ucked behind a palm lined beach on 10 acres of tropical rainforest fronting beautiful Malumu Bay on Beqa Island, you will find Lalati Resort & Spa.  Recently under new ownership, you can expect to find the same lavish comforts that Lalati has become known for, with many additional upgrades planned for the near future.    The emphasis is also still on an ecologically sustainable ‘green’ operation that features organic produce from the resorts gardens and a waste retrieval system to maintain the local habitat and keep the bay unspoiled and protect the myriad of marine life in front of the resort.

ll bures are influenced by traditional Fijian architecture with and eye towards comfort and luxury.  The Beachfront Villas have a spacious 2 bedroom footprint that can accommodate 4 guests with a California King bed in the main bedroom and a queen bed in the other, as well as a large, attractively tiled bath and shower, comfortable sitting area and covered deck.  The furnishings are comfy and inviting, including the hammock on the veranda.  There are also a couple of seaview cottages located on the hillside just above the beach that feel more like a summer getaway cottage but still offer beautiful views out over the bay.  They also offer a king bed, large sitting area and a large private deck but only have a single bedroom and in addition offer kitchen facilities.

or those guests demanding the finest, the Honeymoon Villa is unsurpassed for romance and privacy.  Located in a secluded spot at the furthest end of the beach away from the main bure, this bure offers a huge split-level space encompassing 2 rooms and several distinct areas.  On the upper level is a strikingly massive 4 poster California King bed, surrounded on the lower level by areas where you can sit and read, have a conversation, listen to music or watch movies on the television.  There is even an area for those private romantic meals.  Out the back of the bure is a lush garden area, and a spacious private courtyard that opens to the sea lies to the side.  There you’ll find a hot

tub, waterfall, shaded daybed and outdoor river rock shower, as well as teak lounges.  The folding wall opens to a superlative ocean view or closes to keep the rest of the world out, just leaving the two of you in your contemplative Nirvana.

uisine at Lalati is a fusion of local and imported components prepared in the Pacific Rim style rounded out with Fijian, Indian, American and other international selections.  Typically meals are in the main dining bure, designed with an open air atmosphere and high ceiling and with views of the ocean and distant rainforest.  For a more romantic setting, try a candlelight dinner out over the water at the end of the jetty or on your  veranda.  The resort will also pack a gourmet meal that can be enjoyed at lunch on a private island or secluded beach that you kayak to for your impulsive picnic safari.  Some of the menu items that you’ll encounter are Pesto Chicken Pizza (the resort has a real brick pizza oven) and fresh Wahoo over a bed of Soba Noodles for lunch, and Seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi Sauce or New Zealand Rack of Lamb for dinner.  Don’t forget to leave room for dessert!

alati's Loloma Spa offers a full treatment menu that will leave you relaxed and restored. Offerings range from facials, scrubs and wraps, to body polishes and hair therapy.  Their signature massage (among several styles on offer) is the extraordinary Tandem Loloma Massage - a sensory voyage orchastrated by dual massage therapists - is an unforgettable experience!  Of course, only locally made Pure Fiji products and natural ingredients grown at the resort are used.

iving at Lalati is easy and natural.  Their 2 custom diving cats can whisk you to many sites in just a few minutes, although there are many more sites throughout the almost 200 miles of hard and soft coral that make up Beqa Lagoon.  Their dive staff is made up of local Fijians, expertly trained and offering PADI courses to guests who might not want to otherwise miss out on one of Fiji’s most sought after natural gifts from nature.  Both inside and outside of the

lagoon marine life abounds, from nudibranchs and ceremonial egg cowries to schools of barracuda and even Tiger Sharks, every dive yields something magical.  There are pinnacles, bommies, walls and reefs of coral as far as you can see, and Beqa is home to one of Fiji’s most popular shark dives, too.  Many safety stops are taken at shallow reefs where you’ll be sorely disappointed if you shot up all your pictures already, as it is not uncommon to find some of the most interesting creatures in the last 5 minutes of your dive.  Commonly seen at the house reef right in front of the resort are frogfish, seahorses, blue ribbon eels, ghost pipefish, flame scallops, nudibranchs, many species of live shells and much more!  While these creatures are expert at camouflage, they are also pretty territorial so you can expect to find them around the same place day after day once you know where to look.

norkelers can also enjoy finding unusual discoveries right out in front of the dive shop if they are patient.