PK9 Beach, Fakarava | Top 100 Bikini Destinations
ROTOAVA, FAKARAVA, TUAMOTU ISLANDS / FRENCH POLYNESIA
A quiet lagoon day at
PK9 Beach.
White coral sand, open lagoon views and a bicycle ride planned around the return wind.
Plan your beach day ↘TOP 150 BIKINI DESTINATIONS / FAKARAVA
One atoll road.
A wide lagoon horizon.
PK9 lies on the lagoon side of Fakarava’s northern main motu in the Tuamotu Islands, west of Rotoava village; it is not a beach on Tahiti.
The kilometre-marker name leads to an isolated coral-sand shore with turquoise lagoon water and coconut palms. Time Out’s 2026 ranking places PK9 at #16. Fakarava belongs to the Commune de Fakarava UNESCO biosphere reserve; keep the beach day quiet and leave the shore as you find it.
ON THE WORLD MAP
Fakarava in the Tuamotu archipelago.
PK9 Beach, Rotoava, Fakarava, Tuamotu Islands
01 / GETTING THERE
Start in Rotoava.
A Rotoava lagoon jetty.
The village is your base for supplies and transport; this photograph shows Rotoava, not PK9.
Photo: Frédéric Jacquot (deelight@poulet.org) (resized) · CC BY-SA 2.5Get around Fakarava
The main road is the practical cycling route from Rotoava toward the PK9 marker. Ask your host to point out the entrance and any current private-land boundaries. A current parking fee or managed parking facility was not verified; do not block access or leave valuables in a vehicle.
On the beach
No lifeguard service or staffed beach post was verified. Calm-looking lagoon water can still have wind, coral and current hazards. Enter carefully where the bottom is visible, avoid isolated solo swims and reserve pass diving for a qualified operator. Beach status ↗
02 / BEACH ESSENTIALS
Know before you go.
An undeveloped beach with no food, drinking water or public facilities: bring everything needed for the ride and beach day.
01 / HOW TO GET THERE
From the village
From Rotoava, cycle along the road toward the PK9 marker on Fakarava’s northern main motu. Ask your host for the current entrance and a realistic ride estimate for your bike and fitness. The airport transfer is separate. Take water for the outward journey, the beach and a potentially windier return; local rental and transfer prices are unconfirmed.
Official Fakarava transport information ↗02 / BEACH ACCESS
Road to coral-sand shore
Access is from the atoll road, followed by an informal approach to the lagoon shore. No maintained step-free boardwalk or wheelchair service was verified. A current entry fee is unconfirmed; respect any local access signs and ask your host before crossing private land. There is no confirmed beach opening-hours service.
03 / THE SAND
White coral sand
The beach has pale white coral sand, with coral fragments and harder patches possible near the water. Use sandals or water shoes where needed, watch where you place your feet and avoid standing on living coral. Take no sand, shells or coral home.
04 / FOOD & WATER
Bring your own food and water
None on site: there are no food stalls, cafés, restaurants, drinking-water taps or walking vendors to rely on at PK9. Buy or prepare food and carry all drinking water before leaving Rotoava. Keep food packed against insects and remove every piece of litter when you leave.
05 / CHAIRS & UMBRELLAS
No rentals
No chair or umbrella rental is available on site. Bring a towel, a hat and portable sun protection you can safely carry by bike. Coconut palms do not guarantee a safe shaded spot; avoid sitting beneath heavy coconuts or damaging vegetation to make shade.
06 / RESTROOMS & SHOWERS
No bathrooms or showers
None on site. Use facilities at your accommodation before departure and on return. There is no verified lifeguard post, changing room, first-aid station or drinking-water refill point at PK9. A self-sufficient visit and a host contact are more useful than assuming services will appear.
03 / THE BEACH
A day at PK9 Beach.
White sand on the lagoon side.
PK9’s lagoon shore in a photograph explicitly identified by its original source. This is a separate beach from Fakarava’s village and southern motu.
Photo: Fanny98716 (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.001 / RIDE
Follow the road
Confirm the turnoff and return plan with your host.
02 / SWIM
Choose your water entry
Keep clear of coral and avoid unsupported solo swims.
