A Comprehensive Guide to Yasawa Islands Ferry

My trip to Fiji is one of my favorite trips, but island hopping the Yasawa Islands of Fiji was the highlight! The most common way to island hop in Fiji is to utilize the Yasawa Islands ferry! The whole process was very well organized, but there are some things worth noting!

I break down all you need to know and how to book in this guide to the Yasawa Islands ferry!

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Overview of Fiji’s Yasawa Islands

When I began researching Fiji, I had no clue what the Yasawa Islands were or why they would make such a wonderful trip to Fiji! In my research, I read far too often that the Fiji people see in photos are the outer islands and not the main island! While Natadola Beach is beautiful, I loved my time in the Yasawa Islands so much, I’d actually recommend skipping the main island. And other outer islands in Fiji I also think would be great, so maybe one day I’ll come back to see!

The Yasawa Islands are a chain of islands sitting north of the main Island of Viti Levu and just passed the Mamanuca chain of islands. With over 300 islands that make up Fiji, the Yasawa Islands are among the easiest to get to with a very organized tourist structure. While I think exploring some of the other outer islands would be amazing, I would need my own sailboat and skills to navigate to them.

While the Yasawa Islands have plenty of resorts, there are still 27 villages where the some of the local people live in a more simple and traditional way. These locals might work on some of the resorts close by or they make some extra income by selling products to locals who visit. Overall though, they live simply but I could see how happy they were as they had what mattered most: faith, community, food and shelter!

There are a total of twenty islands in the Yasawa chain and they are volcanic in origin. I only stayed on three different islands, but each had their own vibes and personality which made the experience fun!

The Yasawa Islands Ferry System

The Yasawa Flyer Ferry is owned by South Sea Cruises and operates out of Port Denarau daily. It offers ferry services to both Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands making it very easy to explore these Fijian islands! While this is your cheapest option, I wouldn’t call it budget friendly. However, considering how well organized it is, being in a tropical paradise where tourism is the main source of income in Fiji, the price is not surprising.

The Yasawa Flyer departs Port Denarau daily at 8:45AM. The first two stops are islands in the Mamanuca Chain with Kuata Island being the first stop in the Yasawa Islands. It takes five hours for the ferry to make it to the last stop and then the Yasawa Flyer repeats every stop going south returning to the port at 6PM.

Yasawa Flyer Schedule

Booking Options for the Yasawa Islands Ferry

I did research and decided I could just book upon arrival. Now, this is possible, but I don’t recommend it. When I landed in Fiji, I realized that was probably not the best choice, so I called the Yasawa Islands Ferry from my hotel and told them I was coming the next day!

While I did officially book and pay on arrival the next day, I should have just booked online. They need to know your coming and be able to add you to the total count of passengers. I did pre-book all my resort stays, but if you go my route and book the Bula Pass, I also recommend pre-booking so they know you are coming!

If you really want to use cash, then make sure they know you are coming at least a day in advance. I don’t know that booking in person made that much of a difference in the end, but if you want to pay cash, that’s your only option!

Booking Individual Segments

If you only plan to hit one or two resorts, I’d suggest checking prices for transfers to just those resorts instead of an island hopping pass.

If you are planning for more than three stops throughout the week, the pass will probably end up being cheaper. For my three stops, I might have saved a little money buying individual ferry tickets, but the pass saved me the hassle. However, depending on exchange rates and time of year, if might be worth it for you!

Bula Pass

There are two simple approaches for your Fiji island hopping trip of the Yasawa Islands! The one I took involved more planning, but gives you more freedom to choose. I booked three resorts based on what I wanted to do and then I booked the Bula Pass which allowed me to island hop for 8 days! The Bula Pass can be booked for various day ranges, so if you want to island hop in Fiji for more or less days you have that option!

Since the Yasawa Flyer is the most common way to get to resorts in the Yasawa Islands, the ferry and resorts will know when to transport you to the ferry depending on whether you are going north or south. I booked in order where I went to the furthest point first and hopped south, but that is not necessary with the Bula Pass. You can mix and match however you want!

My Island Hopping Trip

I booked at Blue Lagoon, Mantaray Island, and Barefoot Kuata in that order. Each was booked with an experience in mind. If I was to do it again, I’d book Mantaray first, Barefoot Kuata second and Blue Lagoon last. That is basically the order I liked the resorts, but each location was special and I enjoyed my time at each place!

