Tuamotu Islands

You board the Aranoa between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm. After boarding, you are welcomed by the Polynesian staff and get familiar with the boat before departing around 4:30 pm for the Tuamotu Islands.

Disembark by tender at the Temao wharf and explore Makatea by foot or car. Visit the remains of the island’s phosphate-mining past and its sacred caves. Enjoy a picnic under the cliffs or on the beach before returning to the ship.

Mataiva has everything to dazzle travelers. Its unique lagoon and white sand beaches make it one of the most sumptuous atolls in French Polynesia. Mataiva, which is easily accessible from Tahiti, has preserved its authenticity and tranquility. Here, there is little tourism, and the inhabitants are welcoming, kind and warm.
Passengers will disembark by tender at the Pahua wharf and will be greeted by a performance of "Orero". The village is a 5-minute walk from the dock, and you can visit it at your own leisure. Optional excursions will be offered such as the visit of the "Turtle Rock", the "Paure" marae, the phosphate pond, the bird motu and the "pito" of Mataiva (sign-up at the reception). 4x4 vehicles will take you to a private beach for a picnic and to enjoy the lagoon.

Anaa, the birthplace of Tahiti's royal family, the Pomare dynasty, has entered the history books. Today, Anaa is best known for its sparkling green jade lagoon and the picturesque white sand motus surrounding it. Most of the population is engaged in copra oil production or fishing, which has led to the development of the island's sustainable fishing program. Look out for the "feo", the gigantic, fossilized coral blocks that are characteristic of the atoll.
Passengers will disembark by tender at the Tukuhora pier. By bus or on foot, they will be able to visit the village and its specificities. The shallow, translucent lagoon is ideal for fly fishing, an activity offered at Anaa. A picnic lunch is offered on the beach in Tukuhora village.

The associated municipality of Vairao stretches from PK 8.4 to PK 14.4. It has a population of 2,890. It has been the administrative capital of Taiarapu-Ouest since 1972. The Tapuaeraha Pass, considered the deepest in Polynesia, witnessed the arrival of the aircraft carriers Foch and Clémenceau in 1966 and 1968.