Short answer
The most social backpacker resorts in the Yasawas are Octopus Resort (communal dinners, fire dancing, from $362), Mantaray Island (32-bed dorm, pool, mantas May to October, from $388) and Barefoot Manta (beside the manta channel, from $387). For reef sharks, go to Barefoot Kuata; for the Blue Lagoon on a budget, Boathouse Nanuya or Blue Lagoon Beach. Each price is a dorm bed for one night with the return catamaran from Port Denarau. Most resorts add a compulsory meal plan of FJ$149 to FJ$209 a day, paid on the island.
Prices are per person in AUD from our listings, the same as the ferry operator’s published price. Meal plans are the operator’s published rates for travel from 1 September 2026 to 31 March 2027, converted at FJ$1 = A$0.63.
The Yasawa resorts at a glance
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Octopus Resort
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Barefoot Kuata
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Barefoot Manta
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Mantaray Island
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Mai Sunset Beach
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Blue Lagoon Beach
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Boathouse Nanuya
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Oarsman’s Bay Lodge
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Coconut Beach
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Nanuya Island Resort
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Waya Island Resort
See it as a table
| Resort | Island | Cheapest bed (1 night + boat) | Meal plan per day | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Octopus Resort | Waya | $362, 12-bed dorm | FJ$209 (about A$133) | Meeting people, nightlife |
| Barefoot Kuata | Kuata | $370, 8-bed dorm (girls’ dorm too) | FJ$167 (about A$106) | Reef sharks, first stop |
| Barefoot Manta | Drawaqa | $387, 7-bed dorm | FJ$167 (about A$106) | Mantas, marine biology |
| Mantaray Island | Nanuya Balavu | $388, 32-bed dorm | FJ$179 (about A$114) | Mantas, a big social crowd |
| Mai Sunset Beach | Naviti | $396, 4-bed garden bure | FJ$185 (about A$117) | Small and quiet, mantas |
| Blue Lagoon Beach | Nacula | $402, 16-bed dorm | FJ$209 (about A$133) | The Blue Lagoon, caves trips |
| Boathouse Nanuya | Nanuya Lailai | $415, 6-bed dorm, real beds | FJ$149 (about A$95) | Blue Lagoon on a budget, adults only |
| Oarsman’s Bay Lodge | Nacula | $608, 8-bed air-con dorm, 3 nights | Ask us | Adults only, a slower pace |
| Coconut Beach | Tavewa | $1,409, private villa, 2 nights | FJ$180 (about A$114) | Quiet private rooms, no dorms |
| Nanuya Island Resort | Nanuya Lailai | $742, treetop bure | À la carte, pay as you go | Comfort in the Blue Lagoon |
| Waya Island Resort | Waya | $1,128, garden bure | Included | Adults only, pool, meals in |
The cheapest bed isn’t the cheapest night. A dorm at Boathouse Nanuya with its FJ$149 meal plan can cost less per day than a cheaper dorm with a FJ$209 plan.
Most social: Octopus, Mantaray and Barefoot Manta
Octopus Resort is where solo travellers make friends fastest. Dinner is at long communal tables in a sand-floor restaurant, and there’s often fire dancing and Fijian music afterwards. There’s a pool, a big open-air bar, and free snorkels, paddleboards and kayaks. Dorms are 12-bed bunks or 7 beds, both air-conditioned. The meal plan is at the top of the range.
Mantaray Island is the busy one: a 32-bed air-con Paradise Dorm, a hilltop restaurant, a beachfront pizza bar and a freshwater pool. From May to October the resort runs manta swims when the rays are feeding in the channel.
Barefoot Manta has three beaches on one small island, one of them looking straight over the manta channel. Its marine biology team runs reef tours and coral planting. The manta swim is paid and runs in season when the rays are in; it isn’t guaranteed.
Best for snorkelling and marine life
- Reef sharks: Barefoot Kuata, the first island on the chain, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Denarau. It sits in a marine protected area with an onsite marine biologist, and you can book a guided reef-shark snorkel or an introductory shark dive. There’s also a Kuata shark snorkel overnight from $356, snorkel included.
- Manta rays, May to October: Barefoot Manta, Mantaray Island and Mai Sunset Beach, all in the manta region.
- Something different: Mai Sunset Beach is one of the few places in the Pacific where nama (sea grapes) grows, and guests can join the harvest.
Best for the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is at the top of the ferry route, so it’s the longest ride but the most famous water in the Yasawas.
- Blue Lagoon Beach Resort on Nacula: all-tide swimming and snorkelling off the beach, a sand-floor bar, and trips to the Sawa-i-Lau limestone caves. Dorms are 16-bed bunks or 8-bed air-con.
- Boathouse Nanuya on Nanuya Lailai: the budget pick for the Blue Lagoon, adults only, with 6-bed male and female dorms that have real beds instead of bunks, and air-con everywhere. The cheapest meal plan in this list.
Adults only and quieter stays
- Oarsman’s Bay Lodge: adults only (18+), on a bay in the Blue Lagoon region with close ties to Nacula Village. Three nights minimum. Free snorkelling, kayaks and volleyball. The lodge is cashless.
- Waya Island Resort: adults only, just 25 villas and bures, a pool and day spa, and meals included, which is rare out here. No dorms.
- Coconut Beach and Nanuya Island Resort: private rooms only, for when you want a break from dorms.
How to visit more than one resort
Each stay above is one resort with the return catamaran. To string several together:
- Yasawa Pass: the catamaran plus a bed every night at the resorts you choose, from $633 for 5 days.
- A set package like the Fiji 7 Days, 4 Islands, with the route and activities fixed. All packages compared.
- Build your own in the Fiji trip planner: combine Nadi nights, island stays and day trips and we quote one package price, below what the parts cost separately.
Frequently asked questions
Which Yasawa resort is best for backpackers?
For meeting people, Octopus Resort or Mantaray Island. For mantas, Barefoot Manta or Mantaray (May to October). For reef sharks, Barefoot Kuata. For the Blue Lagoon on a budget, Boathouse Nanuya.
What is the cheapest resort in the Yasawas?
A dorm night with the return boat starts at $362; the table above has each resort. Check the meal plan as well as the bed: Boathouse Nanuya’s is FJ$149 a day, Octopus Resort’s and Blue Lagoon Beach’s FJ$209.
Do I have to pay for meals at Yasawa resorts?
At most, yes: a compulsory daily meal plan paid on the island. Waya Island Resort includes meals; Nanuya Island Resort is à la carte.
Which Yasawa resorts have manta rays?
Barefoot Manta, Mantaray Island and Mai Sunset Beach are in the manta region. The rays visit from May to October, and manta swims are paid activities that run when they’re in the channel.
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