TRIP ITINERARY Marine and Environmental Monitoring
Day 01 - Monday
Depart the USA
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from
Los Angeles. Our carrier is Air Pacific – Fiji’s national airline. The
flight each week is non-stop to Nadi International Airport and is escorted
by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. The flight departs LAX in the evening
and takes about 10 hours. During your flight take the time to get to know
other students on your flight, get some sleep in preparation for your
arrival in the South Pacific, relax with a movie or two and start to settle
into the easy-going and friendly nature of the Fijians and their legendary
hospitality.
Day 02 – Tuesday
In transit
Today is “lost” as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry too
much… you will get it back on your way home!
Day 03- Wednesday
Bula! Welcome to Fiji!
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and start the journey of a lifetime. After hopping off a plane you will take a short car ride and then board a boat for a 4 hour ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands. Pass by some of the most beautiful islands in the world while enjoying a nice cold ice-cream bar and talking with your new friends. The last stop in the Yasawa Islands in Nacula island and that is what you will call home for the next seven days. Toba Totoka, meaning “Beautiful Bay” is the name of our Nacula Island Base where you will be partaking in your exciting activities.
By the time you reach Nacula Island there will be a village ready to welcome you with open arms. Lunch will be waiting for you after you unpack all your belongings. After lunch you will start orientation with your trip leaders about what you will expect over the next week.
Once you have finished orientation throw on your swimsuit, snorkel, fins and head out to see some of the beautiful marine life that the South Pacific has to offer. You will board the village boat and head out passed the island to view some of the snorkeling spots where you will be conducting your research. There are many different reefs right off of the island with a plethora of aquatic species.
Days 04 to 06 – Thursday to Saturday
Marine Research at its Finest
For the next three days you will spend the majority of your days in the water participating in various types of marine conservation efforts and observational research. Before you set out each day your counselor will go over the various types of reefs that you will be encountering and what types of fish species you would expect to see. Some of the projects that you will be participating in include coral clean up, fish counts and identification, invertebrate counts and identification, and reef mapping.
When you have finished your work for the day it will then be time to enjoy the island and everything it has to offer. You can spend some time with the Fijians and learn how to make a bracelet out of a coconut, kayak, play with the young villagers or relax on the beach.
Each evening you will have the chance to participate in multiple activities. Sometimes the village gathers to celebrate the work you are doing with traditional dances (meke). Another night you might watch the flames of a roaring beach bonfire, or you might just lie on the beach taking in the amazing blanket of stars in the sky and have the chance to identify some of the constellations in the Southern Hemisphere. One evening your group will organize and put on a small show or skit for the village. This always ends up being a very entertaining evening with much humor and frivolity! The nights are always a wonderful spectacle of traditional Fijian culture, laughter and fun.
Day 07 – Sunday
Optional Activity Day!
In Fiji, Sunday is typically known as the day of rest and Fijians will usually spend the day relaxing with family and friends after church. On this day you have the ability to pick an optional activity and journey out on an exciting adventure. Some of the optional activities that you can choose to do include scuba diving or island hopping. You can spend the day exploring other areas of the Yasawa Islands. If you feel like spending the day on the beach, feel free to hang back at Nacula Island and hang out with the villagers of Malakati or relax on the beach and snorkel.
Day 08 and 09 - Monday and Tuesday
The ocean exploration continues!
After a relaxing day of optional activities it is time to get back to work. You will continue with your underwater investigation and learn about different marine ecosystems through a very hands on approach. There will also be engaging discussions about the different issues that marine environments are currently facing, such as over fishing, pollution, human deterrents, coastal developments and global warming. By the end of this trip, you will gain new knowledge and appreciation for wildlife conservation and environmental ecosystems.
Day 10 – Thursday
Something to take home with you!
Well your first week has flown by like a dream and you should now be well-entrenched in Fiji and much of what this easy-going island nation is all about. Today is a chance to enjoy a break from your marine surveys and do some much desired shopping for souvenirs. You will get the chance to explore town and the local handy craft market for gifts and reminders of your time in Fiji.
In the evening, you will be treated to a nice final meal to conclude your wonderful experience in Fiji. This will give you some time to reminisce about your weeks adventures, exchange contact information with friends and staff and prepare for your journey home.
You will be escorted to the airport by staff where you can take some time to say good-bye and will fly back to LAX with a Rustic Pathways flight leader.
Extending your Marine Survey Week.
Weeks Two, Three, Four and beyond….
If you’re staying longer your, weeks will remain much the same as your first week but no day is exactly the same in Fiji so there will be new opportunities of service and adventure. Your understanding of Fijian culture will be better, the depth of the friendships you’ve made will be stronger and your ability to communicate, participate and contribute will be enhanced the greater the amount of time you spend here. Fiji has a way of seducing you and these islands have captivated many a visitor. Finding a place with the degree of friendliness that the locals possess, the natural beauty that this country encapsulates, melded with the easy-going and peaceful pace of life that the locals adhere to can be wonderfully refreshing and incredibly enticing. Your staff will encourage you to enjoy all that this program has to offer and we hope that the quality and range of projects, personalities and activities you experience only make you want to stay longer!
An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.
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Servicio comunitario 
Fiji es hogar del tercer sistema de arrecifes de coral más grande del mundo y de miles de exóticas especies marinas. La mayoría de los turistas que visitan las islas, bucean en sus tibias aguas y disfrutan su vida marina sin ni siquiera saber del frágil estado del mundo submarino en que nadan. Tu viaje a Fiji será mucho más relevante que un simple viaje a una isla. Aprenderás sobre los problemas que enfrentan los arrecifes de coral y darás una mano para preservarlos. Verás que la vida debajo del agua depende del arrecife para sobrevivir y el trabajo que hagas en la superficie ayudará a asegurar la supervivencia de este increíble mundo.
La primera cosa que aprenderás será como usar un Sistema de Posición Global (GPS, Global Positioning System, por sus siglas en inglés) el cual es usado para monitorear las millas que cubre un arrecife de coral. Una vez que aprendas a usar el GPS, tomaras tu careta y snorkel y te dirigirás a los arrecifes de coral en los alrededores de las islas Yasawa. Además de mapear, ayudarás en trabajos de limpieza de arrecifes y también contaras poblaciones de especies de peces (importantes datos para saber el estado de conservación del arrecife). El trabajo será fuerte, pero tendrás la oportunidad de nadar con coloridos peces, calamares, tortugas marinas y manta rallas. Un programa increíblemente ecológico!.
Quienes Deben Venir
