Beach· Tahanea· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Tahanea SE Corner Beach
16° 57.8′ S · 144° 35.2′ W · approximate
What one crew called 'the prettiest sandy beach in the atoll': white sand on the palm motus of Tahanea's SE corner, with turquoise shallows, kite-friendly flat water and snorkelling in the cuts.
Practical
Coordinate approximate: it is Sugar Shack's 5 m sand anchorage 'right in front of the prettiest sandy beach in the atoll' (2020), so the beach is the nearest motu shore. Villa Veritas (June 2022): snorkelling near the cuts between motus was 'pretty good', with small fish and the occasional blacktip reef shark; paddleboarding was even better, and another boat kitesurfed all day. Soggy Paws (2010): the palm-studded motu here 'is home to nesting birds, please, do not disturb these birds!' Tahanea is a protected, uninhabited atoll for the endangered Tuamotu sandpiper. Walk only below the high-tide line, keep away from nests and chicks, and no dogs, bonfires, kites near nesting motus, or night coconut-crab hunting (Pitufa 2019). A copra camp nearby is used by families from Faaite for part of the year; leave it alone.
Best for
Swimming, paddleboarding and a picture-perfect beach
Season
E-SE trades; a maramu refuge
Nearby
- Tahanea Sandy Beach AnchorageRight here
- Maramu (Reinforced Trades) Refuges0.4 NM away
- Tahanea SE Corner Anchorage0.4 NM away
- Tuamotu Sandpiper Nesting Season (Tahanea)0.6 NM away
- Tahanea Copra Shed Anchorage0.7 NM away
- Tahanea East Rim Anchorage4.1 NM away
- Tahanea East Rim Landing Beach4.1 NM away
- Tahanea South Rim Sand Banks Anchorage4.2 NM away