La pension Tokerau Village

This last November I went back to Fakarava after an 8 year absence. I stayed at Tokerau Village, it was not the first time. have stayed at Tokerau a number of times, the first time being 2010. This visit was as wonderful as any. The bungalows are roomy and very well kept. The food (breakfast and dinner) are fabulous. Gahina is the proprietor and cook. Food, presentations and atmosphere are a wonder. She does an excellent job. Gahina is able to provide special dishes for those with specific needs such as vegans. She goes out of her way to insure a wholesome and pleasurable dinning experience.||When we first stayed at Tokerau some 15 years ago we marveled at the beautiful sunsets from our bungalow porch, beautiful clear water, and sandy beach. I am happy to report all are still there in all their glory. Snorkeling is excellent as well. Schools of fish and many lovely coral heads of varied colors abound right off the beach. ||Tokerau village is a lovely pension best described as an environment of quiet elegance with nature at your doorstep.||We yearn to return

Stayed 5 nights here end of January. |Booking process was very challenging with them requiring deposit via wire transfer only, instead of credit card. Isabelle told me they did NOT accept credit card, however, come to find out that they DO take credit card for final payment - confusing... ||Bungalow I stayed didn't have any hot water the first 2 nights. After taking cold shower I finally asked them to please check - then I got hot water!! I think they forgot to turn it on. ||TV signal was very spotty, but WiFi worked great. Ceiling fan didn't work, but there was a portable fan and enough cool breeze. Daily housekeeping except on Sunday. ||Meals were good. Isabelle was kind enough to open earlier for Breakfast for guests with early pickup. ||I wish they had a hair dryer and a mini fridge in the bungalow. Cold drinks are available for sale in the main dining area (honor system).

Thinking back to a wonderful stay at Pension Tokerau in 2017, we booked the same beach cottage again on fourth round-the world tour in 2019. Fakarava and Pension Tokerau is such a quiet and wonderful place to visit. Again we experienced the dream of a South Seas island not totally spoiled by tourism, and thus a place one would dream about in the long winter evenings in the Northern Hemisphere.||Greeted with leis at the airport, we were left alone, until the minibus was filled with what we thought were other tourists, but apparently they were connected to the pension in other ways. Anyway we got our small comfortable cottage, Hina, and were told that TV didn't work, which certainly didn't bother us, as everything else including with the ensuite bath was in order.||We had a wonderful dinner with Poisson Cru (marinated raw fish), a delightful dish, at least when prepared by Theresa, the soul of the pension while we stayed there. ||Gahina B. on the other hand who seemed to act as caretaker, was flitting to and fro, and it took some time to get her help in arranging the rental of two e-bikes from Fakarava Yacht Services. And what a service, Stephanie provided us with two new e-bikes with fully loaded batteries and we set off for the so-called PK 9 beach, which is about 15-16 kilometres from the pension. This is the perfect place to enjoy a day at the beach, a small white coral beach backed by coconut trees and wide expanses of warm transparent turquoise water slapping gently in the breeze. This is our idea of a tropical beach, not like the one seen in adverts showing perfectly manicured beaches, but a beach with a small pig running around eating from coconuts broken open, small crabs housed in shells crawling on the beach, and coconut trees of all shapes and sizes covering the ground with a confusion of coconuts and dry, rustling palm leaves. ||A short stay in the small town of Rotoava was also enjoyable, local sports games were taking place while we were there. The church is worth visiting and don't forget to see the stone reminding of the fate of people who had to be moved from their far off atoll during the French nuclear bomb tests. ||What wonderful evenings sitting at the porch in front of the cottage waiting for the sun to paint the far off horizon in fantastic colours, and then again enjoying Theresa's tasty dishes.||The only fly in the ointment being Gahina's decidedly familiar treatment of guests from somewhere else, leading to a sudden rearrangement of the tables with little regard to Theresa and everyone else. Annoying, but only a small blot on a fantastic place and an otherwise wonderful stay.

Because his place is so attractive you might wish to leave for the South Seas immediately, and also because one might wish to keep it a secret so that won't be overrun.||As part of our third round the World trip we went to French Polynesia again in October. This time we had chosen to fly to the Fakarava Atoll in the Tuamotus, partly inspired by the Robert Louis Stevenson's "In the South Seas" in which he describes a visit to Fakarava. ||Here just an excerpt: "A public garden by night, a rich and fashionable watering-place in a by-season, offer sights and vistas not dissimilar. And still, on the one side, stretched the lapping mere, and from the other the deep sea still growled in the night."||Pension Tokerau was chosen because it wasn't to far from the small settlement of Rotoava (around 5-6 kilometres). First impression were a bit mixed during the trip from the airport, a curt greeting and a lei. Not speaking French we were just left alone. ||After that it was pure bliss, a wonderful small cottage called Hina (Goddess?) with en suite facilities, all in order and kept spotlessly clean, located in a South Seas garden next to the turquoise lagoon. An earthly Eden, although with a simple internet connection for the poor souls who cannot leave the world behind.||Next surprise: the food that Isabella served was simply delicious with new variations every day. The best we have had on an atoll. ||We borrowed bikes that were perfectly in order and spend lazy days finding some of the fabulous tranquil and lonely beaches along the lagoon, resting in the shadow of coco palms. ||Fakarava and Pension Tokerau is such a quiet and wonderful place to visit. To us it represents the dream of a South Seas island not totally spoiled by tourism, and thus a place one would dream about in the long winter evenings in the Northern Hemisphere.||We wished we had booked a longer stay, but of course we had to get back to Papeete in order to be ready for the next leg of our RTW-trip.

Without doubt most favorite pension I stayed during my time in French Polynesia! You should go to this paradise!! Upon arrival I was warmly welcomed by Gahina and the staff. In the bungalow (next to the amazing ocean) was soooo beautiful and clean. The breakfast and especially the dinner were delicious! #Gahina: Many thanks for organising all my adventures. My diving trip was overwhelming! I hope one day I will be there again! Best regards Martina

We stayed here to dive the North Cut. Room was nice with a comfortable bed and fan for the evening. Food was simple but good. Not the best spot for snorkeling but ok. Excursion to the blue lagoon was nice with excellent snorkeling in two locations.

Super choice for very quiet holidays. Simply accomodation (we prefer it) close to nice lagoon, helpful staff, excellent local food. No bad points - very recommended.|Sharks are sometimes very close to beach, even in very shallow water! No danger, but amazing experience. Not only for diving (TopDive recommended), but for snorkeling in lagoon too.|Thank you !

Great place, really nice hosts, and some of the best food i was served in polynesia. The rooms where also really good. Fakarava is just a fantastic place.||||The hosts speak very good english and are very helpful with anything you want. ||||I spent 5 weeks in polynesia and this pension was def one of the best i was in.