Tour· Mangareva· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Gambier Pearl Farm Tour
23° 6.9′ S · 134° 58.8′ W · approximate
See how Tahitian black pearls are grafted, grown and harvested in the archipelago that produces the most colourful ones, at a working pearl house over the water.
Practical
approx: the pin marks Mangareva's west side generally. Operators are spread around the lagoon, so contact them for meeting points. Nanihi Pearl Tour (Mohea and Heiarii): +689 87 30 96 05, teriipaia.mohea@gmail.com, Facebook 'Nanihi Pearl'. It is a 3-hour tour from 9 am to 12 pm and closed Sundays (2021). Pension Maro'i (also spelled Mauri) in Baie de Gatavake, over the hill from Rikitea near Kirimiro: Michele runs a weekday 9 am visit when he has customers, 1,000 XPF per person (2019, verify locally). It is a 40-minute walk from the dinghy dock, phone +689 87 77 46 38, he speaks some English and sometimes sells loose pearls. See also Dada Keck's farm at Akaputu Bay and Eric's farm off Motu Gaioio. Some farms say their output is controlled and they cannot sell directly.
Best for
Learning how black pearls are made
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