03 / REST
Bring a picnic
There are no vendors or water refills at the beach.
04 / RETURN
Plan for the wind
The official beach listing warns of a headwind on the way back.
Leave the village with supplies, check the water before swimming and take a simple picnic break. Start back well before dark and before you are tired; the wind can make the same road feel very different on the return. A squall or poor conditions is a reason to stay near your accommodation, not to push through an isolated ride.
04 / NEARBY BEACHES
Four other lagoon shores.
These are distinct Fakarava locations, not walkable extensions of PK9. Distances are approximate straight-line separations from the map; southern sites require a planned boat trip. Names such as Pink Sands, Blue Lagoon and Green Lagoon must not be treated as interchangeable.
Ohavana Beach
A lagoon-side shore near the Rotoava area, with a different setting from isolated PK9. The original photograph identifies Ohavana.
- Best for
- A village-area lagoon stop
- Facilities
- Check any private access and nearby host services; no public facilities assumed.
- Good to know
- Ask permission before using a private jetty or lodge beach.
Pink Sands
The southern pink-sand motu near Tumakohua form a boat excursion, with access arranged by an operator. These are not the northern Blue Lagoon.
- Best for
- A planned southern boat outing
- Facilities
- Bring supplies unless your confirmed excursion includes meals and water.
- Good to know
- Landing depends on conditions and local permission.
Green Lagoon sandbanks
A separate northern lagoon setting with shallow sand and motu vegetation. Operators describe sandbank access as tide dependent.
- Best for
- A guided northern lagoon trip
- Facilities
- Boat-based visit; no beach services assumed.
- Good to know
- Do not cross reef flats or sandbanks independently without local guidance.
Tetamanu lagoon shore
The village and shore beside the south pass are a distinct destination reached on a planned transfer or excursion. The photograph shows the pass and village.
- Best for
- Village scenery and a qualified marine excursion
- Facilities
- Guesthouse facilities only by arrangement; confirm access with your operator.
- Good to know
- Strong pass currents make this unsuitable for an unsupported swim.
Distances are straight-line from PK9 Beach. Facilities change by season, so check on the day.
05 / MUST-SEE PLACES
Three ways to explore Fakarava.
01 / SOUTHERN LAGOON
Tetamanu, Pink Sands and Hirifa
Book a boat excursion for Tetamanu and the south pass, with Pink Sands and Hirifa where the confirmed itinerary allows. These are long lagoon outings, not a short bicycle extension from PK9; confirm meals, weather policy, landings and the transfer home.
Confirmed Fakarava boat itineraries ↗02 / ROTOAVA / NORTH ROAD
Topaka lighthouse and a pearl-farm visit
The historic Topaka tower stands on the northern main motu. View it from permitted ground and do not assume the old structure is open to climb. Separately, Havaiki’s working pearl farm describes visitor experiences; reserve with the property rather than arriving at a random farm.
Topaka heritage record ↗03 / GARUAE NORTH PASS
Garuae with a dive operator
Garuae is Fakarava’s northern pass and a real dive destination. Choose a qualified center that assesses your certification, experience and the day’s currents. The south-pass shark wall is at Tumakohua, a different location reached by boat.
Official Fakarava diving guide ↗EXPLORE THE AREA
PK9 Beach and Fakarava.
The pin marks PK9 on Fakarava’s northern main motu, west of Rotoava and the airport area. It is not on Tahiti. Tetamanu and Tumakohua lie far to the south; the Pink Sands and Green Lagoon have their own locations and access arrangements.
Open the interactive map ↗BEYOND THE BEACH
The atoll beyond PK9.
Keep road-based outings separate from lagoon crossings and pass diving.
Fakarava’s lagoon
A turquoise lagoon and jetty on Fakarava. The file’s broad description does not establish a specific commercial excursion stop.
Photo: Frenchytahiti (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Green Lagoon at Farakau
The lagoon at motu Farakau is separate from PK9. Use a locally operated boat excursion for remote motu access.
Photo: Fanny98716 (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Coconut grove at Farakau
Coconut palms at the Green Lagoon’s Farakau motu. Respect land access and avoid disturbing vegetation.
