Castaway Island (Qalito)

About This Anchorage

Castaway Island, known as Qalito by Fijians, is a private resort island in the southern Mamanucas — one of the classic postcard Fiji images, with turquoise water, white sand beaches, and lush vegetation. The island hosts the Castaway Island Resort, a family-focused property. Despite the resort presence, the anchorage on the west side is accessible to visiting yachts, and the surrounding reef provides excellent snorkelling. The name 'Castaway Island' predates the Tom Hanks film — it was a popular resort before the film made the nearby Monuriki Island famous. The anchorage is well-protected from the prevailing SE and NE trades. The reef snorkelling and diving are highlights — bommies with coral, parrotfish, reef sharks, and turtles are common. From here, Mana Island is a short sail north and Musket Cove is 5nm south.

Hazards

• !Coral bommies throughout the surrounding reef — navigate carefully on approach and snorkel before anchoring
• !Resort speedboat traffic in the anchorage area — high-speed tender runs frequently
• !Exposed to west in unusual westerly conditions — monitor forecast
• !Tidal range 0.8–1.2m — check depths at low water on shallow approaches

Skipper's Tips

• →The snorkelling directly off the reef edge around Qalito is outstanding — bring all gear from your yacht
• →Ask the resort dock staff politely if visiting yachts can use the dinghy dock or bar — they are generally welcoming
• →Qalito is a good overnight stop between Port Denarau and the northern Mamanucas
• →Reef sharks and turtles are frequently seen in the clear water around the island — excellent for diving
• →Morning is the calmest — explore the reef by dinghy before afternoon trades build

Nearby Anchorages