There is a destination in Fiji that delivers an iconic South Pacific vacation experience. Set on a small, postcard-perfect island with no roads, it delivers a barefoot-luxury vibe enhanced by warm Fijian hospitality. Guests enjoy oceanfront massages, al fresco gourmet dining, waterfall hikes, sunset happy hours, and authentic cultural experiences.

Yes, there are other resorts scattered across the tropics that can offer similar attractions – but they don't have the sharks. This is Beqa Lagoon Resort, home to one of the world's most famous shark encounters. And that's just one of many underwater and topside experiences that await.

Beqa Lagoon Resort tropical bure

A Scenic Oceanfront Oasis

Beqa Lagoon Resort welcomes guests with a collection of Fijian-style villas known as bures. Spread across 10 acres of lush tropical gardens, these private residences feature open-plan layouts, spacious marble bathrooms, sustainable hardwood accents, premium bedding, air conditioning and private outdoor decks. Accommodation choices include Garden and Koi Lagoon bures, two-bedroom Ocean View Suites and Deluxe Beachfront Bures with private plunge pools.

The resort's inclusive meal plan showcases internationally-recognized gourmet cuisines based on premium meats, fresh seafood and locally- grown fruits and vegetables. These chef-prepared meals are served al fresco in the Bure Kalou dining room to the accompaniment of ocean views. The adjacent free-form infinity pool provides sweeping, unobstructed views of the surrounding turquoise lagoon. Also nearby on the beach is the Lali Spa offering massages and wellness treatments.

Guests can explore the island's shoreline by kayak or paddle board, and there is a house reef just off the beach that is available for self-guided diving. This site features a mix of sandy seabeds and coral heads set at shallow depths. It is a favorite spot for macro-photography and night dives. The resort offers guided rainforest hikes, mangrove kayaking, sandbar picnics, and traditional village visits. Daily cultural entertainment includes traditional Meke singing performances, kava ceremonies, and demonstrations by the island's famous fire walkers.

Tiger shark encounter at Beqa Lagoon

Sharks and More

The resort's namesake lagoon sits within a 30-mile ring of bright coral reefs that offer more than 100 dive sites to explore. The on-site PADI 5-star facility stocks rental gear, wetsuits, and cameras, while providing highly attentive, valet-style dive services where staff handle all gear handling, tank fills, and rinse facilities. Three dive boats from 45 to 60 feet in length visit sites ranging from 15 to 100 feet in depth. The standard schedule includes morning two-tank dives, with optional afternoon and night dives based on diver demand

The headline diving attractions are the shark encounters that take place at the site known as the Cathedral. Here, divers kneel on a natural rock wall at a depth of 65 feet as dive guides bait the waters to attract up to eight species of sharks to stop by for a snack. The roster includes bull sharks, silvertip sharks, tawny nurse sharks, black-tip reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, and lemon sharks. The star performers are the large female tiger sharks that dominate the scene when they arrive, while the feeding activity also attracts a large supporting cast of jacks, snappers, Queensland grouper, and humphead wrasse.

A lower-key shark encounter takes place at the nearby Apex Arena. At this un-baited, non-feeding site, divers swim alongside gray reef, black-tip, white-tip, and nurse sharks in their natural environment. The site's maximum depths of 50 feet allow for long, relaxed encounters.

Shark encounters are just one facet of Beqa diving. The lagoon holds more than 300 species of coral and is home to 1,800-plus species of fish. There are miles of reefs covered in colorful soft corals and towering coral heads carpeted in anemones. A favorite shipwreck attracts swirling schools of barracuda, butterflyfish, mackerel, and red-toothed trigger fish. Huge bumphead wrasse, malabar grouper, turtles, and giant trevally patrol the outer edges of coral ridges and walls, while sheltered shallows reward keen-eyed searchers with nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, octopi, blue-ribbon eels, and hundreds of species of shrimps and crabs.

Caradonna Can Get you There

Traveling to Beqa Lagoon begins with a flight to Nadi International Airport, followed by a scenic van ride along the western and southern coast of Viti Levu Island to the docks at Pacific Harbour. From there, it is a 45-minute boat ride to the resort by water taxi. Caradonna packages with Beqa Lagoon include both land and water transfers, and agents can also create seamless air-inclusive packages.

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