The Yasawas have some of the finest beaches in Fiji — white sand, clear turquoise water, and an almost complete absence of development. Most beaches are accessible only from the water, which keeps them uncrowded even during peak season. The best swimming tends to be on the leeward (western) side of each island, where the lagoons are sheltered and shallow.
Blue Lagoon Beach on Nanuya Lailai Island is the chain's most famous stretch, made widely known by the 1980 film of the same name. The beach lives up to the hype: a curving crescent of white sand framed by volcanic rock, with a sheltered lagoon perfect for swimming. Several small resorts and budget bures are clustered nearby.
Further north, the beaches around Yasawa Island itself are quieter and harder to reach, which is precisely their appeal. The luxury Yasawa Island Resort sits on its own private bay, but several nearby beaches can be reached by arrangement with local boatmen.