You can read a review of each resort:

• Blue Lagoon Beach Resort Review
• Mantaray Island Resort Review
• Barefoot Kuata Resort Review

Yasawa Wanderer Tour – Fiji Island Hopping Package

The easier option would be to book the Yasawa Wanderer Tour by Awesome Adventures Fiji which includes the ferry and different resort options. It happens to include each of the resorts I stayed at as well as some other options! You can also choose to stay in dorms, private rooms with shared bathrooms or true private rooms.

The Fiji Island hopping tour also includes some activity tour options as well! This will depend on which resorts you ultimately choose, but if a tour is not included, I found the pricing to be reasonable.

Food Is Not Included

Throughout your booking process, whether you choose this Yasawa Wanderer or you book separately, it’s important to note that food packages are compulsory at every resort in the Yasawa Islands! At some resorts, you will literally have NO other option for food so it does make sense.

Resort Food Pricing Per Day

Booking a dorm can be deceiving as the dorm is super cheap, but you still have to add on food! Barefoot Kuata and Mantaray Island Resort charges 139FJD which equals about $63 USD at the time of writing this post. Blue Lagoon charges 115NZD or about $80 USD. These prices are per day for an adult and include all three meals. I rank Blue Lagoon as the clear winner of the three for food with Mantaray coming in second.

Here’s Why I Think the Prices are Decent

The pricing as a total for all your days can seem high! However, once you break it down it’s actually quite reasonable (or at least I think so). You’re on a tropical island where import costs tend to increase food prices to begin with and the Yasawa Islands would then have additional costs of transporting food (which seems to be done with the Yasawa Flyer).

Blue Lagoon was my favorite in terms of food and breaking down $80 into three meals is $27 per meal. However, Dinner was a three course meal with an appetizer, main and dessert and the quality was great! Considering the cost of food and tipping in the USA these days, the price is very reasonable.

However, if you are traveling on a tight budget, I can see how the pricing would be frustrating (for context: I read a critical review of this guy saying he felt scammed). If you feel like you could live on PB&J sandwiches but you’re required to spend $27 per meal, you’d be annoyed. If that is you, then the Yasawa Islands is probably not for you.

Overall, once I broke down the food prices, I thought they were very fair. Tourist destinations can inflate prices to exorbitant amounts, but I think these prices are quite reasonable considering all the variables.

Preparing for Your Yasawa Islands Ferry Ride

Motion Sickness Medication

I definitely suggest taking motion sickness medication if you are prone to sea sickness. My trips were fine and thankfully I was okay because I never took anything. That is not to say all of my trips were calm, but overall they were not bad.

On my first ride, I met a teacher from New Zealand who would be spending her school holiday snorkeling in Fiji! This was not her first trip and she told me of one ferry experience where the ocean was crazy and tumultuous! She said most people were throwing up that day!

The Yasawa Islands ferry is a good size, but it’s not huge and you will feel the waves. So be sure to take something if you typically get sick.

Sunscreen, Hat and Sunglasses

There is covered seating inside on the bottom deck! However, if you get on the Yasawa Islands ferry and it already has a lot of people on board, you will likely end up outside. Of course, you may choose that on your own, but either way the sun can be brutal!

I definitely recommend having sunscreen on and bringing a hat and sunglasses with you! My first ride on the Yasawa Islands ferry was inside, but each of my island hopping legs I ended up outside. So definitely be prepared! Oh and you will want a hat that is secure so the wind doesn’t blow it off.

Check-in for the Yasawa Islands Ferry

When you arrive at Port Denarau, there is a check-in desk for the Yasawa Islands ferry. Once the workers arrived, I was able to check-in and they review your dates at the various resorts you booked to print out an itinerary. They also tag your luggage for you and you hand that over to them to be transported to the ferry.

I had a little time between checking in and the departure time, so I walked around a bit, but there didn’t seem like much to do close by. A coffee is always a nice option though, so I enjoyed some time at the cafe next to the check-in area!

Once it’s time to leave, they will direct you to the area to board the Yasawa Islands ferry. As this is a port, there are plenty of boats around, but there are people around and signs directing you. Overall, any time I had a question, the Fijian workers were kind and helpful!

