Situated within the huge fantastic thing about the South Pacific’s Lomaiviti Archipelago, Wakaya is a tiny, personal island within the coronary heart of Fiji. Whereas the island itself spans over 3,200 acres, Wakaya Membership & Spa’s footprint is deliberately small permitting for almost all of the island to stay an untouched paradise.
Wakaya is an intimate luxurious resort that options simply 10 free-standing waterfront Fijian “bures,” which embrace two palatial personal residence villas whose environment mix seamlessly with the plush panorama of Wakaya Island.
Every of the seven Ocean View Bures affords 1,650 sq. toes of tranquility, full with Fijian textiles, pure finishes and indigenous Yaka timber flooring. They characteristic domestically made Fijian mattresses from Suva, a shocking lavatory suite with Jacuzzi bathtub, two vanities, an open-air lava rock bathe, in addition to a gracious lounge that opens as much as a personal, secluded backyard main right down to the seashore with its personal hammock.
Those that go to Wakaya are in search of the street much less traveled. Whereas the journey to Wakaya is not a straightforward one, Fiji Airways Enterprise Class actually makes the business flight a delight. With direct flights from San Francisco, I boarded a enterprise class flight with a employees whose degree of hospitality was second to none. From a three-course meal and full tuck-in earlier than mattress to the new cup of espresso (in an actual mug) handed to me upon dawn, I could not have been happier.
After about 11 hours, we landed at Nadi Worldwide Airport. We proceeded to board Wakaya’s personal personal Cessna plane which flew us for 45 minutes over essentially the most insanely blue waters of Fiji. Upon touchdown, we have been whisked away for yet another quick, albeit bumpy journey, via the wild jungle of Wakaya. None of us have been fairly ready for the nice and cozy welcome that was ready for us.
Inside of an ocean view bure. (Photograph Credit score: Chelsea Davis)
Wakaya is a really particular vacation spot that provides company a brand new sense of place and belonging. One of many largest differentiators from different luxurious properties is how extremely gracious, hospitable and welcoming the employees of simply 90 Fijians is. As soon as we obtained out of the van, we have been welcomed with track and dance, coconuts and Fijian garlands.
“Wakaya is a secure, personal resort with luxurious lodging and meals. We have now the friendliest individuals on earth right here,” explains the not too long ago promoted Monika Pal, Wakaya’s first feminine Basic Supervisor.
“We need to be sure our company are coming to one of the best place potential. Wakaya is so personal — you will not get this wherever. The second you arrive it is a 100% change. And when you meet the employees right here, it modifications your complete perspective coming from a first-world nation to Fiji. Wakaya is incomparable.”
The Wakaya expertise is all-inclusive, and whereas for a lot of that conjures up photos of subpar, all-you-can-eat buffets and low cost liquor, that could not be farther from the case right here. Over 60 % of the elements used within the meals listed below are grown on Wakaya.
On the property is a one-and-a-half acre natural farm and herb backyard that grows all the pieces from eggplant and Dilo spinach to soursop and guava. The culinary staff forages from the freshest elements to serve on the property each morning.
Breakfast views at Wakaya. (Photograph Credit score: Chelsea Davis)
Visitors sit down to a few distinctive, made-to-order meals each day. There is no set menu at Wakaya, with every meal primarily based on what’s recent. The extremely proficient culinary staff contains Sous Chef Siteri Adicakobau, Sous Chef Emiou Ruateke, Pastry Chef Kelera Cegu and Junior Chef Peniame Drova. Each morning, Chef Cegu floored us along with her choice of unbelievable baked items. The spotlight was her decadently moist French toast, of which I will be eager for till I return to the island.
General, the delicacies is a fusion of Indian, Mediterranean and recent Fijian flavors that incorporate each the bounty and sport of Wakaya. The employees repeatedly hunts for deer through the seasons that permit it and goes spearfishing each day. The company are additionally provided the choice to catch their very own fish for the meals of the day.
Standout dishes included Wakayan venison sashimi served alongside a sizzling Wakayan lava rock to prepare dinner it on; breadfruit curry, a starchy fruit that is uncommon in most elements of the U.S.; kokoda, a Fijian ceviche made with coconut milk and a lot extra.
Curry hen tacos. (Photograph Credit score: Chelsea Davis)
Visitors of the island are additionally invited to participate in genuine Fijian culinary experiences that embrace a conventional lovo — an all-natural-underground oven that slowly cooks meat, fish and greens which have been meticulously wrapped in banana and palm leaves till tender and flavorful.
Every day the employees prepares a specifically curated itinerary for its company. From guided hikes to Chieftain’s Leap, the island’s highest level, and snorkeling to see the island’s uncommon large clams, to glass-bottom kayaking over the colourful coral reefs and experiencing genuine Fijian traditions that embrace kava welcome ceremonies, every day is an journey.
When it is time for relaxation and rest, the property has Breeze Spa, a serene hideaway that provides therapies that embrace the newly added Dilo Leaf physique wrap which makes use of the Dilo Leafs grown on the property.
Whether or not a personal Fijian bbq on one in all Wakaya’s southeastern seashores to an exquisite meal set beneath handwoven cathedral ceilings searching in direction of an unbelievable sundown, the extent of curation and a focus to element that the employees affords its company’ stays is solely unparalleled.
The yard and personal seashore of the ocean view bure. (Photograph Credit score: Chelsea Davis)
The property is located in some of the untouched marine wildernesses on the planet, and as such, sustainability and conservation are quintessential to the expertise at Wakaya.
Presently, the property has a employees of eight fish wardens, educated by the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries, to guard the waters from poachers and different harmful forces.
Whereas the work they do to guard the Wakaya Marine Protect, which is residence to all the pieces from hammerhead sharks to inexperienced again turtles, is kind of spectacular, they imagine this is not sufficient.
“We as a resort are training sustainability and are doing our share however we will do extra,” says Pal. “We need to educate our company and have them do their share of serving to the surroundings earlier than they depart, particularly with planting new coral. This additionally offers them one thing to stay up for seeing once they return.”
Along with defending over 16,000 sq. kilometers of marine life and rehoming quite a few species, significantly the large clam, the property is present process plans for each coral restoration and manta ray conservation initiatives. This may see new marine biologists and environmentalist specialists added to the marine employees.
