Rurutu... where sea and mountains blend
Personnality: Savage and engaging
 

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Former name: Etero’a, Otero’a
Budget level: Inexpensive
Encounter: Rurutu, high cliffs diving into the ocean, from where it is easy to observe humpback whales when they come there to breed from September to November.

At a glance: Village and main port: Moera’i (capital). Total population: 2000. The reef is very close to the shore, there is no lagoon to speak of. A very engaging island which was able to keep its ancestral traditions and offers  lively handicrafts. Each year, dozens of passionated fans spend several weeks in Rurutu to observe from the top of the cliffs, humpback whales breeding only 100 feet from the shore.in the comfortable waters of the Polynesian South. There is no more lagoon here than in Tubuai or in Raivavae, but since there is no lagoon in Rurutu, whale watching is easier here. The boldest ones take great pleasure swimming near these animals nearly 25 m (60 ft) long!

How to get there: Located 480 km South of Tahiti and 210 km from Tubuai, plan on a 1h30 flight to fly there direct from  Tahiti. Theairport is located 5 km West of the village of Moerai. It is possible to get there by boat with  supplies freighters such as the Tuhaa Pae II.