Fakarava 2025

Fakarava is a beautiful atoll and the last stop in French Polynesia. There really isn’t much on island since there are only 800 Permanent residents. But there are beaches. Miles and miles of Beautiful white sand beaches!

Fakarava is a tender poet. It is sometimes missed so be aware. The cruise director will give a warning about going ashore if you have walking difficulties. You can see that there isn’t any concrete, you walk off the tender onto a dirt path, but unlike Nuka Hiva it is flat.

There isn’t much shopping and HAL doesn’t offer any tours. If you don’t get a private tour (book early), you can walk to several beaches or rent bikes and ride around the entire island.

This is the area where you debark the tenders. You can see its dirt, but hard packed and quite flat.

For the last two years I have booked with Christophe from Fakarava excursions. You MUST book early. His morning tour will take you to both a blue and green lagoon which is spectacular. Sometimes he also stops to snorkel at Pufana Rock which is a deeper snorkel for those more advanced.

His afternoon tour goes only to Pufana Rock which was the second best snorkeling of the trip (second only to the snorkeling from my lanai at the Sofitel on Moorea). No need to do both if you do the morning unless you LOVE snorkeling as much as I do.

He does ask that you get on one of the first three tenders. They had tender tickets available at 8:00. Some in my group were there at 7:15 and got the first tender. Those arriving at 7:30 were on the second tender. Everyone in my group made the first or second tender but he won’t wait. By the time the third tender gets there Christophe will likely have people waiting standby to get on. In other words, his tour will go full whether or not you are on it even if you have reservations. He does not collect money ahead of time. He says he takes credit card but his machine is broke so plan on cash. USD are fine. I can highly recommend this trip even though I’m not going to take it in 2026 (I’ve done it two years in a row and I’m off to find a hidden beach next year).

https://www.fakaravaexcursions.com

The strip of sand between the green and blue lagoon- Christophe serves little croissants, cookies, cheese/tomato fingers, juice, and water.

Edited to add: I have decided not to go out with Christophe in 2026 since I've gone in both 2024 and 2025 I have another idea for this day, but Fakarava is VERY difficult to find excurstions for and it is probably the very best snorkeling (and diving) of the entire trip. If you are interested in snorkeling book this tour immediately. Last year it sold out 10 months in advance.