Anchorage· Makemo· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Punaruku Anchorage (Makemo)

16° 31.1′ S · 143° 49.3′ W

Widely called the best anchorage in Makemo: a sand-bottomed cove on the north rim, about 10 nm from the West Pass and 20 nm from the village, where a small reef jutting from the motu makes a sheltered pocket with a beach.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Waypoint 16°31.1S / 143°49.3W (Visions of Johanna, April 2010; Hoodoo, Dec 2020 at 16°31.100S / 143°49.300W). Drop in about 10 ft of sand, no floats needed (Hoodoo 2020; Villa Veritas July 2022). Protected NE through SE by the reef off the motu just south. Kokopeli (Oct 2018) warns the reef to the east is much more extensive than Navionics shows, extends farther from shore and is essentially awash. Coral nearby is mostly dead (2022) but it is a lovely spot to paddleboard. Approach only in good light with a bow lookout; lagoon bommies are common and not all charted. Lovesail (June 2015) shared it with four other yachts and found great snorkeling over the reef off the beach; the old village ashore is deserted apart from a few walls and a graveyard.

Best for

Settled trade-wind hideaway between the passes

Season

Best in NE to SE trades

Nearby