Nanuya Island Resort: Blue Lagoon Island Life With À La Carte Dining

The Yasawa Islands draw travelers who want the Fijian experience without the resort-complex feel of Denarau. Nanuya Island Resort, rated 4.6 out of 5 across 672 TripAdvisor reviews, sits on Nanuya Lailai Island at the southern end of the Yasawa chain — directly on the Blue Lagoon. It is a three-star property that consistently punches above its classification, largely because of how its staff approach the job. One guest wrote that the people here were “the happiest, most musical people I have ever met in my life” and that staying here “literally changed my outlook on life.” That is not a modest claim. It is also not an isolated one.

But before getting into the people, there is one structural point about this resort that sets it apart from nearly every other option in the Yasawas, and it is worth understanding upfront.

The À La Carte Advantage: Why This Resort Dines Differently

Almost every resort in the Yasawa Islands operates on a meal plan. You pay upfront for all meals — breakfast, lunch, dinner — and then work your way through a fixed menu or buffet whether you are hungry or not. If you only want a light lunch, you have paid for a full one regardless.

Nanuya Island Resort is the only property in the Awesome Fiji portfolio that does not operate this way. It runs a full à la carte menu. You order what you want, when you want it, and pay for what you eat. As one couple who stayed in late 2025 put it: “It just meant you could skip courses without feeling like you’re wasting money.”

The total cost tends to work out roughly the same as a meal plan when you add it up, but the flexibility changes the experience considerably. If you want two courses at dinner instead of three, you order two. If the fish caught that day looks exceptional, you order that without being locked into whatever the plan includes. The kitchen has also proven capable of handling dietary requirements, and the fresh fish is a consistent highlight — one guest group even had the kitchen cook a fish they had caught themselves during an afternoon fishing session, and the result was praised as cooked “to perfection.”

This à la carte structure is a genuine operational difference. If you are deciding between Yasawa resorts and food flexibility matters to you, it should factor into your thinking.

Nanuya Lailai and the Blue Lagoon

Nanuya Lailai is a small island near the southern Yasawas, positioned between Nanuya Island to the south and Matacawalevu to the north. The resort sits on the island’s western side — the sunset side — looking out across the Blue Lagoon, a stretch of sheltered, clear water that sits between several islands in this cluster.

The Blue Lagoon is genuinely that color. The water is shallow enough in places to read the coral from the surface, and on calm days there is very little to distinguish it from the kind of photograph that makes people suspicious of digital editing. It is real. The trade winds can come in from the east with some force, but because the resort faces west across the lagoon, the beach and the water in front of it tend to stay calm even on breezy days.

The non-motorized water activities — paddleboarding, kayaking — are included in your stay and accessible directly from the beach. Fishing can also be arranged, and on a calm morning, sitting on a board looking across the Blue Lagoon toward the surrounding islands is one of those quietly memorable Fiji moments that does not require any planning.

The mountains and hills visible from the resort add a sense of scale that purely flat atolls cannot offer. Views from the property include mountain, lagoon, and bay angles depending on where you are standing — or sitting on your bure deck watching the sun go down.

The Bures and Accommodation

The villas at Nanuya Island Resort are constructed to a solid standard. Doors and window screens are well-fitted, which matters in a tropical environment where insects and humidity are facts of life. Most villas have a separate bedroom, a reception area, and a bathroom, giving them a more structured layout than the open-plan bures common at some neighboring properties.

One detail worth knowing: in some villas, the ceiling between the bathroom and the rest of the bure is not fully enclosed — it is open-air style above the partition. This is common in traditional Fijian construction and most guests find it adds to the character rather than detracting from it, but it is worth being aware of if complete separation matters to you.

Air conditioning is standard in the villas, alongside ceiling fans for when you want airflow without the cooling. The villas also include refrigerators, complimentary toiletries, and private balconies or patios.

Some villas come with patio hot tubs — a genuine upgrade if you want the option of soaking in the evening while looking out at the lagoon. These tend to book out early, so if a hot tub villa is on your list, flag it when making your reservation.

