Tikehau... and its aquarium lagoon
Personnality: savage, crystalline, sparkling

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Pronounciation: Tikay-A-O
Nickname: Tikehau means "Landing for peace"
Former name: Oropaa
Budget level: Economy
Encounter: Tikehau is even a greater getaway than its neighbor Rangiroa, only miles away. An enchanting scenery with crystal clear water, white sands and majestic coconut trees as far as you can see.

At a glance: With the perfect shape of one of its famous black pearls, Tikehau, the well rounded, is in fact like an immense and pleasant natural aquarium 28 km (17 miles) in diameter and 80 km (50 miles) around. There are found over 400 varieties of fishes The some 450 residents of the island live from fishing and copra, as do most of the people of the Tuamotu.

But it is mostly Tikehau's simplicity, combined with the tranquility of its coconut groves, that gives it that "quaint little village" look that Rangiroa has partially lost.

How to get there: 30 km (20 miles) away from Rangiroa, Tikehau is located about 300 km (200 miles) from Tahiti. By plane:  direct flights from Papeete (55 minutes) or via Rangiroa. You can also get there aboard an inter-islands freighter.