A truly special place — the people make Octopus unforgettable I stayed at Octopus Resort for four nights during my first solo trip to Fiji and to celebrate my 30th birthday, and four nights was nowhere near enough. After continuing on to another resort, I missed Octopus and the people there so much that I actually changed my transfers on my final day in Fiji just so I could return for a few hours before flying home. That probably says more than anything else I could write. The resort itself is beautiful. The beach is gorgeous, my bure was comfortable and charming, I loved the outdoor shower, and the surrounding landscape is stunning. But the house reef was one of the biggest surprises of my trip. I learned to snorkel at Octopus and snorkeled at several locations afterward, and Octopus remained my favorite. The coral, colorful fish and marine life were incredible. There is also an amazing range of activities. During my stay I snorkeled with manta rays, hiked the mountain, practiced yoga, made jewelry, learned about the reef, participated in a kava ceremony, visited the neighboring village and schools, and shopped from local women at the craft market. I actually left without getting to everything I wanted to do. What truly distinguishes Octopus, though, is the staff and the level of care. I traveled alone and never felt alone. People learned my name, greeted me everywhere I went, helped me try new things, answered endless questions, shared their culture with me and made me feel genuinely welcome. Keasi was one of the highlights of my stay. He shared so much knowledge about Waya, the village, schools, clans, traditions and everyday life on the island. The village and school experiences were among the most meaningful parts of my entire Fiji trip. A huge vinaka to Sami, Simon, Sam, Moses and the entire dive-shop team. I arrived genuinely nervous about snorkeling, and they were incredibly patient, encouraging and safety-conscious. By the end of my stay, I was confidently exploring the reef and had experienced the absolute magic of swimming with manta rays. The dive-shop team is phenomenal. Thank you to Sema for yoga and to everyone involved with the mountain hike, jewelry making, reef education and the many other resort activities. The restaurant and hospitality teams were equally wonderful. Mele, Luisa, Sera, Kitty and so many others took excellent care of me. I was warmly welcomed whether I arrived at a meal alone or with people I had met during my stay. The Donu team also prepared some fantastic meals. Thank you to Filo for taking such good care of my bure; Tima and Mary for going above and beyond to help me; and Alfie, who was incredibly thoughtful throughout my stay and even coordinated with the sister resort to make sure my birthday celebration continued after I left Octopus. And thank you to Matilda, Suzzie, Captain Ben, the office team, housekeeping, kitchen staff, boat crews, grounds team and everyone else whose name I may be forgetting. There were genuinely too many wonderful people to name. The service continued even after I checked out. When I accidentally left my wallet behind, the team found it and coordinated getting it to me at Blue Lagoon by boat. That level of care was representative of my entire experience. I also especially appreciated Octopus’s connection with the neighboring community. Visiting the village, kindergarten and school, learning from local people and purchasing handmade items directly from women at the craft market made the experience much richer. Octopus has heart. The warmth of the staff, sense of community, incredible reef, cultural experiences and sheer amount of care put into the guest experience make this place extraordinary. If you’re considering staying in the Yasawa Islands, go to Octopus—and give yourself enough time there. I thought four nights would be plenty. It wasn’t. Vinaka vakalevu to the entire Octopus family for such a beautiful beginning to my thirties. I absolutely will be back. ❤️

My Fiji itinerary sadly only gave me one night here but it was lovely! From the moment I arrived I felt right at home. The dorms were clean and met all my needs. It was pretty cool to know I was staying in a dorm yet eating dinner at a Japanese omikase restaurant that was included in the meal plan. Everyone was very nice. The resort is set up right on the beach so the bar and restaurants offer a nice view. Everything was wonderful! I hope to be back.