Important: Wikitravel is exploring a license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0, please give your consent or refusal here.

From Wikitravel

The Gambier Islands are a group of coral reef islands in the southeast extreme of the Tuamotu Islands archipelago of French Polynesia.

[edit] Regions

• Mangareva

[edit] Cities

RIKITEA

Accomidation can be booked from this site [1]

Names of Families offering Online booking:

CHEZ BIANCA ET BENOIT - Guestroom CHEZ JOJO - Guestroom PENSION MARO'I - Family Pension - highly recommended TARA ETU KURA - Family Pension

[edit] Other destinations

[edit] Understand

There are no ATM's or Banks. Please bring enough French Polynesian Francs for your Holiday. Locals here deal with cash only. You can exchange USD/Euros for French Polynesian Francs at the post office in Rikitea. The pensions sometimes accept credit cards (ask first).

[edit] Talk

Knowing french or tahitian will serve you well here. Very few locals speak english. At the pensions usually one person will know basic english words, but anything approaching a conversation will be impossible.

[edit] Get in

Flights once a week from Tahiti Flying Air Tahiti (http://www.airtahiti.aero/home.php).

Flight Number VT951 LEAVES AT 0540 and arrives at 1105 and the flight back on the same day is from 1155 and arrives at Tahiti at 1450.

Once at the airport you will need to catch a Taxi boat to the city RIKITEA.

[edit] Get around

Please contact 1-877-GO-TAHITI for more information.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit] Itineraries

Rikitea Ruins At Mangareva's main village, Rikitea, visitors will find a number of ruins. Among these archeological relics are a convent, a triumphal arch, several watchtowers, a prison and a court. These abandoned remains have been noted for their dark, eerie feel.

Rikitea Rectory Across the path from St. Micheal of Rikitea Church is a well-maintained 140 year-old rectory, occupied by the parish priest.

St Michel of Rikitea Church Constructed of fired limestone, this neo-gothic Catholic church was built under the auspices of Father Honoré Laval. The church, which is still in use today, is inlaid with iridescent mother-of-pearl.

[edit][add listing] Do

Enjoy a piece of the planet nearly untouched by the modern world. The lagoon is stunning. Tour a black pearl farm. Spend a day on a motu having a picnic, tour the atolls historic churches, hike around the entire island, or to the top of Mt. Duff. Snorkling is quite good, if only there was a dive operation. Watching the stars at night.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There's 1-2 restaurants in Rikitea. You can also eat at the pensions (let them know ahead of time as they only prepare enough food for those they know are coming for dinner). Food at the pensions is simple, tasty, and plentiful. You will not go hungry. The hospitality is heartwarming.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Due to Nuclear Tests by the French Military at nearby Atolls i would not reconmend drinking the tap water. Bottled water is availible from small shops in town. - I disagree with this. Many of the locals, the land, and water have been tested for residual radiation from tests on Muraroa. All came back clean. These tests were performed by Greenpeace. Furthermore, all water is rainwater collected by catchment from roofs. There are no streams/wells.

[edit] Stay safe

The locals are friendly and a delight. Wear lots of suncreen, and be careful of stonefish. Bug spray is recommended. Europeans, and to an increasing degree North Americans, are less modest than Polynesians. Dress appropriately. I would discourage any public nudity despite the idyllic setting.

[edit] Get out

Same way as getting in