Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world’s most beautiful secret lagoon

I’m floating on this planet’s most stunning lagoon. You may suppose I am speaking about Bora Bora or maybe the Maldives.

However, no, this one is far nearer to house. And rather more secret. It’s so secluded, no satellite tv for pc on Earth can choose it up. That’s as a result of it’s hidden inside an island.

Welcome to Fiji’s Yasawa Islands, and a spot referred to as the Sawa-i-Lau Caves.

Fairly a number of individuals make a mistake when holidaying in Fiji by spending their whole break in Port Denarau, on the primary island. Whereas it has some glitzy resorts, it’s good to enterprise additional to discover Fiji’s actual magnificence – locations just like the Yasawa Islands.

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This beautiful archipelago is just reached by ferry or flight from Fiji’s mainland, and right here life is straightforward: there aren’t any roads, buying malls, or supermarkets.

You’ll discover a collection of towering islands wrapped in turquoise waters, and lined with golden sands. And better of all, there’s a lodge to swimsuit each price range, from $35 dorms to beachfront villas with non-public swimming pools.

One of many northern islands is known as Sawa-i-Lau, which is house to the key lagoon.

The best strategy to attain it’s by staying at a close-by resort, corresponding to Blue Lagoon Seaside Resort. It runs a number of journeys per week to the caves, which begin with a brief boat journey, earlier than arriving at a abandoned seashore.

We’re then led up a stone path to discover a small entrance to the cave. As you step inside, you’re greeted with virtually legendary magnificence; a pool of turquoise water sits inside an almighty cavern, with shafts of sunshine streaming in from a crack within the earth excessive above. It virtually appears to be like too stunning to disturb – however your guides then invite you all for a swim.

As you’d count on with such a dramatic setting, legends swirl across the caves. One of many extra common is {that a} younger chief and his lover fled to the cave, after threats that she was about to be married off to a rival chief.

He would swim into the cave with meals till the pair managed to flee the island and discover refuge, the place they lived fortunately ever after.

However that is not all of the secrets and techniques this lagoon holds. There’s a second hidden chamber you possibly can discover – however it’s good to be prepared for a critical journey to get there. It is solely accessed by swimming by way of an underwater tunnel for a number of seconds, the place you pop up in a pitch-black cave.

All of it sounds slightly overwhelming, however you will have guides that will help you by way of, and lightweight up the cave with their torch. (You can even skip this a part of the tour, as many do.)

I most well-liked the primary chamber, filled with movie-like magnificence. If you wish to restart worldwide journey with a critical journey – a visit to the world’s most stunning lagoon must be in your bucket checklist.

Necessities

Attending to Fiji: Fiji Airways has providers from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Nadi. See: fijiairways.com

Attending to Blue Lagoon Resort: Most company arrive on the Yasawa Flyer, an interisland ferry service working between Port Denarau and the foremost resorts. You can even take a seaplane or helicopter to the lodge.

Staying there: Blue Lagoon Seaside Resort begins from $204 for lodge rooms, and $366 for villas, with a meal plan extra. See: bluelagoonresortfiji.com

Accessing the caves: Blue Lagoon Resort has common journeys to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, which prices round $65 per grownup ($89 FJD) or $35 ($45 FJD) for youngsters.

The creator travelled to Fiji earlier than the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic courtesy of Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways. This story was produced as part of an editorial partnership with Tourism Fiji. Read more about our partnership content here.