Making the most of Fakarava Tuamotu Islands
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
As ships are moored or anchored in this port, you will be tendered ashore.
The tender dock is usually in the village of Rotoava, the main settlement on the atoll.
The second biggest atoll in Polynesia -a 60 km by 25 km rectangle- has two main villages: Rotoava in the northeast near the Ngarue pass, one kilometer wide and its airdrome; and then there is Tetamanu, formerly the main village of the island located near the southern Tumakohua pass.
This protected atoll together with its six neighboring islands, originally including Taiaro, makes up a UNESCO classified nature reserve, which is the proof of the richness of the ecosystem of these atolls: the especially rare flora and fauna, including the hunting kingfisher, the Tuamotu palm, and in the lagoons, crustaceans such as squills or sea cicadas.
Among the things to be explored here are: a pearl farm visit and the fairly a colorful visit to the sea slug smoke house, the rori highly prized by Asian gourmets, and the ancient village of Tetamanu with one of the first Catholic churches built in coral and dating from 1874. The real draw card to the island is its scuba diving which still holds its share of excitement in the virtually untouched spots where there is to be found a concentration of lagoon and ocean fish such as loach, meru, barracuda, rays and the highly memorable hammerhead and tiger sharks
Food and shopping
Everything is very expensive in French Polynesia. Even budget accommodation is tough on the budget, as is food, even groceries. So if you visit, take lots of money, you will need it.
Money
1000 CFP francs = 8.38 euros.
Staying connected
Official languages: French, Tahitian