Travel guide: Fakarava, French Polynesia
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At a glance
Local facts
Travel essentials for Fakarava, French Polynesia — what to expect on the ground. Fakarava sits in French Polynesia (Oceania), in a tropical climate band — tropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season. Nearest airport: FAV serves the area. Local timezone is Pacific/Tahiti, which matters for arrivals and check-ins. It sits at -16.05°, -145.65° — useful for weather, daylight, and route planning. Use the live tools below to plan around these facts.
- RegionFrench Polynesia, Oceania
- Climate bandtropical southern-hemisphere zone with a wet season and a dry season
- Nearest airportFAV
- TimezonePacific/Tahiti
- Coordinates-16.05, -145.65
- Located in the Southern Hemisphere
Fakarava is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago of French Polynesia, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve famed as one of the finest diving destinations on earth. A large rectangular ring of reef enclosing the second-largest lagoon in the Tuamotus, it is a place of turquoise water, pink-sand motus, coconut palms and pearl farms, with two small villages - Rotoava in the north and Tetamanu in the south. Its fame rests on its two passes: the wide Garuae Pass in the north and the narrow Tumakohua Pass in the south, home to the legendary wall of hundreds of grey reef sharks. Divers and snorkellers come from around the world for the sharks, drift dives, coral and abundant marine life, in waters protected by the biosphere reserve. Beyond diving, Fakarava offers deep quiet and natural beauty. The climate is warm year-round; the drier months, roughly May to October, are the most popular.
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Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Fakarava
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Frequently asked questions
What is Fakarava known for?
Fakarava is a coral atoll in French Polynesia's Tuamotu archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve celebrated as one of the world's great diving destinations. It is famous above all for the Tumakohua Pass in the south, where a wall of hundreds of grey reef sharks gathers, and for its turquoise lagoon, pink-sand motus and pearl farms.
Why is Fakarava a famous dive site?
Its two passes make it exceptional: the wide Garuae Pass in the north and the narrow Tumakohua Pass in the south. Drift dives through these passes bring divers into contact with huge numbers of grey reef sharks, plus rays, turtles, barracuda and vibrant coral, all within a protected biosphere reserve. It suits both experienced divers and snorkellers.
How do I get to Fakarava?
Fakarava is reached by air from Tahiti (Papeete), with flights via Air Tahiti landing at the atoll's airport near Rotoava village, sometimes routing through Rangiroa. There is no other practical way in for most visitors. From the airport, local pensions and dive lodges arrange transfers to accommodation on the atoll.
When is the best time to visit?
The drier, cooler months from about May to October are the most popular, with pleasant conditions for diving and beach time, while the warmer, wetter season runs November to April. Diving is possible year-round, and specific shark-aggregation events draw divers at certain times, so serious divers plan around both weather and the marine calendar.
Nearby destinations
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