Photo: Fanny98716 (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ohavana’s ocean side
Ohavana’s reef faces the ocean; surf and coral make it a different environment from PK9’s lagoon shore.
Photo: Fanny98716 (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.006 / SIX HOTELS
Find your base.
ROTOAVA VILLAGE
Relais Marama
$ Budget · Nightly price unconfirmed; confirm bungalow or camping terms
On the ocean side in central Rotoava, Relais Marama offers bungalows and a camping area, with shared bathrooms and a communal kitchen described in its official listing. It suits a village base for buying supplies before the PK9 ride; confirm transfers, meals and bicycle availability.
Relais Marama official site ↗ROTOAVA / PK2 LAGOON
Havaiki Lodge
$ Budget · Nightly price unconfirmed; ask for the full room-and-meal total
Havaiki offers garden and lagoon-edge bungalows with separate daytime and evening dining outlets and a working pearl farm. Choose it for a serviced village-area stay, then arrange your bicycle or transfer to PK9. Confirm which meals, equipment and airport transfers are included in your dated quote.
Havaiki Lodge official site ↗MAIN MOTU / FOUR-KILOMETRE SECTOR
Vekeveke Village
$$ Mid-Range · Nightly price unconfirmed; request a dated guesthouse quote
This bungalow guesthouse is listed four kilometres from Rotoava and eight from the airport, near local snack bars and a dive center. It is a separate base along the main motu, so confirm the route to PK9 rather than assuming the beach is outside your room.
Vekeveke Village official site ↗MAIN MOTU / 6.7-KILOMETRE SECTOR
Tokerau Village
$$ Mid-Range · Nightly price unconfirmed; confirm board, transfers and bike charges
Tokerau’s official tourism listing places its lagoon-edge bungalows about 6.7 kilometres from Rotoava. Meals are communal and local produce features in the kitchen. Ask about the exact board arrangement, dietary needs and bike rental before booking, and allow a separate journey to the northern PK9 beach.
Tokerau Village official site ↗MOTU TETAPIRI / SOUTHERN SECTOR
Raimiti
$$$ Remote pension · Nightly package price unconfirmed; boat transfer and meals require a quote
On motu Tetapiri in southern Fakarava, Raimiti offers Tahitian-style accommodation near Hirifa, with a restaurant and excursion arrangements. This is a remote southern stay rather than a convenient cycling base for PK9; plan the boat transfer, meals and any north-atoll beach visit with the property.
Raimiti official site ↗TETAMANU / SOUTH PASS
Pension Tetamanu Village
$$$$ Remote pension · Nightly package price unconfirmed; confirm boat transfers and meal plan
The guesthouse operates beside the south pass, with accommodation at Tetamanu Village and Tetamanu Sauvage described in its official listing. Stay here for a southern base with arranged meals and marine outings; it requires a planned transfer and is not a road-access hotel beside PK9.
Pension Tetamanu Village official site ↗
WHEN TO GO
Choose the day you want.
Warm tropical conditions do not guarantee a calm ride or boat crossing. Check Météo-France Polynésie française forecasts and ask your host about wind and squalls. No PK9 lifeguard season was verified; plan water, sun and insect protection for the full outing. Climate normals ↗
07 / FOOD, LANGUAGE & LOCAL LIFE
From sand to table.
A lagoon-and-reef food culture
The ocean side of Farakau illustrates the reef setting; it is not a photograph of a restaurant or a promise of food service.
Photo: Fanny98716 (resized) · CC BY-SA 4.0What to order
Ask about poisson cru with coconut milk or the kitchen’s fish of the day, and confirm your dietary needs in advance. Atoll dining is limited and often organized through your accommodation. Three public dining venues were verified for this draft, with two additional guesthouse meal options; six independent restaurants in distinct areas were not established.
Local habits
Reserve ahead, cover up for meals and ask before entering private land, jetties or a guesthouse dining room. A restaurant listed at a pension may prioritize its residents. Use the confirmed operator’s advice about local seafood and avoid buying reef products from an unidentified source.
A LITTLE FRENCH
Useful on the beach and in town.
- Bonjour.
- Hello.
- De l’eau potable, s’il vous plaît.
- Drinking water, please.
- Faut-il réserver ?
- Do we need to reserve?