Since I was one of the first to board, I got an inside seat by the window and very much enjoyed the journey! So many people from all over the world were on the ferry and I enjoyed chatting with the teacher from New Zealand, the girl from Mexico City and the couple from Canada!

What to Expect on the Yasawa Islands Ferry

Seating Options for the Yasawa Islands Ferry

The covered inside includes a middle section with rows of seats facing forward. On the sides by the windows are tables with bench seating facing both front and back.

Outside and upstairs you have row seating facing forward with very few seats shaded. There is an additional level of row seating up some stairs which gives you amazing views but no shade!

The last area is the captain’s lounge that you can pay an additional fee to sit in. It’s on the upper deck and includes complimentary food and drinks.

Other Things to Note | Yasawa Islands Ferry

There are bathrooms on board as well as options to buy food and drink! I used the bathroom once and it was fairly clean, but I never bought anything on board so I can’t speak to that aspect.

The journey is quite comfortable, but the ocean conditions will really impact your experience! How long you are on the ferry depends on where you are going. My first leg on the ferry was four and half hours from Port Denarau to Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. There is only one stop that is longer. The ferry schedule gives you an indication of travel time from the port.

Arrivals and Departures on the Yasawa Islands Ferry

There are NO DOCKS in the Yasawa Islands. I was not expecting this when I researched and began booking resorts. However, the whole process was so smooth and very impressive nonetheless.

Arrivals to Resort

When you book a resort in the Yasawa Islands they will ask how you plan to get there. As they are very used to people utilizing the Yasawa Islands ferry, they will know when to pick you up from the ferry.

Once you get close to the area of your resort, there will be announcement of the resort(s) and anyone staying in those resort(s) will be asked to gather on the bottom of the steps on the main deck. The ferry employees will gather all luggage labeled for the resorts, so you don’t have to worry about your luggage at all.

The resort boats meet at the ferry and drop off any passengers who have checked out that day. After they board the ferry, those of us checking in, board the resort boat and they transport us to the resort.

It’s really impressive watching these smaller boats park securely next to this larger ferry. There are Fijian men around to help you get from the ferry to the resort boat and vice versa. There is also an employee around checking your reservations and overall schedule to ensure you are good.

Departures from Resort

Similarly, the resort will have your next destination noted so they can ensure you are getting on the ferry when it’s heading the correct direction. For instance, if you are going south, you don’t want to get on the ferry in the morning when it’s heading north as you will be on the ferry longer than needed!

Once the ferry arrives, they make an announcement at the resort and you get onto the resort boat. They will take you to the ferry and help you board. I made this transfer six times over three resorts and each time it was so smooth!

Luggage

You never have to worry about your luggage as the Yasawa Islands ferry will mark it based on the resort. They will then work with the resort to transfer the luggage and this is usually done on a different resort boat to the one they transport guests. The luggage will be waiting for you at the resort once the welcome procedures are complete.

Alternative Options to the Yasawa Islands Ferry

If a ferry isn’t for you and it’s within your budget, then you should look into private boat transfers, sea plane or helicopters! Resorts have other options listed on their website and they usually include one to two of those options. While these options are more costly, it’s worth looking into if you don’t want to ferry to the Yasawa Islands.

Additionally, if you are only staying at one resort, then the alternative options might be worth the money!

Consider Travel Insurance

Fiji was the first trip I purchased travel insurance. I had broken a couple bones just prior to this trip and I would be traveling to Fiji solo. On top of that, I was planning to do the bull shark dive so I thought maybe I should get travel insurance. Well I did and didn’t need it, but it offered some peace of mind.

There are plenty of resources to find travel insurance and VisitorsCoverage is one! You just add some basic information and they will provide various options. Just remember to check whether the insurance covers activities you plan to do! Some don’t cover scuba diving for instance, so you check those details!

Yasawa Islands Ferry

The most magical time for me in my solo trip to Fiji was in the Yasawa Islands! If you decide some island hopping in Fiji is right for you, I hope this guide was helpful!

I wondered if Fiji is safe for solo female travellers and in the end I felt the more safe in the Yasawa Islands! The ferry is very well organized, but I was surprised when we never docked. Overall, the experience was positive and while the ferry isn’t cheap, it was worth it for the whole experience!

Regardless of how your trip pans out, I hope you have the best time in Fiji! Bula!