Titiru Eco Lodge was the final stop on my Solomon Islands trip, and unexpectedly, one of my favorites.
Tucked into a quiet coastal cove called Saqiri on Rendova Island, the lodge is surrounded by mangrove forest and native bushland. It’s not trying to be luxurious or polished. What it offers instead is much harder to come by: a genuine connection to Solomon Islands culture, peaceful nature, and a truly local experience.
I spent a few days here paddling dugout canoes, relaxing, and taking part in cultural experiences that genuinely blew me away. In this review, I’ll share exactly what staying at Titiru Eco Lodge was like. That’s the good, the unexpected, and why it stood out among the places I stayed in the Western Province.
Overview of Titiru Eco Lodge
- Location: Titiru Eco Lodge is located in Saqiri Cove between Egholo and Ughele villages on Rendova Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands. It’s surrounded by mangroves, bushland, tucked way in a marine-protected cove called Soqiri Cove.
- Booking: Direct bookings are available via their Facebook page or by booking online. Expect SBD 500–700 per person per night, depending on room type, season, and inclusions.
- Activities: Mangrove canoeing, night crabbing, wild cave tours, village visits, flying fox viewing, eel feeding, and bamboo band performances. There’s also hiking to Rendova Peak and visits to tabu sites for the more adventurous.
- Accommodation: Traditional-style overwater and bushland eco bungalows, including a large family bungalow perched over the cove. All are built from local materials, are basic, and are designed to blend with the natural environment.
- Meals: All meals are included and cooked by the local team using fresh ingredients. Expect hearty portions, simple village-style cooking, and plenty of seafood.
- Power & Connectivity: Solar-powered with limited generator backup. Only limited Starlink wifi when the generator is on during the time of writing.
My TL;DR Review:
Titiru is not for the luxury crowd, but if you’re after real culture, wild nature, and a place that actually feels connected to its surroundings, Titiru hits different. It’s simple, raw, and grounded, a true eco lodge that puts people and place first. Come for Rendova. Stay because you’ll want more time.
Check Availability: Titiru Eco Lodge
How to Get to Rendova Island & Titiru Lodge
I visited Titiru after staying at Zipolo Habu Resort on Lola Island. It took about an hour by boat to reach Saqiri Cove. If you're already traveling through the Western Province, it’s easy to combine Rendova with nearby islands like Gizo, Munda, or Kolombangara.
If you're heading straight to Rendova:
- From Munda:
The closest airport is Munda. From here, it's roughly a 45–60 minute boat ride to Titiru. The lodge can help arrange a private transfer. - From Gizo:
It’s a longer journey: allow around 2.5 to 3 hours by boat depending on sea conditions. You’ll likely pass via Munda or Noro. - From Honiara:
Fly to Munda with Solomon Airlines (1 hr 15 min), then continue by boat. There are no direct flights or ferries to Rendova.
Tip: Contact Titiru in advance to arrange boat pickups and confirm timing. There’s no set ferry or public transport: all travel is by private longboat.
Arriving at Titiru Eco Lodge
This was one of the most memorable arrivals I’ve ever had at a lodge. As we pulled into Saqiri Cove, we were greeted by warriors in traditional dress, reenacting what an arrival might have looked like in Rendova during the old headhunter days. It was staged as part of a cultural welcome, but it felt immersive and powerful.
We were handed a welcome drink, our bags were taken, and before we had time to settle in, the “cultural show” began, something we hadn’t expected but will never forget.
We were guided through 14 different cultural “activities,” each one showcasing a different aspect of traditional life on Rendova. From cooking and trying local dishes to learning how homes were built and how babies were washed, it was thoughtful, hands-on, and genuinely eye-opening.
It felt like the whole village had come together to welcome us. Everyone was dressed in traditional clothing, and the time and effort taken to share their way of life didn’t go unnoticed. It was humbling, and something I’ll remember for a long time.
I won’t spoil the rest. It’s one of those rare check-ins that feels more like stepping into someone’s world than just arriving at a hotel.
Rooms and Bungalows at Titiru Lodge
Most of the rooms at Titiru are overwater bungalows perched above the mangrove-fringed cove. A few years ago, a king tide storm damaged several of the bungalows, and while not everything has been rebuilt yet, a few have been recently renovated and are looking good.
We stayed in the family overwater bungalow, which felt more like a villa than a standard bungalow. It had separate rooms designed for kids, but since we were traveling without children, we didn’t use them. The main bedroom had a queen bed with a full mosquito net, a solar-powered fan that worked through the night, and a private bathroom with a cold-water shower.
Overall, the setup is very basic. Don’t come here expecting luxury or modern amenities. There’s no aircon, no hot water, and no Wi-Fi and that’s exactly the point. Places like Titiru aren’t about being pampered. They’re about nature, culture, and raw, unfiltered experience.
