Turtle Island

This 500-acre private island—one of the first clean-energy resorts in the world—is a true eco-friendly sanctuary that celebrates the indigenous culture of Fiji.

• The cultural experiences, which introduce guests to ancient Fijian traditions
• That guests are encouraged to “disconnect to reconnect” and leave their phones in their bures (rooms).
• The “Bure Mamas” who take care of all guests’ needs

“Welcome home,” are the first words guests will hear when they arrive at the white-sand beaches of Turtle Island, a blissful island escape in Fiji. And by the time guests leave the eco-friendly paradise, they’ll feel as if they are leaving just that—a South Pacific home away from home.

A passion project of American entrepreneur Richard Evanson, who purchased Turtle Island in the 1970s, the all-inclusive resort is a personal retreat that provides meaningful experiences rooted in culture, community and connection. The eco-friendly resort boasts the largest privately owned solar power plant in the South Pacific and is one of the first creators of an official Sea Turtle Conservation program in Fiji in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Turtle Island is 100% plastic-free, grows its own produce in a five-acre garden and operates its own on-island desalination plant. Every guest supports the island’s conservation efforts by planting a tree during their stay.

Turtle Island sleeps just 28 people in its 14 bures (bure is the Fijian word for a wood-and-straw villa), each of which is entirely solar-powered. The accommodations’ décor mimics the natural environment and embraces traditional Fijian design with lots of patterns, and all of the wooden furnishings are built from trees found on the island. While at the resort, guests are attended to by their “Bure Mama,” or personal concierge.

There are an abundance of activities on offer, and the island boasts 14 beaches that line the pristine turquoise water—it comes as no surprise that this was the set of 1980 film The Blue Lagoon. Guests can spend their days here enjoying private beach picnics and Fijian-inspired spa treatments or experiencing the beautiful region by snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, biking and more. A soulful property, Turtle Island also offers visits to local villages, traditional kava (a Fijian drink) ceremonies and communal meals with fellow guests and staff members.

Turtle Island is ideal for couples seeking more than just a romantic escape—it is best for travelers who want to embrace the Fijian philosophy of “one people, one mana, one love.”

Turtle Island is accessible by Turtle Airways seaplane transfer via Nadi International Airport.