THE GUIDE - Rough Guide to Fiji - page 137

on the mainland for around the same price, these boats are often too small for the somewhat
choppy waters and best avoided. Taking a multi-day cruise may not appeal to everyone, but it
can be the most convenient way to experience the Yasawas; all the cruises listed here anchor
at sublime open-water snorkelling reefs, take time out at secluded beaches and visit tradition-
al villages, with great sightseeing from the boat along the way.
BY CATAMARAN
YASAWA FLYER
Services and tickets The Yasawa Flyer catamaran ( 675 0499, awesomefiji.com ), oper-
ated by Awesome Adventures, departs from Port Denarau daily at 8.30am and returns at 6pm,
stopping in either direction at all Yasawa resorts as far north as Nacula, as well as several
islands in the Mamanucas. Tickets start at around F$100 for a one-way trip to Kuata (2hr).
Note that you and your luggage will be transferred from the Yasawa Flyer to your resort by a
small outboard-motor boat; mostly it's free, but some resorts charge F$10-20 for the service.
The Bula Pass You can buy transfers between islands on the Flyer , although if you're going
to island-hop, the best option is to purchase the Bula Pass (F$147 for 5 days, F$191 for 7
days, F$251 for 10 days, F$277 for 12 days, F$302 for 15 days or F$332 for 21 days), which
allows unlimited trips on the Flyer until you return to Port Denarau.
Destinations from Port Denarau Yasawa Islands, Kuata to Nacula (daily; 2-5hr).
BY PRIVATE TRANSFER
Resort boats The only resort boats worth taking are the comfortable speedboats that ferry
guests to Navutu Stars or Nanuya Island Resort in the northern Yasawas. These boats reach
their respective islands in about 2hr 30min, half the time of the Yasawa Flyer . Once in the
northern Yasawas, the only way to get around is by resort outboard boat. These can be ex-
pensive for private charter, costing around F$90 for the short 10min hop between Tavewa and
Nacula.
BY PLANE
To Yasawa Island The only airstrip in the Yasawas is on the northernmost island, Yasawa
Island, but the grass runway is used exclusively by the upmarket Yasawa Island Resort .
To Nanuya Levu Turtle Airways ( 672 1888; daily, times vary; 35min; F$299 one way)
provides seaplane transfers between Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi and Nanuya Levu in the north-
ern Yasawas, but you must pre-arrange with your chosen resort for them to pick you up by
boat from Nanuya Levu.
ON A CRUISE TRIP
Blue Lagoon Cruises 666 1622, bluelagooncruises.com . Offers a range of trips to the
Yasawas, from the three-night “Explorer Cruise” (from F$2250 per person) to the seven-night
“Paradise Cruise” (from F$5600 per person including all meals). Cruises depart Port Denarau
every Fri at 3pm on board the Fiji Princess .