The treehouse bures are a particular favorite. One couple who returned for their second visit specifically requested the treehouse bure both times, noting that the sunsets viewed from the deck were “wonderful.” The elevated position gives a different perspective across the resort and lagoon, and the extra height catches the breeze. If the treehouse bure is available, it is worth requesting.

The gardens around the villas are kept well and the grounds are maintained to a high standard — one family described the environment as “faultless,” encompassing both the on-site gardens and the water and beach immediately in front of the resort. The beach itself is accessible and clean, and the snorkeling off the beach — even without taking an organized trip — is rewarding, with tropical fish visible on the coral close to shore.

Snorkeling with Moses

The organized Blue Lagoon snorkeling trip costs around 60 Fijian dollars per person — roughly £20 at recent exchange rates — and is run by Moses, the resort’s snorkeling guide.

Moses has a reputation. He is knowledgeable and good company on the water, but the distinguishing quality is that he finds things. On one trip, a group said they wanted to see a turtle. He found one. He reads the water, knows where to look, and times the trips to maximise what you see.

This is the difference between a guide who shows you the reef and one who actually knows it. Moses reads the water, knows where to look, and times the trips around conditions to maximize what guests see. The outer reef accessed on these trips is a step up from the snorkeling directly off the beach — more coral variety, larger fish, and the chance of encounters with larger marine life depending on the season.

The Blue Lagoon itself also offers snorkeling directly from the beach, which is included with your stay. The organized trip with Moses is an additional cost, but it is worth it.

For those interested in diving, the resort can also arrange dives in the surrounding waters. The Yasawa Islands have some of the best dive sites in Fiji, and this part of the chain has reef systems that see relatively little traffic compared to the Mamanucas.

The Sawa-i-Lau Caves

The Sawa-i-Lau Caves are one of the Yasawas’ most significant natural landmarks. The limestone caves sit on Sawa-i-Lau Island, about an hour from Nanuya Lailai by boat, and they are the setting used in the original 1980 Blue Lagoon film. The cave system includes a large open chamber with an underground pool, and a second chamber accessible by swimming through an underwater passage — a short swim, but one that gets your attention.

Blue Lagoon Cruises runs day trips to the caves on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. For most guests, the easiest option is to book this trip as part of their Awesome Fiji package — the resort coordinates the timing with the cruise company’s schedule.

If your stay dates do not align with those operating days, the resort will arrange a private trip. One couple who arrived on a Wednesday and departed on Friday found themselves in exactly this situation, and the staff arranged a private Thursday morning excursion instead of the regular Blue Lagoon Cruises trip. The logistics required a phone call between the resort and Awesome Fiji, and the private boat trip happened without issue. It is worth knowing this is an option rather than assuming you have missed out because the regular schedule does not work.

Pete, the activities coordinator (more on him in the next section), leads or assists with cave trips, and his familiarity with the site and the surrounding waters adds depth to the visit. He is knowledgeable about the area and attentive to different ability levels in the group.

The caves themselves are a genuine highlight of any Yasawa trip, particularly if you are comfortable swimming through that underwater passage into the second chamber. The combination of the film connection, the limestone formations, and the underground pool makes it one of those experiences that is genuinely hard to replicate elsewhere.

The Staff and Evening Culture

The people at Nanuya Island Resort are the defining element of the experience — specific staff remembered by name, individual interactions that shape the whole stay.

Pete coordinates activities and entertainment — brilliant at his job — and runs the Friday night meke, the traditional Fijian cultural performance that includes singing, dancing, and kava. The meke is the social centrepiece of the week and one of the highlights of the entire Yasawa trip. Time your departure to catch it. Pete also guides or co-guides many of the organized excursions, including the Sawa-i-Lau Caves trip.

Moses is the snorkeling guide. His ability to find marine life — including that turtle delivery mentioned earlier — and his knowledge of the local reef systems make him a genuine asset rather than just a logistical facilitator.

