3 days in Fiji

Day by day

1. Day 1: Mamanuca island day cruise and Monuriki

   Mamanuca island day cruise, Monuriki and Blue Lagoon, then Adults-only island resort in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mamanuca island day cruise

      Catamarans and smaller boats leave Port Denarau each morning for day trips to Mamanuca islands, with snorkelling over coral reefs, lunch on the beach and swimming in clear lagoons.

   2. Late morning

      Monuriki

      Combine it with snorkelling on the reef in the lagoon; landing depends on sea conditions.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kokoda

      Resort restaurants, cafés in Nadi and Suva, and village feasts.

   4. Afternoon

      Blue Lagoon

      A clear, sheltered lagoon between Nanuya Lailai and neighbouring islands in the northern Yasawas, named after the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon, which was shot on nearby Nanuya Levu.

   5. Evening

      Adults-only island resort

      Several Mamanuca and Yasawa islands have small adults-only resorts with beachfront bures.

2. Day 2: Sawa-i-Lau Caves and Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple

   Sawa-i-Lau Caves, Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple and Garden of the Sleeping Giant, then Sunset cruise in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sawa-i-Lau Caves

      Only swim into the second chamber if you are comfortable holding your breath briefly underwater; the first chamber is worth it alone.

   2. Late morning

      Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple

      At the southern end of Nadi's main street, this colourful Dravidian-style Hindu temple was built by craftsmen brought from India and is often described as the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lovo

      Weekly lovo nights at many resorts, and in villages for Sundays and celebrations.

   4. Afternoon

      Garden of the Sleeping Giant

      Combine it with the Sabeto mud pools in the same valley for a half-day outing from Nadi or Denarau.

   5. Evening

      Sunset cruise

      Evening sailings from Port Denarau or island resorts with drinks as the sun sets over the Mamanucas.

3. Day 3: Sabeto mud pools and hot springs and Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park

   Sabeto mud pools and hot springs, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park and Beqa Lagoon shark dive, then Sandbank picnic in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sabeto mud pools and hot springs

      Geothermal pools in the Sabeto Valley where visitors coat themselves in mud, let it dry in the sun, then rinse off in a series of warm spring-fed pools.

   2. Late morning

      Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park

      Walk in the early morning; the exposed dunes are very hot by midday.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Palusami

      Lovo feasts, village meals and local cafés; ask for the plain version if you want it vegetarian.

   4. Afternoon

      Beqa Lagoon shark dive

      Dive operators from Pacific Harbour run feeding dives at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve in Beqa Lagoon, where certified divers watch bull sharks and other species at close range, and tiger sharks sometimes appear.

   5. Evening

      Sandbank picnic

      Resorts and boat operators arrange private drop-offs on sandbanks that appear at low tide.

Before you go

• Beqa Lagoon shark dive: Dives run on set days and fill up in peak season; book in advance with a dive operator.

If it rains

• Swap in Fiji Museum (Suva): Allow time for the botanical gardens around the museum, then walk along the harbourfront to the Grand Pacific Hotel.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Denarau Island keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Nadi ($) suits budget and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 22–30 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.1 hours in June to 13.2 hours in December.

More or fewer days

• One day in Fiji
• 2 days in Fiji
• 5 days in Fiji

Questions travellers ask