LOCATION: Nature pulled out all the stops when she created Wakaya, your ultimate tropical hideaway. This breathtakingly beautiful five-square-mile Fijian island seems to have fallen to earth directly from heaven itself. Lush, tropical forests, soaring cliffs with glistening waterfalls, and bleached, powder-soft beaches - warmed on all sides by azure Pacific waters.

The Wakaya Club fulfills the great South Pacific romantic legend. The stress and urgency of modern life fades away as you lounge in one of only nine beach-front Bures - authentic Fijian thatched roof cottages. Stroll in the surf at sunset, take a tranquil walk through the forest, alive with deer, wild horses and all manner of colorful, exotic flora and fauna. Or take in a challenging round of golf, tennis or scuba diving before an elegant gourmet dinner prepared by one of our four chefs.

But it is the gentle, fun-loving Fijian natives themselves who supply the greatest enchantment. “Sega na lega,” a popular catchprase meaning “No worries!,” embodies their easy-going dispositions and hospitable nature. You will become infected instantly.

ACCOMMODATION: Guest lodging at Wakaya is limited to just nine traditional Fijian cottages called “Bures.” Under the thatched roof you’ll find airy, high-pitched ceilings, fanciful handwoven bamboo wallcovering and gleaming yaka plank floors. Stretch out on a four-poster king-size bamboo bed in an elegantly appointed bedroom. Vale O is a three-bedroom island estate divided into three pavilions. It houses from one to three couples and includes a personal kitchen and laundry staff, your own personal chef and an on-call driver. The bures interconnecting living room features inviting island-style furnishings, including a full wet-bar stocked daily with spirits, soft drinks, delicious world-famous FIJI water and fresh local fruits and juices. Relax under gently spinning paddle fans to eclectic music on the CD stereo, or browse through a library of distinctive hardcover books. Soak luxuriantly in an oversized tub in the modern bathroom, which also features a separate shower and bidet. Fluffy cotton robes and towels and distinctive Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries complete the extravagance. The bures are embraced by wide verandas and lush gardens, where you may wish to take in an intimate meal or stretch out in a hammock for a short siesta. And don’t forget -you are never more than a few steps from your own secluded beach!

HOTEL FACILITIES & SERVICES: Wakaya Club’s four chefs and two pastry chefs flex their creative muscles for you, with delectable gourmet Fijian, Indian, Chinese and Continental delicacies, featuring local game, seafood and native fruits and vegetables from Wakaya’s own organic gardens. Wonderfully unique salads and soups, fresh, crusty breads and sumptuous main dishes and desserts are graciously presented with an artist’s flair. Dine alfresco in the exquisite Palm Grove pavilion, with its soaring 60-foot timbered pitched ceiling, and decorated with ancestral war clubs and other island artifacts, flagstone floors, carved wood and bamboo, and nautical objets d’art. Descend to the sunken bar to sip a tropical beverage or nibble on sushi and hors d’oeuvres before dinner. Wakaya’s beauty extends far beyond its surface from soaring rocky cliffs to the depths of the azure Pacific, bursting with colorful living coral reefs and exotic aquatic creatures. Venture out in Wakaya’s glass-bottomed boat, or strap on a snorkel and fins to connect directly with this underwater beauty. You may choose to embark on an archaeological nature walk through Wakaya’s lush forest, where you’ll soak in the breathtaking flora and experience Wakaya’s wildlife -wild horses, deer, feral pigs and exotic birds. You’ll visit “Chieftain’s Leap” - where native Wakayans leapt to their deaths rather than face capture by invading warriors.