly good with beginner/novice divers. If you want to learn to dive, this is a great place to do it (ask for Hannah)
• The beach is absolutely beautiful and very well-kept. It is a very short walk from all the rooms. Facing west, the sunsets can be spectacular
• We had no trouble getting a beach lounger on the sand, but we did visit during a less busy season

• Food standards at the Blue Lagoon are high. The menu is mostly Western but has decent variety. Dietary requirements are well catered for
• We were impressed by the number of free activities and enjoyed each one we tried
• Service quality was great, with the majority of staff very friendly and helpful. We saw many guests build special relationships with particular members of the team
• 99% of the staff at the Blue Lagoon are Fijian, with many living in the local village. So even though the resort is owned by a New Zealand company, it does help to support the local economy
• We visited every type of accommodation at the resort and found all villas to be well-designed, constructed and maintained. The outdoor bathrooms are wonderful, especially in a place so humid!
• The resort has a total capacity of around 120 people, which feels quite exclusive. I believe there were only 20 guests during our last few days

Blue Lagoon Resort Fiji: Things we didn’t like

• Visiting during the wet season (November to April), we were taking a risk with the weather. We were in Fiji for 16 days total and experienced four very stormy days at the Blue Lagoon. Due to the high waves, we were unable to swim, dive, snorkel or kayak. Of course, this is no fault of the Blue Lagoon Resort
• If visiting during the wet season, expect more a la carte meals. One of our buffet dinners was cancelled due to the low number of people at the resort
• Like many Fijian resorts, the Blue Lagoon doesn’t have a lot of rainy-day activities. I’d suggest bringing your entertainment during storm season (some suggestions)
• Though we liked the restaurant overall, we did find the menu a little repetitive after 10 days. If we had only stayed a week, I don’t think it would have been an issue
• The Blue Lagoon Resort’s beach has some erosion issues. This is most noticeable around the Beachfront Villas, some of which have sandbags for support. This aspect isn’t very picturesque
• We heard some guests complain about the quality of the wi-fi in the restaurant area. If this is important to you, take note
• The mix of guests may not be to everyone’s taste – if you’re on a romantic honeymoon, this would not be my top pick

Would we revisit the Blue Lagoon Resort?

Absolutely, yes! I’d love to go back to Blue Lagoon Resort.

We usually prefer to try new places, however, so I’d probably combine a return trip with another resort, such as the Mantaray Island Resort (which so many other guests raved about).

As you may guess from the name, Mantaray Island Resort is located in an area with a high manta ray population. It is my dream to dive with manta rays so I would arrange a trip around manta ray season, which runs from May to October.

If we did return to Blue Lagoon Resort, I’d visit for a shorter time (up to 8 days). That may sound like a weird thing to say about a place that feels like paradise, but we did feel some repetition with the food and music after 10 days.

Having visited three different resorts in Fiji (Blue Lagoon, Naqalia Lodge and the Beachouse), I would say that I loved different aspects of each.

Despite being a lot cheaper, Naqalia Lodge and the Beachouse delivered many similar aspects to the Blue Lagoon Resort such as excellent snorkelling, paradise-like location and more.

On a return visit to the Blue Lagoon, I would prioritise diving as I believe it has the best on-site dive centre in the Yasawas.

Exploring more of Nacula Island is also something I’d like to do, as we didn’t get to use the complimentary kayaks due to the stormy weather.

How to get to the Blue Lagoon Resort, Fiji

Only accessible by water or air, the Blue Lagoon Resort is pretty remote. Here are the main methods to transfer to and from the resort.

• The cheapest way to reach the Blue Lagoon is to take the Yasawa Flyer catamaran operated by South Sea Cruises/Awesome Adventures (route 7)

The one-way journey from Viti Levu takes 4 hours and 15 minutes. Book direct or via Blue Lagoon Resort, around $200FJD/adult each way.

• For a little extra cash, Blue Lagoon Resort runs its own speed boat service from Vuda Marina on Viti Levu

Departing in the morning, the trip takes around three hours, with stops at Octopus Resort and Paradise Cove Resort (which are owned by the same company).

The return journey is also in the morning. Book via Blue Lagoon Resort, around $225FJD each way.

• The quickest but most expensive way to travel to Blue Lagoon Resort is by helicopter. Island Hoppers provide transfers from Nadi airport and most local hotels direct to the Blue Lagoon in just 30 minutes.

There is a two-person minimum and 15kg baggage limit (extra charges for heavier bags). The one-way price is $737FJD per person. The schedule varies but flights usually operate between 9am to 3pm.

Yasawa Flyer overview

The Yasawa Flyer is a daily resort shuttle running between Port Denarau Marina on Viti Levu and the Yasawa Islands.

Check-in is required at least 30 minutes before the sailing.

Usually departing Port Denarau around 8.45 am, the Yasawa Flyer first travels to South Sea Island (Vunivandra) and Vomo Island, both part of the Mamanucas archipelago.

Leaving the Mamanucas behind, the Flyer departs for the Yasawas proper. As the boat gets closer, large mountainous peaks rise above the ocean.

