Les Sables Roses (Pink Sand Beach)
Les Sables Roses
Shallow sandbars in the southern part of the atoll, made of pink coral debris. The lagoon shifts from clear water to lake-blue, and it is a must-stop on boat tours.
Les Sables Roses lies inside the lagoon at the southern end of the atoll. The sand contains many red foraminifera and coral fragments, which look pale pink in sunlight and create a striking contrast with the shallow lake-blue lagoon. There are no facilities here. It is usually the picnic lunch stop on the one-day boat tour of the South Pass. You can wade through knee-deep water or snorkel, and watch small blacktip reef sharks swimming around your feet. It can only be reached by boat, about 2 hours from Rotoava. Wear sunscreen and take all your rubbish with you. Taking sand or coral from the protected area is prohibited.
Opening hours
Open all day (boat tour required)
Nearby sights
- Tumakohua Pass (South Pass)
- Tetamanu Village
- Hirifa Beach
- Fakarava Pearl Farm
- Rotoava Village
- PK9 Beach
- Topaka Lighthouse
- Garuae Pass (North Pass)