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Tuamotu Islands
Travel Guide
French Polynesia
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tuamotu islands pictures map
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The vast expanse of the Tuamotu Islands has a collection of 76 small islands and fringing atolls. The closest of these lie some 350km from Papeete or an 90-minute flight. The turquoise lagoons and white sandy beaches are some of the best in the South Pacific. Several of these island groups have luxury resorts and hotels and small pension guesthouses and along with Pearl farming, is the groups major source of income. Scuba diving is exceptional and the romance of being lost amongst remote islands draws the honeymoon market.
Rangiroa Atoll is the closest atoll to Tahiti and the most developed island for tourism. It is also the second largest atoll in the world with a lagoon in its centre measuring 75km across and 25km wide. Surrounding this lagoon are over 200 tiny islands, stretching for 200km around the lagoon, most no more than 300 metres wide but often ten kilometres long, Few places rise above 10 metres from sea level making the threat of cyclones or, worse still, tsunamis, a real worry for its 2000 inhabitants. The largest island is Faurumai on the northern side of the atoll, with the airport and largest village of Avatora on the neighbouring island and the administrative centre of Tiputa a little further east. Here you're find small shops, a post office and lots of village life. The 60-bungalow Kia Ora Village Hotel is located close to the airport and there are lots of small pension guesthouses this side including Fare Tiki Hoa and Pension Tuanake. From the airport, it's an hour boat journey across the centre of the lagoon to the delightful private island of Kia Ora Sauvage Resort. It's another hour by boat to the far eastern tip of Rangiroa where the unusual pink sands of Les Sables Roses are found. Diving in Rangiroa is world famous although restricted mostly to three passes on the north side of the atoll where rich currents wash through attracting a massive amount of marine life including huge congregations of sharks.
Tikehau Atoll, Rangiroa's smaller neighbour, is the second most westerly of the Tuamotu Group. Here you'll find fantastic diving and lots of nesting sea birds on its uninhabited motu, as well as the fabulous Tikehau Pearl Resort. About 150km to the north east of Rangiroa is Manihi Pearl Resort, another popular luxury retreat for honeymooners and divers. Manihi is famous for its black pearls which are farmed extensively in the lagoon and the tiny huts on stilts that are scattered around the lagoon can be visited on day tours.
About 250km south west of Rangiroa or 450km north of Tahiti is Fakarava Atoll, the second largest atoll in the group and with a flourishing tourism industry. The airstrip is located on the north eastern side of the atoll, close to Rotoava Village which has 500 inhabitants, mostly fishermen. The delightful Le Maitai Fakarava Resort is found here with several small guesthouses including Pension Havaiki located in a pretty beach. Snorkelling in the lagoon is excellent and there are several dive companies offering courses and dive excursions to the outer reef passages.
From Fakarava, the atolls of the Tuamotu Group became more spaced out, extending 800km to the west and 1000km to the south. Further south still is the remote Gambier Group. This small collection of mountainous islands is infrequently visited and is a stronghold for subsistence Catholic fishing villages. A few guesthouses offer a unique insight into this traditional lifestyle.
search for ... Tuamotu Resorts
find ... Tahiti Tour Companies
continue to ... Marquesas Islands
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Guide
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