We cannot guarantee you will see the Manta Ray but we and the Manta try our best. We may go several days during the season without seeing any mantas at all. We were fortunate to see three manta rays feeding on the plankton that flows through the arrow channel. Unpretentious resort, stunning setting, friendly staff and three beaches to choose from (sunset, sunrise or manta). All are beautiful. The island and staff are absolutely beautiful. more. Our Bure was clean and lovely. Manta season is well underway - May to October each year, and this resort is in the prime location (right next to the Manta ray channel) to see them. We stayed at Barefoot Manta, ... with the help of my boyfriend’s drone and snorkeling videos it sure is the nicest video I have ever had to put together. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Stayed in a beach front eco hut which was fantastic. Several times per week a complimentary guided snorkeling by boat is available. Good place to meet other backpackers. Definitely recommended! Can I swim into the channel to see the mantas by myself? If you are lucky, you may see more than a dozen manta rays performing dances. Fiji is one of the leading countries in the protection of this species and therefore we take our interactions with mantas very seriously. Book Barefoot Manta Island, Drawaqa Island on Tripadvisor: See 496 traveller reviews, 702 candid photos, and great deals for Barefoot Manta Island, ranked #1 of 1 hotel in Drawaqa Island and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Restaurants and accommodation near Manta Ray Passage. Rented gear for snorkeling, and spent most of the days in the water. Food here was mostly very good and the cost of the compulsory meal plan was about average. The snorkeling the best in Fiji. Guests can enjoy a number of recreational activities on site or nearby, including volleyball, kayaking and hiking. Because of this it is recommended you stay at least 2-3 nights to increase the likelihood that you will get a good manta snorkel … Best of all, just a few steps to the beach to snorkel. It is only a five minute ride to the area so when they spot mantas they beat a drum to let everyone know to come to the boat. With Manta Ray migrations, beautiful beaches and a host of different activities, we've got you covered. 37' USCG certified vessel custom built for snorkeling While mantas show up most days during the season, it is highly dependent on many factors. It was really nice little hut with a deck area, looking out on to the beach. We did the 'Hermit Crab Race' which was hilarious - many thanks to Bio for arranging that. Add to the favorable ocean conditions, an incredible quantity of colorful reefs and more reef fish than can be found elsewhere, and you have the foundations of the argument that the Big Island is the best place to snorkel in Hawaii. Barefoot Manta Island offers a tranquil environment, with … It is along this unspoiled stretch of beach forming the gateway to the Yasawa Islands, that we built Kuata Islands eco-inspired - Barefoot Kuata Resort. E: mantares@bfcfiji.com The staff were nice, except one guy from the dive shop who was a bit rude. During our tour, we were lucky enough to see a Moray eel in the tide pools, an occurrence our guide told us was extremely rare. You can snorkel off two beaches here. We highly recommend spending time with the resorts marine biologist. Snorkel with the Giant Manta Rays as they come to feed in the early evening hours off the coast of Kona. The Beachfront Bures are a favorite among our guests, designed for 2 adults with an en-suite and amazing ocean views. There's a fixed meal plan which seems to be common in Fiji. Manta season is well underway - May to October each year, and this resort is in the prime location (right next to the Manta ray channel) to see them.I spent two nights at Barefoot Manta resort - diving and snorkeling off the calm waters in the resort. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. In addition to this, the conditions in the channel can be dangerous at times. Explore Diveplanit.com - the best place to research your next scuba diving trip: dive destinations, dive centres and dive sites. Reef Safari’s sister company The Barefoot Collection also owns and operates two island resorts in the Yasawas; Barefoot Manta Island and Barefoot Kuata Island. If you do nothing else in your life, get to this resort to get up close to these most magnificent specimens. Swimming with the Mantarays is a must, it's an amazing experience and I would recommend anyone to come here for that. This is a lovely, chilled resort but definitely a more basic than the likes of Octopus and Blue Lagoon and is more for the backpacker than 'flashpacker' market. Volunteers joining an expedition are highly likely to see manta rays while diving in the area. Book your getaway today! And fun too. Only spent one night at Barefoot Manta Resort after 5 nights at Barefoot Kuata Resort but the experience was fantastic. Mantas tend to show up more around high tides, but this is definitely not a guarantee. Staff are really friendly and the 2 coconut dorm accommodation is good quality with ocean views - although cold, outdoor showers. Barefoot Manta is paradise. Because of this it is recommended you stay at least 2-3 nights to increase the likelihood that you will get a good manta snorkel in during your trip. Barefoot Manta Island, Drawaqa Island: See 496 traveller reviews, 702 candid photos, and great deals for Barefoot Manta Island, ranked #1 of 1 Speciality lodging in Drawaqa Island and rated 4.5 of 5 … If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Snorkeling was pretty good right off the beach. See 497 traveler reviews, 702 candid photos, and great deals for Barefoot Manta Island, ranked #1 of 1 specialty lodging in Drawaqa Island and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. While mantas show up most days during the season, it is highly dependent on many factors. I also took a walk up to a look out. Extra beds for families of … As lovely