When planning your trip to French Polynesia, you’ll be faced with the challenging task of picking from the 118 islands and atolls. Fakarava needs to be on your shortlist if you’re an avid diver. Its biodiversity is unmatched and is a paradise for shark lovers.

Once you’ve decided on Fakarava in the Tuomotu Archipelago, you’ll need to look for a place to stay but unlike larger islands such as Tahiti and Bora Bora, your choices are much more limited and the choices for hotels is next to none. This is where the pension in Fakarava comes in and is the primary accommodation option.

Let’s help you answer the question, “where to stay in Fakarava”.

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What is a pension?

pension fakarava at sunset

If this is your first time to French Polynesia and the Islands of Tahiti, you are undoubtedly new to the term “pension” as we were on our trip.

Pensions are a type of lodging that is commonly found in Europe and countries that have large European expats.

In the strictest sense, a pensions must provide accommodation and food only for guests. However, it doesn’t have to have an on-premise restaurant for non-residents and also doesn’t have to provide common areas.

A pension is similar to the bed and breakfast that is more of a common term in North America where all or some meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are included. Think Airbnb but with some food included.

Pensions in French Polynesia are more of a generalized term for family-owned properties that are much more affordable than resorts and hotels. Some but not all are half-board (or demi-pension), which means breakfast and dinner is included and sometimes mandatory.

Pensions are Tahiti’s secret to affordable accommodations

Pensions are typically meant for longer stays and on islands like Fakarava it’s really the only option available. As you’ll see below, the range of comfort and quality is quite broad, covering everything from camping to modest luxury.

Best Pension in Fakarava

pension paparara bungalow interior where to stay in fakarava

Okay, now that we have the basics out of the way, what are your options when it comes to where to stay in Fakarava? Here are more or less all the pensions in Fakarava to choose from. I have it sorted from the most basic to the upper end.

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1. Tekopa Village Fakarava

tekopa village fakarava bungalows and camping

TEKOPA VILLAGE

This property has a combination of beachfront camping and bungalows and the cheapest pension you’ll find on Fakarava. The facilities are basic and shared but will save you a lot of money.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Breakfast

Wifi: Yes, but only near the kitchen

Bicycles: Yes for a fee (1,500 XPF per day)

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 7,500 XPF per night for a basic bungalow. Camping is 2,000 XPF per person

Transfer Fee: 1,000 XPF per person

Credit cards: No

TripAdvisor

Direct

2. KoriKori Lodge Fakarava

korikori lodge pension fakarava

KORIKORI LODGE

3 modern bungalows line a sandy beach. Rooms include fridge, microwave, and are very clean with great water pressure. Breakfast is included and dinner is available to order and served on their communal patio. They have a snack shack so you can easily buy lunch.

Minimum nights: Not specified

Meals: Breakfast (dinner is 2,250 XPF per adult per meal)

Wifi: Yes and free, but only close to the snack bar.

Bicycles: Yes

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 15,750 XPF for 2 adults in single bungalow per night

TripAdvisor

Direct

3. Relais Marama

relais marama pension fakarava bungalow

RELAIS MARAMA

This is one of the most popular pensions in Fakarava as it’s close to the main town of Rotoava and comfortable lodgings by the beach whether in the bungalow or camping. Note that only shared bathrooms available. Free laundry service available.

Minimum nights: Not specified

Meals: Breakfast

Wifi: Yes

Bicycles: Yes

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 16,000 XPF for 2 adults in the ocean bungalow per night. Camping also available for 3,500 XPF per adult per night

Transfer Fee: Included/p>

Credit cards: Accepted but online only

TripAdvisor

Direct

4. Kaipolanie Garden

kaipolanie garden fakarava accommodations

KAIPOLANIE GARDEN

Two new and modernly built bungalows by the beach and located in the village of Rotoava.  Rooms are air conditioned which is a key feature.  Breakfast, dinner, and round trip airport transfers are included. These have to be the nicest bungalows on the island.

Minimum nights: 3

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes and free, and available in and out of the room

Bicycles: No

Kayaks: No

Price: 18,000 XPF for 2 adults in single bungalow per night

Transfer Fee: Included/p>

Credit cards: Accepted

TripAdvisor

Direct

5. Pakokota Lodge

pakokota lodge fakarava pension

PAKOKOTA LODGE

Adjacent to their yacht services are modest-sized bungalows, one that can fit 6 people, and another than can fit 4. This one is the furthest away from Rotoava and quite remote.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes and free, and available in and out of the room

Bicycles: Unknown

Kayaks: Unknown

Price: 21,000 XPF for 2 adults per night

Transfer Fee: 3,000 XPF for first adult, and 2,000 XPF for additional adults

Credit cards: Unknown

Direct

6. Pension Paparara

pension paparara where to stay in fakarava

PENSION PAPARARA

This is a property that is broken up into many small bungalows along the beach, each of varying sizes and some which are en-suite and budget ones that aren’t. The lounge area is quite large and there are different style bungalows for all group sizes and needs.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes but only available near dining and lounge area

