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

Rotoava Anchorage (Fakarava North)

16° 3.9′ S · 145° 37.2′ W

Fakarava's main cruiser anchorage: a sand-and-bommie shelf off Rotoava village, a short dinghy ride from the only marine fuel dock in the archipelago, four food stores, a bakery, an ATM and Fakarava Yacht Services.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Official zone 'Rotoava 1 (sud)': up to 14 boats under 20 m, stays up to 7 days. Its corners run from 16°03.698'S to 16°04.010'S and from 145°37.056'W to 145°37.293'W (coordinate is the zone centre). Cruisers report 10-12 m with good holding once set, over sand among live and dead coral heads that wrap chains: Sugar Shack anchored at 16°03.83'S 145°37.09'W in 10 m using 5 chain floats (June 2021). Noonsite (2025) also lists 7 m sand with some coral off the dive shop. The 2025 official brief says the anchorage is well sheltered except in southerly winds. The lagoon's long fetch builds short, steep chop in 30+ kn, so move to Hirifa before a strong southerly. Anchor at least 200 m off the shore; one resident has set floats along his frontage and asks boats to move. Do not anchor between the moorings and the beach, which is a small-boat channel (Top Dive on VHF, 2016). You may lie alongside the quay briefly, but do not block the schooners, cruise-ship tenders or activity boats. Dinghy to the quay or to the small beaches between buildings. Zone rules (Arrete 414 CM of 28 March 2024): overnight stays (4 pm to 9 am) must be pre-booked at escales.gov.pf (or escales.dpam@administration.gov.pf, DPAM +689 40 54 45 78, 24/7); the service was free in the 2025 pilot and the 2025 brief says fees will be charged in 2026. Boats under 20 m may use zone spaces between 9 am and 4 pm without booking, within the quota. Inside zones: 5 kn speed limit, no sailing (motor in and out), no scuba, windsurfing or towed sports, swimming and snorkeling only close to your own boat, show anchor lights from sunset to sunrise, keep AIS on if you carry it. No sewage discharge, hull work, antifouling, sanding or engine testing at anchor. Anchoring outside the five designated zones, or in channels and passes, is a 4th-class offence. Permanent moorings are planned for 2026; once a zone has referenced moorings, anchoring in it becomes illegal. Pay the trash and tourist taxes at the mairie. Vini 4G works throughout.

Best for

Provisioning, fuel, laundry and the Garuae north-pass dives

Season

Year-round; uncomfortable in S winds and maraamu (June-Sept), when Hirifa is better

Itineraries that stop here

Nearby