as the resort is the focus on conservation and coral restoration make Barefoot Manta a very special experience. In all a lovely resort that I would recommend again to solo travellers who are on a little more of a budget & want to see the Mantarays. Only downside to this resort is the food. There are several places in the world to do this, but our site is arguably one of the best. Wow!The resort itself is lovely - great clean and tidy accommodation, very friendly staff, lots of trees and plantings, excellent food with plenty of variety, beautiful fish and coral off the beach. perfect setting! This includes your snorkeling gear, experienced guides, and a manta talk with our onsite Marine Biologist before the trip. Prices above are provided by partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and do not include all taxes and fees. Drawaqa Islands, Fiji With Barefoot Conservation you will gain practical marine conservation experience in one of the world’s most stunningly pristine and remote locations for marine research. Barefoot Manta offers stunning coral gardens right off the beach where you can snorkel, kayak and swim with the local manta rays or spend a few lazy hours alternating between the hammock and lagoon. Manta Island, While we have being researching the manta ray for many years taking valuable detailed data, their aggregation is still highly variable. Personally I would only stay for 1 night or 2 unless you are really into your diving as I started to get a little bored towards the end. Tom Barefoot's Tours offers many discount snorkel tours on the Big Island of Hawaii. The good news for you, with us being researchers, we are keeping a close eye on the channel every day during the season. Both toothless and without stingers these huge animals are harmless to humans. Perfect for snorkeling, beautiful island. For sure. Now HK$395 (Was H̶K̶$̶4̶8̶8̶) on Tripadvisor: Barefoot Manta Island, Drawaqa Island. Barefoot Manta Island There are rare sightings outside of this time. Several hotels can be found close to Manta Ray Passage, especially Barefoot Manta Island (facing the passage), Mantaray Island Resort (1.5km from the spot), Paradise Cove and Botaira Resort (both of them at approx. It has an outdoor shower. From AU$81 per night on Tripadvisor: Barefoot Manta Island, Drawaqa Island. Each night, we were blown away by the sight of the clear night skies - you can see millions of stars and the milky way. 4km by boat from the passage). There are two exceptions where Mantaray exceeds Barefoot: Magnificent choice and quality of food, and more schools of fish when snorkeling. Located in the secluded Yasawa Islands, the eco-friendly Barefoot Manta Resort is ideally situated for swimming, diving and snorkeling. The water activities are well managed by enthusiastic and helpful staff. Sometimes, they are floating right next to you. Barefoot Manta is set on the tip of the island, providing it with three beaches, one each side. All bungalows are set on the beach, and guests can swim, dive and snorkel right from the shore. Nice, chilled budget resort for backpackers & a great place to swim with the Mantarays, Ask joannec13 about Barefoot Manta Island. Phone: +679 892 5121 The food 5 star. The resort offers a variety of clean, comfortable accommodation from twin-share waterfront bures (beach huts) built and thatched in traditional style, to deluxe 4 sleeper dorms. How long should I plan to stay at Barefoot Manta if I want to see mantas? The morning starts with a light breakfast while cruising to Karang Makassar or Manta Reef, a sure highlight of Komodo Island Snorkeling! See 496 traveller reviews, 702 candid photos, and great deals for Barefoot Manta Island, ranked #1 of 1 Speciality lodging in Drawaqa Island and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Terms & Conditions, Copyright 2017 Barefoot Kuata | All Rights Reserved, Marama’s Traditional Beach Dorm (Girls Only). If you are thinking about coming to Fiji, you should not miss a chance to snorkel with manta rays. North of Viti Levu and Nadi off Nanuya Balavu Island, the snorkeling at Mantaray Island offers the chance to snorkel with manta rays. Everyday there are different activities you can participate in. We stayed 3 nights at Barefoot Manta Island.The staff were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and always smiling. The trips out in the manta channel generally last 45 minutes to an hour. Our manta snorkel trip is FJ$69*. However, if people are unruly in the channel and the mantas get scared off, the trip will be much shorter. If you are lucky enough to experience swimming with the manta rays, you will talk about it for decades to come! We managed to snorkel with the manta rays and that itself was surreal yet cool.The guided snorkel safari with Bio was another must do! Possibly the most exhilarating experience was snorkelling with the most gracious black manta rays only a short distance from the resort. There are two exceptions where Mantaray exceeds Barefoot: Magnificent choice and quality of food, and more schools of fish when snorkeling. Sorry, but no. Beachfront Bures. We managed to snorkel with the manta rays and that itself was surreal yet cool.The guided snorkel safari with Bio was another must do! Located in the secluded Yasawa Islands, the eco-friendly Barefoot Manta Resort is ideally located for swimming, diving and snorkeling, as all bungalows are set on the beach. Best of all, just a few steps to the beach to snorkel. Me and my friends would like to say that this is by far the best resort to visit, if you travel on the Bula pass. The alcohol, drinks and snacks were very reasonably priced and were the cheapest that I saw. Work with experienced marine scientists and the local community on vital marine conservation projects. Manta rays cruise past the resort to feed during the day, and there are plenty of fantastic dive opportunities. Not only because we have both manta colorations (chevron and black), but you will be with the Fiji manta experts during your stay. We stayed