Yasawa Islands
A chain of mountainous volcanic islands in Fiji, where resorts are reached by boat, seaplane or helicopter.
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The Yasawa Islands are a chain of about 20 volcanic islands in Fiji's Western Division. They stretch north-east for more than 80 kilometers, starting about 40 kilometers north-west of Lautoka. The islands are very mountainous, with peaks roughly 250 to 600 meters high. Yasawa Island, the second largest in the group, is about 22 kilometers long and less than a kilometer wide. The group has six main islands and many small islets.
Until 1987, the government kept the group closed to land-based tourism at the wish of a local chief who was not under its control. Since restrictions were lifted, a number of resorts have been built across the islands. Three budget resorts on freehold land have operated on Tavewa since the early 1980s. Seaplanes from Turtle Airways fly several times a day to Yasawa resorts, helicopter charters can be booked, and the Yasawa Flyer catamaran is another option. The Yasawas have fewer travel options than islands near Nadi and Denarau, so book seats early and check schedules before you go.
Yasawa Islands in five
- Plan around the daily boatA high-speed catamaran leaves Port Denarau each morning and works its way up the chain, taking up to about 5 hours to the northern islands. Miss it and you wait a day.
- Bring all the cash you needThere are no ATMs in the Yasawas and many lodges take cash only for extras. Take out Fijian dollars in Nadi.
- Expect simple power and patchy signalMany lodges run generators or solar for set hours, and mobile coverage is weak on some islands. Download maps and bring a power bank.
- Time a manta trip for the dry seasonManta rays feed in the channel near Drawaqa Island roughly from May to October. Lodges nearby run snorkel trips when they appear.
Things to do in Yasawa Islands
See all attractions in Yasawa Islands
Need to know
- Airport
- Nadi International (NAN), then the boat from Port Denarau
- Getting there
- Daily catamaran, or seaplane to some resorts
- Getting around
- The same catamaran and lodge boats between islands
- Best base
- Two or three islands, 2–3 nights each
- Time needed
- 5–8 nights
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain23 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Hot, cyclonesJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 378 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, cyclones
- FebruaryRain24 rainy daysHigh29°Low27°Wettest, cyclonesFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 376 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest, cyclones
- MarchRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Wet, cyclone riskMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 442 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, cyclone risk
- AprilRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Rain easingAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 235 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low26°Mantas arriveMayRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mantas arrive
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Dry, mantasJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mantas
- JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Dry, busyJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh25°Low24°Dry, mantasAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 86 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mantas
- SeptemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Dry, clearSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, clear
- OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh26°Low25°Warm, dryOctoberRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh27°Low26°Hot, rains startNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, rains start
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh28°Low27°Hot, wetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 319 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, wet
Average daily high and low in Yasawa Islands, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Yasawa Islands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 36 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 8%
Yasawa Islands
08:07 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today26°25°8%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed26°25°6%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Thu26°25°4%Thursday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Fri25°25°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat25°24°2%Saturday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Sun26°24°2%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Mon26°24°8%Monday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 8%.
Updated 04:29 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2.245 FJD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- TavewaCheck boat or seaplane times with the operatorThree budget resorts on freehold land have operated here since the early 1980s, making it a low-cost base in the group.
- Yasawa IslandCheck boat or seaplane times with the operatorThe second largest island in the group, about 22 km long and less than 1 km wide.
- Round IslandCheck boat times with the operatorAbout 22 km north-east of Yasawa Island. The only safe passage for shipping runs between the two.
Before you go to Yasawa Islands
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Rules for Yasawa Islands, checked
- Check entry requirements with the Fiji Department of Immigration before you fly. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for a set stay.
- Declare food and plant material on your arrival form. Biosecurity officers at Nadi Airport can check bags.
- Ask the village chief's permission and bring sevusevu before you visit a village in the Yasawas.
- Cover shoulders and knees when you walk through villages, as in the rest of Fiji.
- Book boat and seaplane seats early and check current schedules with Yasawa Flyer or Turtle Airways. The Yasawas have fewer options than islands near Nadi.
Plan around Yasawa Islands
Islands, entry rules, cash and cyclone season
Read the guideMamanuca IslandsThe shorter boat ride from Denarau
Read the guideNadi and Port DenarauWhere the morning catamaran starts
Read the guideMoney and cash in FijiWhy to carry dollars to islands without ATMs
Read the guideInsurance for FijiCover for missed boats and remote medical needs
Read the guideYasawa Islands FAQ
How do I get to the Yasawa Islands?
Take the daily catamaran from Port Denarau, which stops at each island's lodges, or fly by seaplane to the resorts that offer it.
Is there an ATM in the Yasawas?
No. Bring enough Fijian dollars from Nadi for meals, activities and village contributions, and check whether your lodge takes cards.
How long should I spend in the Yasawas?
At least five nights, since getting to the northern islands takes most of a day. Split the time between two or three lodges.
Can you visit the Yasawas on a day trip?
Not realistically. The catamaran takes most of a day to reach the northern islands, and day cruises from Port Denarau mostly stay in the Mamanucas, so treat the Yasawas as an overnight trip of several nights.
What should I pack for the Yasawas?
Reef-safe sunscreen, a rash vest, a headlamp, a power bank and a dry bag, since luggage often moves by small boat from the catamaran to the beach. Seasickness tablets help on the open-water legs.