- L’addition, s’il vous plaît.
- The check, please.
DINING ON A SMALL ATOLL
Where to eat.
ROTOAVA VILLAGE
Roulotte Vaiiti
$ Budget · Meal price unconfirmed; cash payment is listed
This food truck is listed by Tahiti Tourisme with lunch service on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during its 2026 schedule. Use its published contact before making a special trip, ask what is being cooked and confirm the current price and exact village meeting point.
Roulotte Vaiiti official site ↗MAIN MOTU / PK4 SECTOR
Snack Korikori
$ Budget · Meal price unconfirmed; request the current menu
Korikori’s official listing describes a lagoon-facing terrace and a separate outdoor dining area. It offers a real lunch option on the main motu, away from isolated PK9. Confirm the opening day, dishes and total directly; do not assume a published tourism listing guarantees service every afternoon.
Snack Korikori official site ↗HAVAIKI / PK2 LAGOON
Snack du Requin Dormeur
$$ Mid-Range · Meal price unconfirmed; confirm the current à-la-carte menu
Havaiki’s own site identifies this beach snack outlet as its daytime lunch service, distinct from the evening Mekobar. Reserve or call before leaving your accommodation, ask about the day’s menu and check nonresident access. This is at Havaiki, not a vendor or café at PK9.
Snack du Requin Dormeur official site ↗TETAMANU / SOUTH PASS
Tetamanu guesthouse meals
$$ Mid-Range · Guest meal price unconfirmed; access by advance arrangement
The Tetamanu property’s official listing identifies a restaurant beside the pass. Treat this as an arranged guesthouse meal during a southern stay or confirmed excursion, not a guaranteed independent walk-in restaurant. Ask the property or your operator about nonresident access, meal inclusion and any transfer requirements.
Tetamanu guesthouse meals official site ↗MOTU TETAPIRI / SOUTHERN SECTOR
Raimiti guest dining
$$$ Upscale · Guest meal price unconfirmed; confirm package inclusions
Raimiti’s official listing describes a Polynesian-style restaurant with set dishes that vary by day. It is a remote guesthouse service, not an extra public restaurant beside PK9. Confirm dining access with the property, including dietary needs, the boat journey and whether meals belong to your booked package.
Raimiti guest dining official site ↗ADDITIONAL DINING AREA / UNCONFIRMED
No sixth independent venue verified
— Unconfirmed · No price assigned; a sixth distinct-area restaurant was not verified
A sixth independently verifiable public restaurant in a different atoll area was not established for this draft. Ask your host about current options rather than relying on an invented name or an old menu. Carry a packed lunch for PK9 regardless of village restaurant availability.
No sixth independent venue verified official site ↗08 / FAKARAVA AFTER DARK
Evenings on the atoll.
Mekobar
Havaiki’s own site identifies Mekobar as its cocktail and evening set-menu venue, separate from the daytime snack outlet. Ask about reservations, current service and a safe ride home before settling in; it is a village-area evening option, not nightlife on the isolated PK9 shore. Havaiki: Mekobar ↗
Raimiti’s guest bar
The official Raimiti listing describes a bar opening around sunset for its remote guesthouse setting. Confirm whether access is limited to residents and arrange any visit with the property; this is part of a southern stay, not a casual bicycle stop after a day at PK9. Raimiti official guesthouse listing ↗
No third public bar verified
A third distinct public bar was not independently verified. Ask your accommodation about current village options, opening arrangements and a safe return before traveling. The absence of a verified listing is a reason to keep the evening simple, rather than inventing a venue or assuming a resort-style nightlife scene. Official dining context ↗
Base the evening at your accommodation or an explicitly confirmed venue. Do not cycle the isolated road in darkness after drinking, and do not improvise a night boat crossing. Ask your host to arrange any transport before your meal; there is no verified evening service at PK9.
09 / SHOPPING
Choose something made on the atoll.
ROTOAVA · QUAY
Evotia Shop
Browse sarongs, vanilla pods and beaded jewelry at the souvenir shop opposite the quay, beside the elementary school.
Hours Monday–Saturday 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 2:30–4 p.m.; Sunday hours are not listed.