at one of the bungalows by the beach. Snorkeling off Barefoot Manta. The snorkelling is amazing. We spent 7 nights at Barefoot Manta Island to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. We saw three huge mantas and it was a great experience. When the mantas are there, we run the trips. Guests can enjoy a number of recreational activities on site or nearby, including volleyball, kayaking and hiking. Barefoot Manta Island: Best snorkling in the Yasawas - See 496 traveller reviews, 702 candid photos, and great deals for Drawaqa Island, Fiji, at Tripadvisor. Food is nice enough but not amazing. Manta season by Barefoot Manta Island is between May and October. Barefoot Manta Island Resort is located on Drawaqa Island in Fiji’s majestic Yasawa Island Group. How long should I plan to stay at Barefoot Manta if I want to see mantas? Barefoot Manta Island in Fiji is the perfect destination for nature lovers in search of one of the few unspoilt Fijian islands. Thanks to Barefoot Manta Island and the people there for giving us such an amazing time! Overall Barefoot was great, beautiful looking and with a great down to earth vibe. Only cold water but this was no problem when I stayed cause the weather was really warm. Did not get the opportunity to see the mantas. Snorkelling with Manta Rays - a unique experience! Just spent two nights at Barefoot Manta Resort and had a great time. The main reason I came here was to see manta rays, and luckily they were there the day I stayed. Great snorkelling and scuba diving.I would have loved to have stayed a few more days and will do so next time.Resort staff should be very proud of the presentation of the resort so soon after a major cyclone. Two to three days in each resort would be ideal. We stayed 3 nights at Barefoot Manta Island.The staff were friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and always smiling. I didn't even have time to partake of the hikes on the island. *Valid price to March 31 2021. The island is beautiful and the beaches around the resort are fantastic. Mantas are a protected species that are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list. Activities run daily and the staff is efficient and friendly.Their deluxe dorms sleep 4 and is definitely a very charming option!Will I be back? A combined Barefoot Kuata and Barefoot Manta holiday is the way to go. Barefoot Manta has over 20 dive sites close by, ranging from shallow coral gardens to pinnacles, coral walls and caves and, being on the northern tip of Drawaqa Island, access to both the western and eastern bays. Mantaray is annoyingly built against an incline), accessibility to the Manta spot, the Bures and their location-view, the bars, the facilities - all are better on Barefoot. Barefoot Manta Island, known traditionally as Drawaqa Island, lies in the Southern Yasawa Islands of Fiji.. Drinking water is provided free but wifi is not ($12 for one hour or $24 for 24 hours). snorkeling There is a stunning house reef which can be easily reached by swimming, by boat and kayak. Barefoot Manta Island is ideally located between two beaches. Book Barefoot Manta Island, Drawaqa Island on Tripadvisor: See 497 traveler reviews, 702 candid photos, and great deals for Barefoot Manta Island, ranked #1 of 1 specialty lodging in Drawaqa Island and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Swimming with these majestic creatures must be one of the most amazing experiences the natural world has to offer. And fun too.Our Bure was clean and lovely. Stayed at this resort for a few days. Loved our sunset beach bure! This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. The Mantaray Island area is off the north end of Nanuya Balavu Island and off the southwest end of Drawaqa Island (aka Barefoot Manta Island). An experience of a lifetime. The SSI dive school employs two certified dive instructors to support divers of all abilities. You must be with a trained and certified guide to do the activity. The breath-taking coral gardens, situated just off the coastline, are among the finest in the Fijian isles. Manta Ray Research Programme The team at Jejak Kaki Konservasi are running a manta ray ID program in Raja Ampat, building up a database on these amazing creatures. Please see our partners for full details. I also did a snorkelling tour which was just ok, the snorkelling off the beach was better. Very welcoming staff, got picked up and shipped to the beach. The reception team are efficient and organised. This resort at spectacular Drawaqa Island lies in a superb location between two beaches. Absolutely loved Barefoot Manta! There is a high chance to swim along these amazing animals. With accommodations ranging from 4 or 6 person dorm style to permanent tents with a charming semi-covered bathroom this is a great place to experience the Yasawa Islands of Fiji on a budget. We spent the rest of the day snorkeling around the vast expanses of the coral reef surrounding the island and exploring another one of the secluded beaches we hadn’t yet seen. Whether you want to swim with Manta Rays, snorkel coral reefs, dive wrecks, or go on our famous bull shark dive… Barefoot Manta Dive shop Yasawa Islands Fiji is a busy hub from which marine biologists offer training, marine conservation volunteering & daily diving. Welcome to Barefoot Kuata Island Somewhere between the end of the earth and the beginning of heaven is a little slice of paradise that we call home. Mantaray is annoyingly built against an incline), accessibility to the Manta spot, the Bures and their location-view, the bars, the facilities - all are better on Barefoot. They create quite the spectacle and this is something the Big Island has become quite famous for. Barefoot Island During the months of May through to October, ... Snorkeling with manta rays in Thailand Koh Bon Island This is the best place to snorkel with manta rays in Thailand, home to the largest manta cleaning and feeding station and giant mantas up to 5 metres in length. 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