Viwa Island Resort

Located on a small atoll that looks more Maldivian than it does Fijian, Viwa Island Resort has a completely different feel than most other areas in the Yasawas. For starters, Viwa Island is completely flat compared to its rather mountainous neighbors. Viwa residents -- many of whom work at the resort -- also have a palpable sense of pride for their island, which makes staying at the resort a cultural experience in its own right. Staff members sing songs about Viwa (they have their own CD), take guests on local village visits, and teach them how the Viwa way of life differs from elsewhere in Fiji. The main bure serves as the lobby and is an open-air space with local wood and pink sofas. A large book exchange and bar encourages guests to linger. The majority of guests at Viwa Island Resort are couples, many of whom are celebrating honeymoons and anniversaries. During our visit, we were lucky enough to witness an engagement. The hotel also sees plenty of families with adult children (no kids under the age of 16 are allowed) and older retirees. Travelers come to Viwa from all over the world, including China, Australia, Europe, and North America. The hotel’s tightly-knit community feel attracts many repeat guests.  

If the hotel's name didn’t alert you already, we’ll confirm that Viwa Island Resort is located on Viwa Island, a small atoll in Fiji’s Yasawas chain.The Yasawas are known for their pristine beaches, crystal clear water, and excellent snorkeling and diving. The Yasawas and neighboring Mamanucas are ideal for travelers seeking paradisiacal landscapes and an island life atmosphere. Getting to Viwa can be a bit tricky. International travelers must first fly to Nadi International Airport on the Fiji mainland (Viti Levu). From Nadi, guests can either take a seaplane to Viwa or catch a cab to Denarau Marina and board the Yasawa Flyer -- a high speed catamaran operated by a local company called Awesome Adventures. The seaplane is definitely the easiest option, but it’s also the priciest. Guests can also book flights with Pacific Island Air or Turtle Airways, the former departs from Nadi International Airport while the latter departs from Wailoaloa Beach (15-minute cab ride from the airport). Seaplane flights take about 30 minutes, and are an excellent way to see the Yasawas from the air. The flights aren't for everyone though -- we flew with one passenger who began seriously hyperventilating during our water landing.  For those who’d rather travel by boat, the Yasawa Flyer makes daily departures from Denarau Marina. It takes about three hours of reach Waya Island, where Viwa guests will disembark at Octopus Resort. Viwa staff members meet new arrivals at Octopus Resort, then transfer them to Viwa Island by boat, which takes an additional 30 minutes.  It should be noted that Viwa Island Resort does not have an arrival dock (though this is common in the Yasawas). Instead, guests board a small tender boat from the ferry or seaplane and are dropped off directly on the beach. Usually, due to the tide, getting off the tender boat isn’t exactly graceful and getting wet is almost guaranteed. Some guests jump onto the sand, while others step directly into the water. Either way, this may pose a challenge for people with limited mobility. Of course, thanks to Fijians’ sense of hospitality, staff members are eager to assist in any way they can -- but this still might pose an issue for some travelers. 

We weren’t completely blown away by the rooms at Viwa. Though they’re housed in individual bures that are directly on the beach, rooms lack memorable decor and wow factor. Rooms are long, rectangularly shaped spaces with arched wood beam ceilings, dark hardwood floors, and simple wood furniture. White walls and white wainscoting add brightness, but not much excitement. The white bedding and pillows, a wicker love seat and armchair, and several rattan accents throughout the rooms, give each space a beachy feel, but nothing about Viwa’s bures -- except their exterior thatched roofs -- feel Fijian. In-room amenities include refrigerated minibars (though they’re not free), electronic safes, and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are small, and have a somewhat strange indoor/outdoor concept. They’re completely covered by a roof, but have a small garden that’s open to the outside. The small opening doesn’t really give bathrooms an outdoor feel, but it’s large enough to let in bugs and hot air. The bird-sized insect that flew into our bathroom overnight induced sheer terror (ok, maybe more like a mini-freakout) when we found it perched on the bathroom wall the next morning. Besides the indoor/outdoor issue, bathrooms are on the small side, and feature shower stalls and tiny wooden vanities with vessel sinks. Coconut-scented toiletries add a tropical touch.Each bure has its own covered outdoor deck that overlooks the beach. The deck is equipped with two cushioned lounge chairs, where guests can enjoy free welcome foot massages upon arrival. All 11 bures have identical decor and amenities, but a few are equipped with two extra twin beds -- for those traveling with their families. Note that Wi-Fi isn't available in rooms. 

There are loads of activities to take part in at Viwa, but staff members emphasize that guests can make their stay as active or as relaxing as they see fit. Viwa’s stunning beach is the perfect place to spend a relaxing getaway. The large stretch of sand is relatively untouched, and can be rocky in places, but is quiet and serene. There are palapa-style umbrellas and cushioned lounge chairs lined up along the beach, along with an occasional hammock strung between palm trees. Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s free snorkel gear and snorkel along the stunning reef that’s just off shore. The hotel offers a free coral restoration snorkeling trip, to help rejuvenate some of the reef that was destroyed during Cyclone Winston in 2016. Other water-based activities include scuba diving, deep sea fishing, and guided kayak tours -- all of which incur extra fees. The hotel has free kayaks that guests can take out on their own, in case they prefer to explore solo. Viwa also has free hand-line fishing equipment -- and guests can take their catch to the chef, who will prepare it for their dinner.  Land based activities include guided history hikes, local village visits, traditional Fijian kava ceremonies, cooking lessons, and village rugby tournaments. The line up is always changing, so guests can check the daily activities schedule to see what’s on offer that day. Some activities incur extra charges, but there’s always one free activity per day. At night, entertainment abounds. Viwa’s staff band sings songs during sunset happy hour, and the hotel regularly hosts after dinner events like crab races, trivia night, and fire-dancing shows. Though it has beautiful ocean views, the pool at Viwa Island Resort is slightly disappointing. The small square pool is a few steps from the main bure, and is surrounded by a large deck. But, like Viwa’s room decor, there’s no wow factor here. It sort of looks like a pool that belongs in a backyard -- and the bright green artificial lawn that lines the sundeck certainly doesn’t add to the ambience. On the plus side, the pool is hardly ever crowded. Unfortunately, Viwa’s spa was completely destroyed by Cyclone Winston in 2016. The hotel is in the process of building a new one, but in the mean time, there’s a small beachfront hut with a few massage tables. Guests can book massages during their stay, and are entitled to a free foot massage upon arrival, but until the new spa is built, Viwa lacks a true spa experience. Viwa Island Resort isn’t an all-inclusive, but it does offer two meal plans. We’d recommend choosing one, considering there are no other dining options on the island. The first meal plan is priciest option, and includes a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner. The second meal plan is cheaper with smaller courses, a one-course lunch and a two-course dinner. Breakfast is free for all guests. All meals are served a la carte, and the food is excellent. Menus change daily, but guests can expect a mix of international and Fijian specialities. Wi-Fi is not included in Viwa’s nightly rates, so guests must pay additional fees to access the signal. Internet is available in the hotel’s main bure, but not in the rooms. It’s pricey, but once connected, the internet works well.