This is the second biggest atoll of the Tuamotu archipelago. Fakarava is an interesting atoll to visit as it has been classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. It includes seven low islands and atolls: Aratika, Fakarava, Kauehi, Niau, Raraka, Taiaro and Toau.
Pass Garuae (the northern pass) is very wide (1.6km) and easy and is near the town of Rotaova. It is easily passable except in north winds and if the south swell is strong.
Pass Tumakohua (the southern pass - 25nm further south) is a little more tricky to negotiate but well marked.
There is a navigation channel from north to south - stay in the channel as outside the channel there are risks from buoys and submerged lines from pearl farms.
There are five designated anchorages which are often busy with super yachts, water skiing, dive boats and dinghies.
SY Jacaranda have useful passage notes for Fakarava and in particular the south pass on their website.
Scuba diving at both passes is excellent and the channel between the passes is well marked so the very few coral heads are easily avoided. Anchoring is forbidden in the Les Sables Roses area due its inclusion in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Read this Cruiser Blog about the atoll: Fakarava - A Class of Its Own (Sailing Infinity May 2022)
16° 04.41'S, 145° 43.02'W (Pass Garuae)
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
As a free user of Noonsite you are restricted to viewing 3 country formalities per month. You have viewed 0 formalities this month – but can view the countries you have accessed to date as many times as you want.
Become a Noonsite Member and you can view unlimited formalities each month and enjoy additional member benefits. Membership fees help our team keep country formalities information up-to-date in support of cruisers worldwide.
Find out more about membership levels and Become a Noonsite Member.
Leave a comment
You must Login or Register to submit comments.
Through 2022 and 2023 we have visited many places throughout French Polynesia on our travels.
Comments and feedback have been compiled into one report with some brief notes below.
https://www.noonsite.com/report/french-polynesia-cruiser-report-from-maria/
Tuamotus:
July 2022 and December 2022 and March 2023
Fakarava, Rotoava, and Hirifa.
In Rotoava there are only 2 public mooring buoys available the others belong to Top Dive and some of the charter catamarans.
Recycling is now available in Rotoava for hard plastics, glass and cans.
If anchoring in Hirifa or the south pass then take your rubbish with you to the town in the north.
You can anchor in Hirifa and go diving or snorkelling in the south pass there is a dive boat that will pick you up.
Pakokota is closed and the moorings are not in use.
Rumours have been circulating that Fakarava are bringing in mooring buoys with a ban on anchoring in Rotoava. Apparently there is a project in place to add mooring balls in the south pass, Hirifa, at the airport and in Rotoava, it could be many years before this gets implemented.
FYS still have the best laundry service and they also have E bikes and now electric scooters, you need a driving licence to hire these.
October 2019
Fakarava for Noonsite
October 2019
The petrol station is now open and you can take your boat up to the dock – it’s about 4-5 metres deep. There are bommies around but they are deep too.
We got duty free fuel here but the man took our original duty free certificate, something that the customs lady in Papeete told us they shouldn’t do. He insisted though and said that he needed the original or he couldn’t claim back the duty. I think he doesn’t know that it is ok to submit a copy – probably because they have only been open for about a month. It was ok for us because it will have expired by the time we come to fill up again.
When you go to pay your garbage tax at city hall, you don’t need to take any paperwork, just your wallet although we paid for 9 days and it was just short of 2000 francs .
South Pass Fakarava
July 2019
There were 2 white mooring buoys together. We couldn’t see anymore than this. There is also a dive boat mooring buoy further over towards the pass. There is a mooring in the pass but it belongs to a local charter boat.
Fakarava
July 2019
Boulangerie sells petrol for your outboard . Price is 200 francs per litre, diesel is not available in Fakarava ( or so we were told). The bakery also has a place to recycle plastic bottles and cans.
You will need to reserve eggs if you want them! Bread can be gone by lunchtime. Don’t forget to take your beer bottles in for money off your next lot of beer!
The main dinghy dock is right near the petrol station but it doesn’t sell petrol or diesel, apparently they are waiting for Tahiti to give them permission to open. The shop is open and is fully stocked.
You can get potable water ( fill up your cans) if you pay the tax at City Hall, the water tap is only manned between 8-9am and 13-14 or 14-15 pm . You can also put your rubbish at the main dock, there isn’t any recycling although one day there was a bin with plastic bottles in, you are supposed to pay a tax for leaving your rubbish.
The one restaurant is open only on Friday , Saturday and Sunday evening 6-9pm. Good prices and good service.
You can have dinner at the resort but you need to reserve a table the day before.
Fakarava Yacht Services are about a 20 min walk( south)from the town quay, or you can beach the dinghy and then it’s 2 mins. We hired bikes 1000 for 4 hours, we also hired the e-bikes and would definitely get them again 3000 for 4 hours . Much better to use these to go off road and past the airport.
We got our gas filled at Fakarava Yacht Services 1200 for 3KG and our laundry was done at 1000 per load ( wash only) Or wash, dry,fold 2000 per load. It was worth the extra. Especially when you get to Tahiti and you have to pay 900 per load and do it yourself.
There are 3 white mooring buoys. We were on the middle one and we snorkelled on it and it looked in good condition.
The yellow mooring buoy is for the dive boat.
There is a nice family that runs the “Fakarava Yacht Service”. Our engine’s belt fails, so we call them with the sat.phone while we are on our way. We told them the engine model, and 2 days after we arrived and the belt was waiting for us.
Ph : 87 75 34 84 – VHF : 77/16
fakayachtservices@gmail.com