At dawn, National Geographic Orion slid through the entrance of the northern pass of Fakarava. A warm wind flowed over the deck as the sky slowly lost its golden rays from behind the coconut palms.
After a short Zodiac ride to the small village of Rotoava, we were welcomed by the sounds of the local island band. We freely explored the town and local shops, with some exploring by foot, others by bike. As we wandered along the narrow street, we discovered a serene church completely made out of coral, a peaceful escape.
A highlight of the day was spotting schools of nurse sharks resting in the shallows, their sleek bodies nestled in the cool shade of coconut trees along the lagoon as we walked. Local vendors offered beautiful pearls and intricately crafted shell necklaces from in front of their houses, some selling fresh cold coconuts. Many took the opportunity to purchase pearls as this is considered the place to get them for a good price.
Everyone was eager to cool off and indulge in a tasty lunch, which hit the spot perfectly as we lifted anchor and moved towards the South Pass in the second largest lagoon in French Polynesia.
