On Fiji’s remote western border lie the Yasawas, a volcanic island group with verdant peaks and china-white beaches that stand in dramatic contrast to the deep-blue water. There are no high rises or shopping malls to mar the landscape in this far-flung corner of the world. Television is unthinkable. The locals find serenity in the islands’ natural beauty and pass their days in sync with the flow of the tides. It’s said that a true Fiji experience is not seen, it’s felt in your heart.
Turtle Island, a private 500-acre luxury resort located in the central Yasawas, provides an immersive dip into this culture. Accommodations for a maximum of 28 guests are in 14 handcrafted Fijian villas (bures) that are nestled along the island’s Blue Lagoon with generous stretches of sand in between to ensure privacy. Their vaulted, thatched ceilings come from island-grown timber, making each bure a light-filled symbol of authenticity. For the ultimate in romance, book well in advance to secure Vonu Point, the resort’s premium bure. Elevated at the north end of the lagoon’s beachfront, more than 500 yards from its closest neighbor, Vonu Point enjoys stunning panoramic views of the trio of surrounding islands and glistening sea.
To help guests connect to the Fijian way of life, Turtle Island assigns a local as your “Bure Mama.” She is your personal guide and concierge for the duration of the stay, there to assist if you want to plan an island tour, an
afternoon at the spa or a picnic on one of the many private beaches. In the evenings, guests are invited to join the staff around the kava bowl for storytelling and songs. If seclusion is the goal, it’s yours for the taking, but should you want to delve into this warm culture, the Fijian staff welcomes the opportunity to share their
heritage.
Villa/Hotel
Whole Island:
