What makes fiji famous

Known as a picturesque tropical paradise, Fiji contains more than islands. Approximately , people live in Fiji and enjoy a tropical marine climate with little variation in temperature throughout the year.

More than islands make up Fiji, and many species of animals and plants on the islands are endemic to Fiji, found nowhere else in the world. The largest island is Viti Levu and is 4, square miles. The island's interior has dramatic landscapes of tropical forests, waterfalls and mountainous terrain. The island has rolling plains used for sugar cane farming as well as mountainous terrain, volcanic hot springs and a scenic harbor in the tourist town of Savusavu.

Mountain climbing is a popular activity for tourists. The extinct volcano is 4, feet high and located on Viti Levu; its top often is covered by clouds. Go live on a sea-kayaking tour around the coral lagoons and calm waters of the remote and sparsely populated islands of Kadavu. On the eastern side of wildly green Taveuni , aptly named the Garden Island, fill your feed with shots of the three Tavoro Waterfalls. Located in lushly forested Bouma National Heritage Park , the cascades are visual stunners and have natural volcanic pools where you can simultaneously soak and share a to-die-for Instagram story.

Fiji is filled with adrenaline-pumping adventure experiences. The rugged excursion includes summitting Mt. To elevate ordinary kiteboarding into an extraordinary thrill ride, board a private yacht for an exclusive kiting safari off the windswept west coast of Tavenui.

Go underwater to explore shallow lagoons teeming with marine life, mysterious caves and canyons, and cool coral-covered walls. Idyllic weather, clear waters, and wealth of expert instructors also make Fiji an ideal place to learn how to dive , particularly as a family. Scuba Bula , a PADI 5-star dive center and World Wildlife Fund partner on the west coast of Viti Levu, offers a wide variety of basic-to-expert diving courses, such as underwater photography, night diver, and underwater naturalist.

Boasting impressive wing spans reaching 12 to 23 feet, mantas are graceful giants of the sea known for their underwater acrobatics.

Although the colossal fish are distant cousins of sharks, manta rays are toothless, harmless, and comfortable around people—making up-close encounters safe and awe-inspiring.

May to October, large numbers of gentle manta rays converge on the Yasawa Islands to feed on plankton in the nutrient-rich channel between Nanuya Balavu and Drawaqa islands. Mantaray Island Resort is among the sustainable tourism outfitters offering daily snorkeling excursions to swim among the charismatic creatures.

With miles of secluded beaches and water temperatures in the mid 80s year round, you could find a new favorite stretch of sand and surf every day. The Yasawa Islands and Mamanuca Islands are renowned for their long, white sand beaches. The Coral Coast , on the southern shores of Viti Levu, is home to one of Fiji's best natural sand beaches, Natadola, which lines the shores of a serene, ocean-facing lagoon. Home to only seven villas, acre Savasi Island resort off the coast of Vanua Levu offers plenty of room to happily get lost.

For the ultimate beach escape, reserve an entire resort like exclusive Dolphin Island , a acre paradise accommodating up to eight guests in one group at a time. Fiji has more than islands and atolls, meaning you can make your Fiji experience whatever you want it to be.

Dream of living the ultra-lux life in a posh beachfront or over-water villa? Beqa Island , just offshore, is home to the Sawau tribe, who started the famous Fiji tradition of fire walking, and you can still watch this centuries-old tradition at ceremonies in nearby resorts.

Popular things to do here include river rafting on the nearby Upper Navua River , ziplining, jet skiing, surfing, 4WD adventures, and a heart-pumping dive with bull sharks in Beqa Lagoon. If you prefer more low-key activities, Pacific Harbour is also home to a popular arts village with restaurants, souvenir stalls, and cultural shows. Accommodation options range from budget hostels to luxury resorts, and the brand new Pacific Palm Marina is underway, with restaurants, upscale residences, a golf course, and spa.

