Arutua, Tuamotu Archipelago

Arutua, or Ngaru-atua is an atoll in the Tuamotu group in French Polynesia. Geographically Arutua belongs to the Palliser Islands (Îles Palliser) subgroup of the Tuamotus. It is located 40 Km SW of Rangiroa. The closest land is Apataki Atoll, only 16 Km to the East. Arutua Atoll has a roughly pentagonal shape. Length 31 Km, width 24 Km. Its lagoon is wide and deep with one navigable passage

Arutua is composed of 57 groups of islets surrounding a huge lagoon that owns an islet in its center, a extremely uncommon situation. The main village is Rautini.

Things to See and Do

* Guided island and lagoon tours
* Fishing
* Water sports
* Snorkelling & Diving

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – CFP franc (XPF)
Language – French, Tahitian
Population – 554 approx
Electricity – 2 angled flat pins and 1 round pin centred below Australian style
Time – GMT minus ten hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 689

Port Location – Anchorage is available at the main village of Rautini.

Transport Links – There is a small domestic airfield located on Arutua. The main village of Rautini, built near the Porofai pass, requires a half hour ride by boat to be reached from the airport.
Two cruise ships/luxury liners currently ply the islands: the Paul Gauguin, which does a regular 7-day trip around the Societies, with occasional trips out to the Tuamotus, Marquesas and Cook Islands; and the Tahitian Princess which does similar itineraries.