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The Real Fiji: What Not to Miss on Your Fiji Vacation

Fiji is a magical and unique destination. Across the islands are seemingly endless options for excursions, adventures, rest, and relaxation. Visitors can create an itinerary that perfectly caters to their interests and desires – including the desire to do nothing at all. Amidst all of the possible activities and experiences you can add to an itinerary for your Fiji vacation, several are entirely unique to the archipelago.

These distinctive cultural experiences and natural wonders are the reasons people choose to visit Fiji over other tropical destinations, and many of these opportunities can’t be replicated or recreated anywhere else in the world. This is the list of don’t miss experiences if you want to see, hear, and taste the real Fiji.

A Peek at Village Life

Travelers to Taveuni, and other islands in Fiji, have the opportunity to visit a local village as part of their Fiji vacation. It can be surprising to see the way Fijians live, but spending time in the local communities is simultaneously rewarding. The people of Fiji are incredibly happy in their daily lives. Fiji even has the reputation as one of the happiest places on the planet. There is no better way to understand what makes Fijians so content than by spending time in the local communities.

Life here is simple, particularly compared to western standards, and it isn’t unusual for a family of five to share a single room. However, you will quickly forget that these villages look anything else than idyllic because Fiji villages are filled with joy, even if sparse in material possessions. Traditions are important, and community is paramount. Fijians frequently place their community responsibilities and needs over personal wants. It isn’t uncommon for children to, literally, be raised by the entire village, and sharing one’s personal possessions comes naturally.

Even in a short village visit, you will understand a great deal about these aspects of Fiji’s culture and more.

A Look into Fiji’s Past

Fiji has several traditional rituals that are still practiced or performed today. For local people, these rituals are important, respected parts of their culture, and they are delighted to share the practices with interested visitors. For visitors that want dig deeper into Fiji’s culture and look into the country’s past, we highly recommend seeing several of these traditional rituals. Two rituals that are popular on Taveuni are Meke and Lovo.

Meke is a traditional performance that embodies Fiji’s history of storytelling and emotional expression through dance and movement. Musicians, on drums, gongs, and bamboo pipes, provide the tempo and guide traditional dancers through stories famous in any culture, from love stories and heartbreak, to battles and adventure. The dancers wear flower garlands and traditional grass skirts. Often, a Meke performance will end with members of the audience being asked to participate and learn a simple dance. Meke is only one of the traditional types of dance performed in Fiji.

Lovo showcases another important part of Fijian culture, cuisine. Lovo is a specific manner of cooking traditional Fijian food. The various dishes are prepared over an open fire, while wrapped in banana leaves or coconut fronds. The food must cook for several hours, sometimes all day, before it is shared at a communal table.

A Glimpse of Local Commerce

Perhaps the most eye-opening local experience a visitor can have is to wander through a Fijian market during its busiest hours. These markets are bustling with activity and have a variety of goods. After five minutes you will know that the markets are certainly the epitome of local commerce in Fiji.

In the markets, people of all ages come to socialize and shop, and it is where you can find anything from lunch to shampoo. Sometimes these markets even sell small trinkets and gifts. However, it is the fresh food stalls that draw the most people. Fijians come to the market daily to shop for their dinner and buy fresh ingredients. Whether you choose to have a guided tour or simply wander yourself, there are a multitude of sights and sounds to capture attention and pique curiosity.

Getting Out of the Resort

Within five minutes at Raiwasa Private Resort, most people want to spend their entire trip right at home. We understand that it’s hard enough to drag yourself from the cliffside infinity pool for a private yoga session, much less leave the property.

However, we do encourage guests to experience some aspects of the local culture in Fiji. The traditions, culture, and community in Fiji are unique, and it’s a special experience to take memories of the people and place home with you from Raiwasa. Enquire about the opportunities for culture excursions when you book with us today.