Marie handles arrivals. She greets guests when they come off the boat, assists with resort orientation, and manages transfers. Several guests singled her out for making the initial arrival feel warm and personal rather than administrative.

Maureen and Luccy run the spa. The massage quality here is well above what smaller island resorts typically deliver, and the spa draws repeat visits throughout a stay.

Owen and Tui run bar and restaurant service. Masi is another beloved presence in the food and bar operation. Mini, Billy, and Sali are among the other staff members who appear repeatedly in guest thanks.

Lewa assists with activities, and guests from a SwimTrek group stay praised the activities staff collectively for looking after guests of different ages and ability levels.

The staff also sing. Not in a forced, performance-for-guests way — they sing in the mornings, in the evenings, spontaneously. One family described hearing harmonies on multiple mornings and called them “wow moments.” The Fijian tradition of communal singing is alive at this resort in a way that guests clearly feel is genuine rather than staged.

The departure is its own ritual. When guests leave for the Yasawa Flyer, the staff line up to sing Isa Lei — the traditional Fijian farewell song. Guests receive flower necklaces. More than one review mentions this as an unexpectedly emotional moment. It is a proper send-off, and it is one of the things guests remember long after they are back home.

The Spa

The spa at Nanuya Island Resort operates out of a dedicated area on the property, run by Maureen and Luccy. The treatment menu covers the full range: full body massage, couples massage, head, neck, foot, and hand massage, body wraps, facial treatments, manicure, pedicure, waxing, foot bath, steam room, and open-air bath options.

For a three-star island resort, this is a more comprehensive treatment list than you might expect. The quality of the massages has been praised consistently enough across reviews to suggest it is not just one or two good experiences — it is a consistent operation.

The open-air setting of the spa treatments and the steam room adds to the experience in a way that indoor resort spas cannot replicate. If you are inclined to book a spa session, do it early in your stay so you have time to go back. That approach is worth taking.

Getting There

Nanuya Island Resort is reached via the Yasawa Flyer — the high-speed catamaran ferry that runs from Port Denarau in Nadi up through the Yasawa Islands. The journey to Nanuya Lailai takes approximately five to six hours from Port Denarau, depending on conditions and stops.

If you want more comfort for the crossing, the Captain’s Lounge is an upgraded seating section on the Yasawa Flyer with air conditioning and a slightly more relaxed environment than the main deck. One guest specifically recommended it for the journey: “If you really want to go upscale you can book in the Captains Lounge.” It is a meaningful upgrade on a multi-hour crossing in tropical heat.

The Yasawa Flyer operates daily. When you depart, you board it from the beach in front of the resort. The Isa Lei farewell happens right there on the sand — the staff walk you to the water, sing, and see you onto the tender that takes you out to the ferry.

Seaplane transfers to the Yasawas are also available for those who want to cut the journey time, though this option is considerably more expensive. Most guests take the ferry as part of the island-hopping experience.

Boathouse Nanuya vs Nanuya Island Resort

On Nanuya Lailai Island, there are two places to stay: Nanuya Island Resort (the main subject of this article) and Boathouse Nanuya, a budget backpacker-oriented option on the same island.

The two share some facilities, and guests at Boathouse Nanuya have access to the resort’s activities, snorkeling guides, and some amenities. This is a useful arrangement for travelers who want the experience of this particular island but are working to a tighter budget. One group of friends who stayed at Boathouse Nanuya — “with full access to Nanuya Island Resort” — said they wished they had stayed much longer and praised the caves trip with Pete and the snorkeling with Moses just as enthusiastically as guests staying at the main resort.

The main differences between the two:

• Accommodation: Nanuya Island Resort offers private villas and bures with air conditioning, some with hot tubs. Boathouse Nanuya is dormitory or budget room accommodation.
• Dining: The à la carte restaurant is part of Nanuya Island Resort. Boathouse Nanuya guests eat at the boathouse area.
• Price: Boathouse Nanuya is the more affordable option, though the activity costs are similar.

