Landmark· Rangiroa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Ile aux Recifs (Reef Island, Rangiroa)
15° 14.5′ S · 147° 43.0′ W
Rangiroa's 'natural museum': a reef island next to Motu Fama where rows of eroded, fossilised coral pinnacles (feo) stand in shallow tidal pools, with surf booming on the outer reef behind.
Practical
Coordinate is the centre of the Ile aux Recifs islet polygon in OpenStreetMap; Tahiti Tourisme's map pin is about 4 km east (15.2347S 147.6797W). Reached only by boat; day tours leave from the Tiputa quay (about 1 hour each way). By yacht, anchor at Motu Fama (about 1 nm away) and dinghy over in settled weather, then walk the ocean side on reef shoes; the feo are razor-sharp. Natural pools on the ocean side are good for a dip when the swell is down. Anchoring guidance: there is no recognised anchorage at Ile aux Recifs itself. Use the Motu Fama anchorages (west end 15°14.09'S 147°42.44'W, 10 m sand) and dinghy across in calm water. Approaching from the western lagoon is a 17 nm leg off the usual route; one crew (Asolare, 2016) abandoned it under cloud because the heads cannot be seen without sun. Tahiti Heritage's pin is 15.2320S 147.6709W, at the eastern feo field; the feo stand up to 2 m high and are dolomitised fossil coral.
Best for
Walking a lunar landscape of fossil coral
Nearby
- Motu Fama Anchorage (Rangiroa)0.7 NM away
- Le Jardin de Corail (Rangiroa)3.3 NM away
- Maramu Southeast Blows (Rangiroa & Tikehau)8.1 NM away
- Blue Lagoon (Rangiroa)14.9 NM away
- West Lagoon Sand Anchorage (Blue Lagoon approach, Rangiroa)15.1 NM away
- Northwest Lagoon Anchorage (15°01.6'S, Rangiroa)15.6 NM away
- Tiputa Village Gasoline16.6 NM away
- Tiputa Village16.8 NM away