This former British colony is off of the mainstream tourist map despite the beautiful tropical coastline found on many of its islands. There are relatively few resort areas (compared to other South Pacific destinations like Tahiti and Hawaii). The islands? interiors are mostly uninhabited and mountainous. Past civil unrest has made many people question the safety of visiting Fiji.



But this nation has plenty of locations that would fall into the category of ?tropical paradise.? But they are not crowded or touristy. Infrastructure, while not at the same level as Hawaii, is reasonably good on the main islands. Public transport is excellent in many cases. And, best of all, prices are cheap.

Some destinations, like Coral Coast on the main island of Viti Levu, are quite popular with backpackers. The beaches are clean and there are plenty of water-related activities. Accommodation and food are very cheap. There are mangroves and small villages nearby for those who want to step away from the sun and sand for a while. Viti Levu is also the location of Suva, the capital city of Fiji. There are markets and plenty of restaurants in the city. Because of the large Indian population, there are some excellent curry houses and Indian snack shops in Suva.

The other large island of Fiji is Vanua Levu. The famous Qaratutu Resort & Spa, one of Fiji's finest, is located here. There is also a grassroots sustainable community project on a small nearby island called Vorovoro.

The Yasawa Islands are on the northwestern edge of Fijian waters. These islands are close together and are filled with natural beauty. They are popular because it is easy to travel between them by ferry.