The first stop in the Yasawas is 1 hour and 45 minutes after leaving Port Denarau, with passengers leaving for three different resorts. Each resort meets the Flyer with one or two of their own boats, to pick up passengers, luggage and supplies.

The rest of the journey continues with stops every 15-30 minutes. The Flyer travels up the western side of the Yasawas chain, turns around at Nacula Island and then returns to Port Denarau, visiting most resorts for a second time on the way back.

With the Blue Lagoon Resort being located at the end of the Flyer’s route, there is only one daily pick-up and drop-off.

Travelling to the Yasawa Flyer

As mentioned, the Yasawa Flyer departs from Port Denarau Marina, which is located on the western side of Viti Levu. It is 15km from Nadi airport, about 25 minutes.

Yasawa Flyer tickets include complimentary pre-booked coach transfers from Nadi airport and most Nadi, Wailoaloa and Port Denarau hotels to/from Port Denarau Marina.

All transfers are arranged as per your selections when booking on the South Sea Cruises website (or via the Blue Lagoon Resort booking team), where the coach schedule is also published.

We were picked up by the coach transfer from our hotel in Wailoaloa at 7.15am and were dropped off at the Marina at 7.50am.

The airport pick-up also departs Nadi airport for Port Denarau at 7.15am. It takes longer to reach the Marina, however. Some people prefer to pay for a taxi instead as it allows more free time at the marina (to buy snacks, have breakfast etc).

On arrival at the Port, Flyer passengers must check-in at least 30 minutes before departure. There is a clearly marked South Sea Cruises desk inside the main building.

Before joining the line, head around the side of the desk to the exterior of the building and drop your baggage off to the waiting staff. They will ask which resort you are travelling to and then attach tags onto your bags.

Port Denarau Marina features a collection of shops, restaurants and tour kiosks. There is a Westpac bank with an ATM.

There is one cafe and a small grocery store that both open early enough for Yasawa Flyer passengers. To save money, I’d recommend buying snacks and drinks at the marina if you haven’t already.

Yasawa Flyer experience

A 27 metre long high-speed catamaran boat, the Yasawa Flyer usually offers a stable and comfortable ride in most weather conditions. If the waves do pick up, the Flyer will usually adjust course to take the most sheltered route instead.

The lower level interior deck of the boat is air-conditioned and features row seating. Luggage is stored at the back of the boat, organised by resort drop-off.

There’s a small snack kiosk on this level, also serving soda and alcoholic drinks. The prices are pretty high, however, expect to pay around $13 for Pringles or other chips.

There are several exterior decks, with the stern (back) offering seating.

For an extra charge, it is possible to upgrade to the ‘Captain’s Lounge.’ This provides access to the upper interior deck of the boat. Complimentary snacks and drinks (including some alcoholic options) are available.

After getting on board, we were directed to an administration member of staff who checked our tickets and processed the additional fuel surcharge that was in place at the time ($25/adult per one-way trip).

Tips and advice for a stay at the Blue Lagoon Resort Fiji

Here are our recommendations for future guests of Blue Lagoon Resort, Fiji:

• If you love to snorkel, bring your own snorkelling equipment (at least a mask and snorkel). Masks, snorkels and fins are all free for Blue Lagoon guests to use but you have to sign them in and out every time you rent them. While it’s not a long process, having your own avoids the hassle
• Buy alcohol at Nadi Airport. As previously explained, drinks are pretty expensive at resorts in Fiji. The duty-free limits are quite generous and the prices are much more reasonable. The choice isn’t huge, but I think most people will find something they like!
• Buy snacks in Nadi or Port Denarau. The Blue Lagoon’s mandatory meal plan does not include any food beyond breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks on the Yasawa Flyer boat are very expensive
• Bring a reusable water bottle. It is not recommended to drink tap water in Fiji. The bar area has several water dispensers

• Take advantage of package deals. When booking directly, Blue Lagoon offers some excellent package deals. We received 30% off our accommodation. Some offers apply to guests booking higher level accommodation only (Deluxe Garden Villa or better)
• If visiting during storm season, enjoy the reef as much as you can, when you can! When the weather turned stormy on our trip, it wasn’t possible to snorkel, swim, dive or kayak
• Bring water shoes for the mountain hike during storm season or prepare to go barefoot. The path gets very wet and muddy
• Check your travel insurance’s inclusions for trip interruption, especially during storm season. We were covered for just two days of accommodation costs, food and transportation expenses (up to $300/per person/per day), though we were almost stuck for four
• Consider staying a night in Nadi if arriving very early in the morning. It may feel like a waste of time, but I enjoyed having a chance to get over jet lag and avoid a long boat trip on our first day!
• If you plan to bring snacks to eat while at the resort, be sure to also bring a hard-sided container to keep them in (to avoid any creatures also looking for a snack…)
• Stay at another resort as well as the Blue Lagoon. We enjoyed the contrast of two different resorts on this trip. If I had ten nights to spend in the Yasawas again, I would stay at the Blue Lagoon for six nights and another resort for four