Avatoru
VillageThe main village, with shops and pensions.
French Polynesia city guide
Rangiroa Travel Guide
Rangiroa is one of the largest atolls in the world, a thin ring of coral around a lagoon so big you can't see across it. It's one of the great dive destinations of the Pacific, with dolphins, sharks and manta rays riding the tide through the Tiputa pass.
200+ km
Around the atoll
About 1 hour
Flight from Papeete
2
Tides a day through the pass
Rangiroa at a glance
Rangiroa is in the Tuamotu archipelago, about 350 km north-east of Tahiti. It's a coral atoll: a narrow ring of motu (islets) and reef, more than 200 km around, enclosing a vast lagoon.
There are no mountains here, just flat coral, coconut palms and water on both sides. Most life is on the north-east motu, around the villages of Avatoru and Tiputa, either side of the two main passes.
Rangiroa is famous for diving. Twice a day, the tide pushes huge volumes of water through the Tiputa pass, bringing grey reef sharks, dolphins, manta rays and hammerheads in season.
It's also drier than the Society Islands, and the place to see the atoll side of French Polynesia.
Three to five days is ideal, longer if you're diving.
Where to stay on Rangiroa
Stay on the north-east motu, near Avatoru or close to the Tiputa pass, where the dive shops and pensions are.
Tiputa pass
DivingThe famous pass, with dolphins.
Blue Lagoon
Day tripLagoon within the lagoon, west side.
Pink Sands
Day tripPink-tinted sand, south-east side.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
The Tiputa pass, the Blue Lagoon and the Pink Sands
Dive the Tiputa pass, one of the most famous dives in the Pacific. Drift in with the incoming tide alongside grey reef sharks, dolphins and manta rays. Hammerheads are seen in season.
Snorkel the pass at the Aquarium, a sheltered spot near Tiputa with lots of reef fish, on a guided snorkel trip.
Watch dolphins at the Tiputa pass from the shore in the late afternoon, when they often surf the waves.
Take a full-day boat trip to the Blue Lagoon, a lagoon within the lagoon on the west side, with shallow water and blacktip sharks.
Visit the Pink Sands (Sables Roses), on the far south-east side, where the sand has a pink tint.
Visit a black pearl farm, as the Tuamotus are the centre of pearl farming.
Taste wine at Rangiroa's vineyard, one of the most unusual in the world, among the coconut palms.
Free things
Rangiroa for free (or nearly)
Watching dolphins at the Tiputa pass from the shore is free.
Snorkelling from the shore is free, but stay out of the pass currents.
Cycling the motu road is free apart from bike hire.
Food and drink
Pension meals and fresh fish
Rangiroa has few restaurants, a couple of roulottes and small shops. Most pensions include meals, often half board.
Fresh fish and poisson cru are the staples. Everything else is shipped in, so food is pricey.
Bring snacks from Papeete.
Nightlife
Quiet atoll nights
There's no nightlife on Rangiroa. Evenings are sunsets over the lagoon, dinner at your pension and early nights before dives.
Getting around
Getting to and around Rangiroa
Air Tahiti flies to Rangiroa from Papeete, about an hour, and from some other islands. Multi-island air passes include Rangiroa.
The airport is on the main motu, between Avatoru and the Tiputa pass, and pensions collect guests.
A single road runs about 10 km along the main motu. Hire a bike or scooter. Boats cross the pass to Tiputa village, and tours go further.
Costs
What Rangiroa costs
Rangiroa is expensive. Hostelworld has no listings right now, so budget travellers stay in pensions, often with meals included.
Diving is the main cost, so dive packages are worth asking about.
Blue Lagoon and Pink Sands trips are full-day boat tours.
Allow around XPF12,000 to XPF18,000 a day before diving.
Safety
Staying safe on Rangiroa
Rangiroa is safe on land.
The passes have very strong currents, especially on outgoing tides. Dive and snorkel them only with a guide.
Wear reef shoes for coral and stonefish.
Medical care is basic, and there's no hyperbaric chamber on the atoll, so dive conservatively and make sure your insurance covers evacuation.
Ciguatera is present in some reef fish, so follow local advice on what to eat.
In an emergency, call 15 for medical help and 17 for the police.
Day trips on Rangiroa
Rangiroa's day trips are by boat across the lagoon.
Tiputa pass dive
Drift dive with sharks and dolphins.
Blue Lagoon
Shallow lagoon and blacktip sharks.
Pink Sands
Pink-tinted beaches on the far side.
What's on
What's on on Rangiroa
Rangiroa's calendar follows the dive seasons.
About December to March
Hammerhead season
Tiputa pass
Great hammerheads seen on dives.
May to October
Dry season
Rangiroa
The best weather.
When to go to Rangiroa
Rangiroa is warm all year, with highs from 28°C to 30°C, and drier than the Society Islands. May to October is the best time. Hammerhead season runs roughly December to March.
Jan
Hot; hammerhead season
Feb
Hammerheads
Mar
Hammerheads; quiet
Apr
Improving
May
Dry season
Jun
Dry and clear
Jul
Peak season
Aug
Dry
Sep
Dry
Oct
Still dry
Nov
Wetter
Dec
Hammerheads return
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average daily highs from weather2travel's Takaroa climate data, another Tuamotu atoll, as there's no Rangiroa page. Crowd levels are our rough guide.
How much does Rangiroa cost per day?
Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total. Per day, for one person, in CFP francs.
Estimates, based on pension prices. Flights and diving sit outside these figures.
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- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Rangiroa FAQs
Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.
How do I get to Rangiroa?
By Air Tahiti from Papeete, about an hour.
Is Rangiroa good for diving?
It's one of the best dive destinations in the Pacific, especially the Tiputa pass.
Can non-divers enjoy Rangiroa?
Yes: guided snorkelling, dolphin watching and boat trips to the Blue Lagoon and Pink Sands.
Are there hostels on Rangiroa?
Not on Hostelworld right now. Pensions, often with meals, are the budget option.
How long should I spend on Rangiroa?
Three to five days, longer if diving.
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