Visit of a pearl farm and flight to Fakarava

We have no activity planned for this day of travel, but our flight is midafternoon, so we have a morning to kill.

While driving to the dive center, we noticed that there is a Pearl farm, called Gauguin Ferme Perlière. They have free guided visits at 10 am and 2 pm. That is perfect for us. After arranging transport with our pension, we arrive there a little early. There is a guide in English and another one in French. The French guide, was immensely detailed and interesting. He knows his industry and can tell you a lot not only about Polynesian pearl farming but also Japanese and Australian industry too. We spend 15min at the end chatting with him. An absolute wealth of knowledge. We loved our visit there.

The visit is divided into 3 parts. Information about the pearl, the method and the variety of pearl oysters. They opened an oyster for us and showed all the parts. Explaining us how important it is for the culture of pearls.

Then you go and see the work of the “greffier”, which depending on the season is either inserting the small nucleus, or harvesting the pearls. We saw them harvesting the pearl.
We continued on the docks, where the baskets of oysters were cleaned and cared for. The guide explains the various maintenance work that are required at sea. The oysters need 3 years maturation before being able to carry a pearl and then between 18 months and 2 years for the pearl to be harvested.

Finally, we stop at the shop, where they show various quality of pearls, give us some education on how to recognize good and bad quality. Of course, many beautiful pieces of jewelry are on display for you to purchase. It’s not cheap but so gorgeous!

The land part of the operation seems small, but the buoys at large are numerous. They say that they do about 300,000 pearl oysters per year now, but before covid they had a cheptel of 1,2 million oysters. 

After this visit, we went back to the pension and walked a little further to probably the only opened snack for lunch: Chez Antoinette. It’s in front of the Marina.
Barely back from our meal and it was time to fly to Fakarava. Upon arrival, I think it’s one of the smallest airport I have been to. ( And I have travelled to small and remote places before ! ). This is a nice hut. 

I am enjoying Fakarava a lot more than Rangiroa. First our pension ( relais Marama ) is in a pretty garden and is super clean. The host is so very nice and welcoming. It’s a great place, we are very comfortable.

Second, as we do our evening walk. Lagoon side has some nice sandy beaches, where Rangiroa was rocks and corals. Much easier for a swim, and if you were not already sold with Bora Bora, you really get the island paradise feel. Third, it’s wide coconut plantations with houses inside and things are quite spread out. Part of the road is not tarred. It’s always a little windy and I don’t feel the same heat as in Rangiroa. I think it’s because there are more vegetations.

We barely made it on time to the pension before the store closes. We had to rush to buy some groceries. However, during our sunset walk, we ended up smelling pizza and that was it. Pizza it is for tonight!