If you are island-hopping on a budget and this part of the Yasawas is on your route, Boathouse Nanuya lets you access the best of what this island offers — the guides, the activities, the Blue Lagoon — without the full resort pricing. If you want the villas, the spa, and the full restaurant experience, Nanuya Island Resort is the correct choice.

Final Thoughts

Nanuya Island Resort earns its 4.6 rating across 672 reviews for reasons that hold up across very different types of guests: couples, families, friend groups, organized tour groups. The setting on the Blue Lagoon is exactly what it looks like in photographs. The access to Sawa-i-Lau Caves and organized snorkeling with guides who know the water adds structure to a stay without overloading it. And the à la carte dining arrangement — genuinely unique in the Awesome Fiji portfolio — removes the meal-plan fatigue that affects longer stays at other Yasawa resorts.

But the thing that distinguishes this resort from comparably priced and comparably located options in the Yasawas is the staff. Pete and the Friday night meke. Moses and the turtle. Marie at the dock. Maureen and Luccy in the spa. The morning harmonies, the evening shows, and the Isa Lei farewell at the water’s edge when you leave. These are the things guests come back for, and they are the things that get mentioned in review after review with a specificity and warmth that is hard to manufacture.

If you are planning a Yasawa Islands itinerary and want something that feels genuinely connected to Fijian culture rather than simply delivering a tropical holiday backdrop, Nanuya Island Resort is worth building your trip around.

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FAQ

Where exactly is Nanuya Island Resort?

The resort is on Nanuya Lailai Island, in the southern Yasawa Islands of Fiji. It sits on the western, sunset-facing side of the island, looking out across the Blue Lagoon. The island is part of a cluster that includes Nanuya Island to the south and Matacawalevu to the north.

How do I get to Nanuya Island Resort?

The main route is the Yasawa Flyer catamaran from Port Denarau in Nadi. The journey takes approximately five to six hours. An upgrade to the Captain’s Lounge on the ferry is available for a more comfortable crossing. Seaplane transfers are also an option if you prefer a shorter journey.

What makes Nanuya Island Resort different from other Yasawa resorts?

It is the only resort in the Awesome Fiji portfolio that operates an à la carte menu rather than a fixed meal plan. This means you order what you want and pay for what you eat, giving you flexibility to adjust your meals depending on hunger, appetite, and what the kitchen has that day. The total cost tends to be similar to a meal plan, but the experience is considerably more flexible.

Can you visit the Sawa-i-Lau Caves from the resort?

Yes. Blue Lagoon Cruises runs trips to the caves on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. If those days do not align with your stay, the resort can arrange a private trip — they have done this for guests in exactly that situation. The caves are about an hour from the resort by boat and were used as a location in the original 1980 Blue Lagoon film.

Are the treehouse bures worth requesting?

Yes, if they are available. The elevated deck commands exceptional sunset views. Request the treehouse bure when making your booking rather than leaving it to chance on arrival.

What is the Friday night meke?

The meke is a traditional Fijian cultural performance that includes singing, dancing, and a kava ceremony. At Nanuya Island Resort, it runs on Friday evenings and is coordinated by Pete, the activities coordinator. Time your stay to include a Friday — it is one of the best experiences in the Yasawas.

Is there good snorkeling directly from the beach?

Yes. The reef accessible from the beach in front of the resort has good coral and tropical fish, and non-motorized water activities including snorkeling are included in the stay. The organized Blue Lagoon snorkeling trip with Moses (around 60 Fijian dollars per person) goes to the outer reef and offers more variety, larger fish, and the potential to encounter sea turtles — but the beach snorkeling alone is worth doing, especially in the morning before any boat traffic.

What is the Isa Lei farewell?

Isa Lei is a traditional Fijian farewell song. When guests depart Nanuya Island Resort, the staff come to the beach to sing them off as they board the tender to the Yasawa Flyer. Guests also receive flower necklaces. It is an unexpectedly moving moment, and it reflects the way the staff approach the guest relationship throughout the stay rather than just at the end.

By: Sarika Nand