Fiji's Luxurious Private Island Resort Is A Stunning Escape With Glass Pools & Lagoons

Como Laucala Island is one of the most spectacular resorts in Fiji. It sits on a private island covered with volcanoes and a tropical rainforest. It's lined with crystal-clear lagoons and golden beaches that feel endless. Plus it has a jaw-dropping glass pool. This is what the ultimate South Pacific getaway looks like.

Since Fiji is one of the 15 best honeymoon destinations in the world, it's unsurprising that the island nation has luxurious resorts. Como Laucala Island takes the cake, though. The 3,500-acre island was first settled by the Qaraniyaku people. They picked quite a spot. The remote island was sold numerous times beginning in the mid-1800s, most recently to the co-founder of Red Bull who decided to turn Laucala Island into a high-end resort. Each of its 25 standalone "Residences" (standalone villas) was carefully built using local materials whenever possible. Como Laucala Island opened at the end of 2021 and the all-inclusive resort has topped travel awards lists ever since.

To reach this tropical paradise, you must first fly to Nadi, Fiji's third-largest city. The Nadi International Airport (NAN) receives nonstop flights from major cities all over the world. It is also a regional hub for many South Pacific islands. It's worth detouring to Navala, the remote Fijian village surrounded by lush mountains and traditional thatched huts, just two hours away from the airport on Viti Levu. The island is also home to Colo-I-Suva Forest Park, which is surrounded by a crystal clear river.

After the long international flight to Nadi, you can relax in the resort's private airport lounge for refreshments before boarding a connecting flight to Como Laucala Island. In less than an hour, the eight-seat plane will touchdown at Laucala Airport (LUC), a small airstrip on the northeast corner of the island. A tau (Fijian host) with an open-air buggy awaits your arrival to drive through the jungle to the resort.

During this short journey, you will hear everything you need to know about your stay. Como Laucala Island truly is an all-inclusive resort. Everything from meals and drinks to activities and even a Como Shambhala massage is included. The Residences blend indoor and outdoor living space with panoramic views. They have thatched roofs, private gardens, and stone-edged pools. They also have both indoor and outdoor bathtubs.

Once you settle into your Residence, you should explore the rest of the resort. The heart of Como Laucala Island is its massive pool — the largest in the South Pacific. It has hidden coves and infinity edges that slope down to the beach. It also features a glass-walled, 80-foot lap pool. This seems like the perfect time to swim up to the pool bar, a shell-shaped Fijian bure, to order a rum-filled Laucala Estate Runner. It might be your first tropical cocktail, but it surely won't be your last.

Though tempting, you shouldn't spend all of your time by the pools. The resort's beaches and lagoons are too gorgeous to ignore, and white-sand beaches are lined with coconut groves. Sun loungers, thatched daybeds, and umbrellas are perfectly placed under swaying palm trees. You can hear the calls of tropical birds and listen to softly crashing waves while staring at the dazzling lagoon. Its bright turquoise water is mesmerizing.

If your Residence sits on the resort's northwest corner, you can step right into Seagrass Bay's inner reef. The sheltered area is a nursery teeming with colorful reef fish and a pristine spot for snorkeling and scuba diving. The nearby Watersports Centre has all the equipment needed for both motorized and non-motorized activities. You can go sea kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding every morning, and jet skiing or wakeboarding every afternoon. At low tide, you can even go horseback riding along Long Beach. It feels like you're in a movie as you gallop along the sand. Then plan a sunset sail on the Rere Ahi ("Flying Fire"), a vintage, teak-finished sailboat from the 1970s. Keep an eye out for dolphins as the sky starts to turn pink.

Como Laucala Island truly is a once-in-a-lifetime destination. And for most, so is its price tag. All-inclusive Residences start at $6,100 per night. For now, you might have to keep dreaming about this private island resort with a glass pool and sparkling lagoons. But you will get there eventually.