Bicycles: No but available to rent

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 24,000 XPF for 2 adults in single bungalow per night

Transfer Fee: 2,000 XPF per person/p>

Credit cards: Accepted

TripAdvisor

Agoda

7. Pension Vaiama Village

pension vaiama village in fakarava

PENSION VAIAMA VILLAGE

All-inclusive family guesthouse that is right by a sandy beach and fringed by coconut palm trees that includes breakfast and dinner. There are 6 bungalows total and 4 types. A visit to a pearl farm is included as well.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes

Bicycles: Yes

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 24,785 XPF for 2 adults per night

Transfer Fee: 2,100 XPF per adult

Credit cards: Accepted

TripAdvisor

Direct

8. Pension Vekeveke Village

pension vekeveke village

PENSION VEKEVEKE VILLAGE

They have 8 bungalows and 4 different types, all with hot water, and private bathroom. They also have the advantage of being right next to snack shacks Chez Elda and Le Korikori which is a bigger deal than you think.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes, but only near the restaurant

Bicycles: Yes for a fee

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 26,000 XPF per night for 2 people

Transfer Fee: 1,800 XPF per adult

Credit cards: Yes

TripAdvisor

Direct

9. Tokerau Village

tokerau village in pension fakarava

TOKERAU VILLAGE

Built in 2003, this pension in Fakarava is only 7km from town. 4 bungalows are seated in a groomed garden and steps from the crystal waters. Unlike other pensions, they provide daily housecleaning, and bungalows are equipped with hot water, a TV, and portable fan.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes

Bicycles: Yes for a fee (1,500 XPF per day)

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 26,400 XPF per night

Transfer Fee: 2,000 XPF per adult

Credit cards: Yes

TripAdvisor

Direct

10. Havaiki Lodge

havaiki lodge hotel in fakarava

HAVAIKI LODGE

This is less of a pension and more of a resort with a collection and beach and garden bungalows, a full restaurant, gym, bikes, kayaks and canoe, snorkels/fins, table tennis, table football, and library. Being an old pearl farm, there’s also a chance to visit a pearl farm and open an oyster as well. Units all have air condition and it’s the only lodge that has it on Fakarava. They also have more of a proper restaurant than home-cooked meals.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Half board – breakfast and dinner

Wifi: Yes

Bicycles: Yes

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 25,000 XPF per night

Transfer Fee: 2,000 XPF per adult

Credit cards: Yes

TripAdvisor

Direct

11. Tetamanu Village

tetamanu village by the south pass in fakarava

TETAMANU VILLAGE

Think of this as a no frills dive camp. The accommodations are called hostels but they essentially have 6 bungalows right next to the South Pass. This is for people that are primarily here for diving and only want to do the South Pass. Nice bonuses are that it’s close to all-inclusive and also include trips to the Pink Sand Beach for free.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Full board – breakfast, lunch and dinner

Wifi: Yes for purchase and only near the restaurant

Bicycles: No

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 36,000 XPF per night for two people

Transfer Fee: Yes (boat transfer)

Credit cards: Yes

TripAdvisor

Expedia

12. Motu Aito Paradise

motu aito paradise pension fakarava

MOTU AITO PARADISE

If you plan on exclusively diving the south pass, this is a perfect place to stay so you don’t need to take the long boat ride every single time. They are a small local village of 8 bungalows on a small motu. This is off-the-grid which means no hot water, minimal water pressure, and either solar or generator power. Excellent food is served and and is the true meaning of an island getaway.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Full board – breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Wifi: No

Bicycles: No

Price: 38,000 XPF in garden side suite for 2 per night

Transfer: Yes

Credit cards: Not accepted

TripAdvisor

Expedia

13. Raimiti Fakarava

raimiti fakarava pension bungalow

RAIMITI FAKARAVA

Without being right next to the South pass of Fakarava, this pension is as close as it gets being 20 minutes by boat. Sufficed to say, you will consider staying here if you’ll be doing diving and want the option of diving the North and South side. It is on a separate motu quite a bit further in the south. This is the only pension that is full board and has nicely built bungalows on the beach that has an alluring slice of paradise.

Minimum nights: 2

Meals: Full board – breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Wifi: Yes but it is $6 USD/hr

Bicycles: No

Kayaks: Yes

Price: 41,825 XPF per night

Transfer Fee: Included (boat transfer)

Credit cards: Unknown

TripAdvisor

Direct

Map of all Fakarava pensions

Tips for staying in pensions

There are some things you need to know when staying in a pension in Fakarava or French Polynesia for that matter. Keep these in mind when booking and planning your trip.

Tourist tax and island tax – Not all rates include taxes so keep that in mind. The standard tourist tax is 55 XPF per person per day.

