Bula guys! I’ve returned from Fiji, and let me just say that 6 days was not enough! Located in the South Pacific Ocean, this tropical oasis consists of about 330 islands. So as you can imagine, there are plenty of adventures here, making it the perfect holiday and solo traveling destination!

With such a short amount of time, I decided to stay in Viti Levu, the largest Fijian Island, to really explore the tropical landscape, the people, and their way of life. One of those days was spent island hopping, with some locals of course!

Obviously, since it’s a bunch of islands in the middle of the ocean, you can do all the normal island things. You know, go snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, kayaking, boating, jet-skiing, relaxing, sunsets, whatever… I think you get the picture! All the typical island activities are there for you, but in this blog post, I wanted to make my list of must do’s specific to just Fiji.

So here are 13 of the best things to do and see in Viti Levu Fiji, to satisfy all the adventurous souls out there!

1. Make Friends with the Locals

What’s a better way to really get to know a new place than to become friends with locals who have lived there their whole life? Fijian people are as happy, nice and genuine as they get! You’ll be greeted with “Bula!” an endless amount of times as it is the local way of saying “hello.” The kid in the cool red shoes is Kavnil. I met him while he was working at the Ripcurl store in Port Denaru. Told him I was road tripping to Suva and he said he was off the next day if I wanted a local to join and just like that we became friends. The road trip ended up being so cool and so much fun!

2. Visit a Local Village

There are a lot of remote villages scattered all over the island of Viti Levu and it’s worth it to visit a few and see how local Fijians live. This was truly a highlight for me as I think it’s a great way to immerse yourself in a culture that is completely different from your own. You’ll encounter happy children and natives, passionately shaking your hands, excited to show you around or offer you a meal!

3. Rent a Car! Or…Hitchhike

Local transportation, aka the buses will be the cheapest way to get around. Renting a car will be the most reliable and easiest way to see a lot of the island on your own schedule. I wouldn’t speed here if I were you as there are police hidden all over the island, especially in the more rural areas protecting local villages. For those of you that are super adventurous, hitchhiking is totally a thing here and is generally known to be a safe option. Of course, as with anything, exercise extra caution and always trust your gut! While I didn’t hitchhike this trip, I did pick up 3 people who did. Ok, actually just one was a hitchhiker, Alisa who ran out of propane while she was cooking dinner. The other two were new friends who happened to be on the side of the road when I picked them up…same thing. 

4. Drive through Koroyanitu National Heritage Park

This is the gigantic ass forest mountain that is right next to the airport. I was so dang excited when I rented the car that I didn’t care where I went, I just wanted to see the island, so I ended up here. It quite a fun drive and so beautiful! You’ll pass plenty of villages and children eagerly screaming ‘Bula’ at you. This is also the way to the Sleeping Giant zipline and Orchid Falls.

5. Road Trip to Suva

Suva is the capital and the largest city in the Republic of Fiji. If you are trying to party on the main island of Fiji, this is your spot! Known for its vibrant nightlife, if you were to ask any local where they go to party, the answer is always Suva!

6. Buy Corn on the Side of the Road

Dotted along the side of the main road, you’ll see numerous shacks selling corn and fresh fruits. Be sure to stop at one and enjoy a fresh corn on the cob! I found that Vatukarasa Village had the cutest corn shacks on the road.

7. Colo-I-Suva Forest Park

Escape to nature and enjoy this lush rainforest located about 15 minutes from the city. An absolutely beautiful place to go hiking and swimming in the waterfall or one of the natural pools. This place is stunning! VISIT VISIT VISIT! Seriously, I had so much fun here.

8. Visit the Local Markets

Markets are such a great place to see, experience and taste authentic local life! My favorite markets I visited were the Suva Municipal Market and Suva Fish Market, both right next to each other. I love interacting with locals and supporting their community by buying fresh fruits and veggies. Not to mention the foods are usually of better quality, organic and cheap!

9. Eat Street Food BBQ

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This was the best and cheapest food I ate in Fiji. For $7 Fiji dollars you can get an entire box of noodles, cole slaw, a hard boiled egg, boiled cassava with the meat of your choice and I smothered mine in mayo. Delicious!

10. Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park

Open daily from 8am-5pm, this is Fiji’s first national park spanning 650 hectares. Do the 2 hour walk which allows you to see more of the park and be sure to get there early to avoid the heat. If you are visiting during the dry season (May-October) then totally go sandboarding! 

11. Island Hop

With over 330 islands, it is only natural that you would want to island hop! I recommend doing some research prior to visiting so you know which islands you want to visit. Fiji Islands could be grouped into regions. Everyone starts on Viti Levu, known as the “mainland” and Fiji’s largest island. Then there’s Vanua Levu, the second largest island, Kadavu Island, the third largest island, the Mamanuca and Yasawa Island regions with a bunch of other little island all spread out everywhere in between. With such a short amount of time I focused just on the main island but did a day trip with some locals to nearby islands. If you didn’t book anything prior to your visit, no worries at all! Just head to Port Denarau Shopping Centre and Marina. Everything you need to know about island hopping here.

12. Barefoot Hikes in the Jungle to the Waterfalls 

Without sounding too much like a hippy, I believe in grounding or earthing one hundred percent. Google it, it’s a thing! I do it all the time but my favorite way to connect to the Earth is when I go on hikes, especially if that hike is going to lead to a waterfall. Biasuevu Waterfall was perfect for this! It cost $25 Fiji dollars to do the hike with a local guide an all the money goes towards the village. The hike is a short 2.2km and you cross over 9 rivers so you wouldn’t want to wear shoes anyways! I also barefoot hiked in Colo-I-Suva to the waterfall there. Give it a try guys and let me know how you feel after 🙂

13. Experience a Kava Ceremony 

Kava is a huge part of Fiji culture and day to day life. It’s a drink that is made from ground yaqona root then mixed with water and strained in a t-shirt like cloth. If I’m being really honest, it’s not the tastiest drink, (kind of taste like mud water) but what it stands for is awesome. You drink kava in a group with others, known as a ceremony, and it is usually offered in a communal cup as a way to bring people together. A couple of cups in and you’ll be feeling chilled out and relaxed. Once the ceremony is complete, now everyone is friends! How cool is that?