Navotua Homestay — Local services in Nacula Island

Our stay at Navotua was a unique and enriching experience. From the moment we were picked up from the Seabus ferry by a small fiberglass boat, we were welcomed with warm smiles and genuine hospitality.The village's way of life, deeply rooted in tradition, offered us a glimpse into their customs and culture. The women of the village kindly guided us on the appropriate customs to observe, and showed us our beachfront bure (beachside hut).

We were deeply touched by the communal spirit, with each family taking turns to prepare delicious meals. Most are cooked over open fires as there is no 240V electricity. Solar charging is used sparingly so bring a small portable solar charger if you wish to recharge phone, camera etc.

The food, predominantly fresh fish, local vegetables (tapioca, breadfruit, pumpkin), and coconut-based dishes was delightful. Papaya and pineapple were the seasonal fruits, but mangoes and lichees can be found in summer I hear.

The simplicity of our bure, with its breathtaking sunrise views, made for a cosy and memorable family bonding experience.

The Sunday church service, with its harmonious a cappella singing, was a highlight, showcasing the villagers' deep faith and joyous spirit. As was the visit of the local primary school where the children sang songs and danced before introducing themselves.

Our own children and the village kids founded a deep bond by playing various games and sport together. These were memories that will definitely mark them for the rest of their life.

Our participation in the kava ceremony and various local activities/games was very enriching and great bonding time. Thank you Navotua!

We also took part in a fishing trip at sunrise where we caught fish and had them for lunch. We also took the boat across the bay to explore the underwater caves, it’s worth the trip. Our sea captain Rex and his brother Bill were awesome and we had a really great time together. All that added to the adventure and authenticity of our stay.

Despite the tides which can be quite big the village is greatly positioned to enjoy some local snorkeling from the shore, so bring masks (and fishing lines!).

Navotua is a place where we disconnected from the modern world and immerse ourself in a serene and loving community. We left with hearts full of gratitude and memories that will last a...

I loved my time in Navotua. I stayed there for 6 nights with the specific intention of relaxing and unwinding, and it was perfect. It's super rustic and basic, don't expect a packed agenda or high end accommodation, but that's part of the charm. What you will get is the most wonderful views, great snorkeling, the freshest fish you'll ever eat, human connection, seeing a completely different pace and style of life.

I did a few different paid activities, the cave trip, Honeymoon Island trip (great snorkelling), guided hiking, all were worthwhile and reasonably priced in my opinion. I also did my own thing, beach walks, self guided snorkelling, dawn swims in perfect temperature water, reading books, trying to learn something from the slow pace of village life. It's an actual paradise for slowing right down.

I travelled solo and felt completely safe and welcome. During my time I was alone a couple of nights and there were other travelers passing through too.

When the older kids were home from school on the weekend they took us on tours through the gardens, cut drinking coconuts, talked and drew with me. The younger kids were so, so energetic and lovely to interact with. The rhythm of village life changes with weather, days of the week, etc, just go with it and you'll enjoy your time.

Take a sleep mask and earplugs, there will be roosters and village sounds and maybe a mouse or a gecko or whatever in your bure. Personally none of that stuff worried me, it was obvious from the description to expect that and they won't trouble you at all. I had my own bure (the red one) with my own toilet and cold water shower (though with the warm weather it's not a problem).

Meals were generous and regular, you will be eating in different bures with different families, meaning you get to interact with most people in the village, meet heaps of the kids etc. It's much more human and real than any of the resorts I stayed in. You don't get to pick your menu, you'll be eating what they are eating, though if you're vegetarian etc that can be accommodated.

If you have spare space in your luggage, do take towels, baby clothes, anything on their list of wants. It's super hard to get things to the Yasawas, so any generosity would be valuable.

Thank you so much to all those who welcomed me into your homes and lives in Navotua. I...

The most warm and wonderful hospitality awaits you at Navotua Village homestay. It is deliciously secluded so you're totally immersed within the life of the village and its happenings and, most especially, within its beautiful, super-friendly people. We were privileged to see the working gardens, attend a shell market (amazing handcrafts!), watch traditional weaving, be welcomed at the local school by superbly confident children who entertained us with song, dance and their learning, attend a church service, experience a night of fantastic Meke Dance entertainment and a kava ceremony. We were treated to wonderful, delicious meals within different homes of the village, and were able to discover the 'real' Fiji, which is its beautiful, generous people. Stunning beaches, access to the Sawa-i-lau-caves with knowledgeable Navotua guides, walks around the village and through the mangroves, and accommodation in a traditional Fijian bure are experiences that made it difficult to leave Navotua and its warm-heated villagers. The Yasawa homestay is an opportunity to 'detox' from a rushed, busy, noisy world and be immersed within the quiet serenity of a village whose generous spirit is demonstrated in every smiling face that greets you...