If you're after polished five-star comfort, head to Fiji. But if you want a real adventure in one of the wildest corners of the Pacific, the Solomon Islands deliver. And Titiru, more than most, offers the kind of stay that actually connects you to the place you’ve come to see.
Facilities at Titiru Eco Lodge
Facilities at Titiru are basic, but they’re enough to feel comfortable and make it a great base camp for adventures around Rendova and the nearby lagoons.
The main common area is the open-air restaurant, where meals are served buffet-style. The in-house cook prepares a variety of dishes using local ingredients. There’s almost always fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, and fruit. One of the highlights for us was trying a mangrove fruit dish after asking about edible plants.
The team offered to cook it for us that night, which speaks to how welcoming and generous the whole experience was. Meals are shared with the staff and other guests, giving it a laid-back, family feel.
There’s also a small medicinal garden you can walk through, with labeled plants used in traditional remedies, and a grove of native palms behind the main building. You won’t find luxury amenities here, but if you’re looking to disconnect and explore one of the wildest and most beautiful regions in the Solomons, Titiru is the right kind of simple.
Exploring Rendova & Beyond: Activities from Titiru
Titiru offers a wide range of activities, some free, some paid. But all thoughtfully tied to the local culture and environment. What stood out most to me was how the team has worked closely with nearby villagers to create meaningful experiences that go beyond tourism. We didn't feel like we were observing from the outside, we were being welcomed in.
Since this was one of several lodge stops for us, we didn’t have a huge amount of time. Even so, we managed to pack in a lot. We paddled kayaks through the calm waters of Saqiri Cove and into the surrounding mangroves, which were peaceful and full of birdlife. I also got to try a traditional dugout canoe, which was trickier than it looks but a great experience.
We toured the lodge’s medicinal and herb garden, learning about the local plants used for everything from fevers to wound care. The mangrove forest walk was another highlight, a quiet, beautiful trail winding through thick roots and native bushland just behind the lodge grounds.
We also visited Ughele Village, where we met locals and learned about daily life.
Other activities on offer include night crabbing, traditional cooking demonstrations (like fish wrapped in banana leaves or root vegetable dishes cooked under hot stones), and bamboo band performances. For the more adventurous, there’s also the option to climb Mount Lumalilisi (1,050 m), the highest point on Rendova Island. It’s a full-day hike and one I definitely plan to do on my next visit.
In all my accommodation reviews, I focus more on the destination than the hotel itself. I’m not traveling around the world to remember the rooms. I’m here for the places, the people, and the nature. How well a place works as a launchpad for adventure is what matters most to me. Titiru does that extremely well. We left feeling like we’d only scratched the surface of what Rendova has to offer, and that’s exactly the feeling I want when I leave a place.
Final Review of Titiru Eco Lodge
Titiru is a family-run eco lodge, originally founded by the late Kilo Paza in 2012 with the goal of creating something sustainable for Rendova. Titiru is a place that would not only support local livelihoods, but also teach visitors and villagers alike about cultural values and environmental conservation. It’s now run by his two young sons, and honestly, I was impressed by how well they’re carrying that legacy forward.
The cultural show during our welcome was easily one of the most genuine and moving cultural experiences I’ve had in seven years of full-time travel. I’ve stayed at plenty of places in the Solomons, Fatboys Resort, Imbu Rano Lodge, and the fishing-focused Zipolo Habu on Lola Island, but Titiru stands apart in how deeply rooted it is in place.
It’s not trying to be something else. It is, unapologetically, an eco lodge.
That said, you need to know what you’re coming into. The facilities are basic. There's very little internet, limited solar power, and the generator only runs for a few hours a day (though they’re happy to fire it up so you can charge your camera).
There’s no printed menu or bar list. Meals are cooked with what’s fresh, laid out buffet-style, and shared with whoever’s around. It’s simple, hearty, and genuinely good.
The rooms are also basic. Bed, cupboard, cold-water shower, toilet. No aircon, no frills. But our overwater family bungalow had real charm. The bed was comfortable, the view over the cove erased any thoughts about hot showers or switches that work every time.
What really makes Titiru special is the people and the purpose. The staff genuinely want you to experience Rendova Island. It never felt like we were being sold activities or upsold on packages. In fact, most of what we did was free, despite the time and effort it must take to organise. That alone sets Titiru apart from most of the places I’ve stayed.
Overall, I really enjoyed my stay. I'd recommend Titiru to travelers who share a similar mindset and philosophy on travel, those who value simplicity, connection, and the kind of raw, unpolished experiences that stay with you.
If you’re chasing luxury, aircon, and room service, this probably isn’t for you. But if you want to be immersed in a real place, and leave feeling like there’s more to come back for, Titiru is exactly that kind of lodge.