About 20 minutes by car from Pacific Harbour, Kila Eco Adventure Park offers ziplining, ropes courses, and nature walks. Navua River, Viti Levu. The Navua River on Viti Levu flows for 65 kilometers from the Viti Levu highlands to the south coast through magnificent scenery, with lush rainforests, waterfalls, and rugged canyons. Wildlife such as fruit bats, herons, and native parrots are often spotted along the way, and you can combine a river experience with cultural tours to local villages and participate in traditional kava ceremonies.

This tangled, tropical wilderness offers a taste of the real Fiji - especially if you are based at one of the manicured resorts of the Coral Coast, Denarau Island, and Pacific Harbour. Orchid in the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. Less than 30 minutes by car from Nadi, snuggled in the lush foothills of their namesake mountain peak, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant is a rewarding day trip - especially if you're a green thumb.

Once the private collection of the late actor Raymond Burr of Perry Mason fame, these gorgeous gardens spotlight more than 2, species of orchids, as well as a tranquil lily pond replete with tadpoles and frogs. You can explore the gardens on covered boardwalks that wind through 20 hectares of lawns and native forest. Swings and hammocks invite you to linger and enjoy the peace and serenity of this verdant valley, and free guided tours share fascinating details on the history of the gardens.

Here, you can indulge in one of the more unusual things to do in Fiji: a slimy, yet strangely soothing, mud bath. Don't worry, after coating your body in mud, you can clean off with a soak in the mineral pools and enjoy a relaxing massage. Great Astrolabe Reef, Kadavu. Fringing Fiji's fourth largest island, Kadavu, and other small islands in the Kadavu group, the kilometer-long Great Astrolabe Reef is the fourth largest barrier reef in the world.

Divers come here to submerge themselves in an underwater wonderland of caverns, tunnels, pinnacles, drop-offs, kaleidoscopic hard and soft corals, and tropical fish.

Most of the dive sites are easily accessible by boat from the southern shores of Kadavu, the currents are typically moderate, and visibility ranges from 10 to 40 meters. The dives cover all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Snorkelers can also enjoy the rich marine life here and the chance to swim with manta rays.

Anglers can fish in designated areas - the reef is known for its abundance of billfish species, as well as tuna, mahi mahi, and giant trevally. In the northern Yasawa Islands, the mystical Sawa-i-Lau Caves were sculpted by wind and waves over thousands of years. Bathed in light, the first limestone cavern is easy to access, and you can swim in the cool, crystal-clear water of the deep pool and admire the interesting limestone formations.

To access the inner cave, you have to swim through an underwater tunnel. Locals believe that this inner cavern is the heart of the Yasawas, and that the caves are the final resting place of the headed Fijian God, Ulutini. Note that the second cave is only accessible when the tide allows. Guides are highly recommended. About 60 kilometers south of Nadi, Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park was the country's first national park, established to protect this fragile ecosystem of coastal dunes near the mouth of the Sigatoka River.

Formed over thousands of years, the dunes range in height from 20 to 60 meters, with breathtaking views of the surf from the highest peaks. To explore the park, you can choose from two self-guided walks: a one-hour walk through a forest to the beach or a two-hour walk along the ridgeline. Highlights include visiting the archaeological sites to see ancient Lapita artifacts, including more than two-thousand-year-old pottery, stone tools, and one of the biggest burial sites in the Pacific.

Bird-watching is also popular, and the small visitor center displays some interesting artifacts found at the site, as well as information about its history and ecology. Looking for a mix of nature and adventure? Here, you can hold the rare Fijian crested iguana, capture close-up images of Fiji's beautiful native birds, and learn about captive breeding programs for some of the country's endangered species. Wooden boardwalks thread through more than 12 acres of forest along the valley floor and canopy, where you can see tropical plants; lizards; snakes; and native birds, including doves, parrots, and waterbirds.

Marine exhibits house tropical fish, colorful soft coral, and sea turtles.