Shared bathrooms vs. private bathrooms – Some pensions in Fakarava have communal bathrooms depending on the property or the bungalow so make sure to read carefully.

Wifi is mostly free but don’t expect fast speeds – Aside from a few properties, wifi is included but range is quite limited and speed is incredibly slow. Don’t even think about streaming.

Cellular service – Extremely limited. While coverage is being added here for Tahiti Wifi (I explain my experience in the Tahiti travel guide), expect little to no cell service.

Language – This is not exclusive to Fakarava but from research and speaking to other travellers, you may encounter some pensions that would prefer French-speaking guests. With Pension Paparara, it was certainly a struggle communicating in English but as long as your patient and willing to use Google Translate or play charades, you’ll be able to get by.

Diving – We did all of our diving with Top Dive in Fakarava. If you’re primarily here for diving, my recommendation is to plan everything around it and to make sure you communicate with your dive shop the areas you want to do. Most of you will be staying on the main motu which means that dive shops only do trips to the South Pass once or twice a week.

Mosquitos – This may have been the time of year we were there (February) but they were hot and heavy. We used a ton of mosquito repellent and also had to be very diligent with making sure our mosquito net was fully sealed around the bed.

Beach towels – Not all pensions provide this so it’s better to play it safe and bring your own.

Staying charged – Depending on the Fakarava pension, some will have a couple of outlets handy in the bungalow and some won’t have any at all. be prepared with a flight-approved power bank, power bar, and adapter (French Polynesia uses European round outlets).

Cash – You’ll notice that I indicated whether these properties accept credit card or not. I’d say that unless you’ve fully prepaid, make sure you calculate precisely what you’ll need for your remaining balance, or bring extra. There is an ATM in the main town. Note that Top Dive takes credit card so you’re safe there.

Lunch – Most pensions are half board which means you’ll need to take care of your own lunch. This has two implications – 1) You’ll need extra money to order the food from your pension or at a nearby snack shack or 2) You’ll need to buy supplies at the grocery store in Rotoava to make your own.

Bicycles – Staying at Pension Paparara, we did feel the urge to explore but were ultimately too cheap to pay for bike rentals since all other islands had it included. My recommendation is to try to find a pension that offers bicycles for free.

Snorkel Gear – Don’t assume that your pension will have snorkel, mask, and fin available as you have to remember that these aren’t resorts. Excursions will obviously have them but if you’re looking to snorkel around your pension, you’ll likely have to pack your own.

Water shoes – As with the rest of the Tuomatu Atoll, the beaches are filled with coral and are quite rocky. Good footwear is essential to stay protected and safe. Water shoes are okay but what you really need are the Newport H2’s.

Airport transfers – Don’t assume transfers are included. Most pensions in Fakarava have a fee per adult for round-trip transportation between the airport to the pension. There aren’t really any alternatives though (you can’t easily hail a cab or book an airport transfer) but factor this into your pension selection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pension in Fakarava is the cheapest?

Tekopa Village Fakarava

Which pension in Fakarava allow camping?

Tekopa Village Fakarava, and Relais Marama both have camping options.

Which pension in Fakarava has the best value?

KoriKori Lodge Fakarava is one of the most reasonably priced for decent-sized bungalows.

Which pension is the most luxurious in Fakarava?

The closest to a resort in Fakarava is Havaiki Lodge. At this property you’ll find a full-sized restaurant, gym, spa, shops, and other amenities.

Which pension has air condition (AC)?

Havaiki Lodge and Kaipolanie Garden are the only property that has air condition built into their bungalows.

Which Fakarava pension is close to the South Pass (Tetamanu)?

Tetamanu Village and Motu Aito Paradise are located on islets/motu’s right next to the South Pass dive sites.

Which pension is full board?

While most pensions in Fakarava are half-board, Raimiti Fakarava, Tetamanu Village, and Motu Aito Paradise are full board which means breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. This is why their nightly rate is higher than others.

What is the best pension in Fakarava?

Kaipolanie Garden is the best balance of price, amenities, location, and hospitality on Fakarava.

Travel Resources For Your Next Trip

If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100%.

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Wifi Hotspot: We’ve been a huge fan of wifi hotspot devices such as PokeFi (use code GAP24300) because their rates are are hard to beat and it works globally. Solis is another that we recommend. Pros are that you can share the wifi with your whole group but cons are that you have to invest in a device and you have to charge it every night.

Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts. Expedia is also worth using especially with their One Key rewards program which is basically like cash. The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. Always do a quick check on TripAdvisor as well.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental (now eligible for One Key).

Tours and Activities: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

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If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

William Tang of Going Awesome Places
About The Author

Will Tang

Will Tang, founder of Going Awesome Places, has traveled to 51 countries. He shares his insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists. Will’s travels have been featured on Huffington Post, Men’s Journal, and Entrepreneur.

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