Evotia Shop on Tahiti Tourisme ↗ROTOAVA · PK1
Trésor Kaina
Look for handmade outfits and locally made souvenirs at the PK1 village shop.
Hours Daily 8 a.m.–1 p.m., as listed for 2026.
Trésor Kaina on Tahiti Tourisme ↗ROTOAVA · HAVAIKI LAGOONFRONT
Havaiki pearl-farm boutique
Compare loose cultured pearls and finished jewelry at the working farm’s boutique.
Hours Boutique hours are not published; arrange your visit with Havaiki before traveling.
Havaiki pearl farm and boutique ↗For a pearl purchase, request a receipt describing the pearl and any metal setting; choose finished jewelry rather than loose coral or wildlife souvenirs, and check your destination’s import rules.
10 / ROTOAVA EVENT CALENDAR & MONEY
Plan around the celebrations.
Makeva cultural celebrations
Fakarava’s tourism committee describes Makeva, the local July expression of Heiva, with dance and traditional sporting gatherings. Specific dates, venue, public program and admission for the latest completed 2026 edition were not verified. Ask local tourism staff before building a trip around it.
Makeva cultural celebrations official site ↗Matari’i i ni’a season
The rising of the Pleiades marks Matari’i i ni’a, the Polynesian season of abundance. Tahiti Tourisme identifies the seasonal change around November 20, but a specific Fakarava public ceremony, venue or 2026 ticketed event was not verified. Treat this as cultural context, not a confirmed booking date.
Matari’i i ni’a season ↗Currency / CFP franc
French Polynesia uses the CFP franc (XPF), often written F CFP. Ask your host which payments are accepted and carry enough cash for confirmed small purchases and transfers. Do not depend on a card terminal, ATM or banking service at PK9; there are no beach services there.
IEOM currency information ↗11 / WHAT TO WEAR
Pack for the ride, too.
A PK9 BEACH DAY
Swim.
Walk.
Stay out.
On the sand
Wear the Fakarava Watermelon bikini with a light shirt, a hat and sun protection. Bring water and insect repellent, and rinse after swimming when you return to your accommodation; there are no showers at the beach.
On the bike ride
Wear secure sandals or shoes suitable for pedaling and walking over coral fragments. Carry a practical sun layer, keep loose clothing away from the chain and leave enough water and energy for a possible headwind. Use a dry pouch for your phone and carry your host’s contact.
In town
Change into dry clothing for a guesthouse meal. A light layer helps with wind on the way home, but arrange transport rather than riding in darkness. Keep evening plans close to your accommodation if no return service has been confirmed.
12 / BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Good to know.
Which airport should I use?
Book to Fakarava Airport (FAV), usually after a separate international arrival at Tahiti’s Faa’a airport (PPT). Check the current airline itinerary and arrange the Fakarava transfer with your accommodation. PK9 is a road-and-bike outing from a northern base, not an airport shuttle stop.
Is this PK9 on Tahiti?
No. This guide is for PK9 on the lagoon side of Fakarava in the Tuamotu Islands. Its name refers to the road’s kilometre marker. Do not substitute a Tahiti beach, a generic Polynesian lagoon or a different atoll when planning the route.
Is the beach serviced or step-free?
There are no food or water vendors, chair or umbrella rentals, bathrooms or showers on site. An accessible boardwalk and assisted beach service were not verified. Ask your host about the present road entrance and ground conditions if you need mobility assistance.
How do I reach the south pass and Pink Sands?
Arrange a boat trip or southern accommodation transfer with a locally operating provider. Tetamanu and Tumakohua are far from the northern PK9 road, and pass activities depend on currents and weather. Ask what landings, meals and safety support are included.
Are Blue Lagoon and Pink Sands the same place?
No. Providers list northern Blue Lagoon and Green Lagoon outings separately from southern Pink Sands, Hirifa and Tetamanu trips. Confirm which named places your operator actually visits; similar turquoise water or pink sand does not make the locations interchangeable.
FOG & FOUNDRY / SWIM
Watermelon color. Lagoon rhythm.
A watermelon-and-wave-stripe string bikini with adjustable ties, paired with a light cycling layer and the supplies needed for an unserviced lagoon beach.
Explore the Fakarava Watermelon bikini ↗
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