Trapped in Paradise: A Visit to Fiji | Nomadic Matt

"Composed of 20 volcanic islands in western Fiji, the Yasawa Islands blew me away with impossibly deep blue water, white sand beaches, and lush jungle-topped horizons — paradise doesn’t do it justice. The islands were first encountered by the British in 1789 and weren’t properly charted until decades later; land-based tourism was prohibited until 1987, and only after the area opened did tourism grow into an important part of the local economy. The chain is extremely backpacker-friendly: close to the mainland, cheap, easy to reach, and known for a lively, relaxed atmosphere (you quickly learn “Fiji time”). Transport between islands is straightforward but packaged — most islands have two or three budget resorts that provide meals, book activities, and operate like hop-on, hop-off stops — and there’s basically one main boat route through the islands. You can buy a Bula Pass (5–13 days) valid on Awesome Adventures and South Sea Cruises vessels (prices in the text range from 455 FJD to 845 FJD), but ferries aren’t always punctual, so embrace the island pace. Add crashing waves, starlit nights, cheap local currency, and plenty of island activities, and you’ve got a true backpacker’s paradise." - Matthew Kepnes