In the footsteps of Kon Tiki - Tuamotus, French Polynesia

16 04.453 S 142 22.184 W

The Marquesas was all about tall, foreboding volcanic mountains with ever-present clouds hanging over the peaks and gorgeous tropical jungle vegetation in the valleys. We’ve now sailed 450 nautical miles south to the Tuamotus archipelago of French Polynesia.

It’s night and day from the Marquesas. The Tuamotus is a collection of low lying atolls with crystal clear water that shifts from vibrant marine blue in the deep to neon turquoise in the shallows. There is nothing but coral, palm trees and sand. We are anchored in the calm of the lagoon but have the sound of the ocean crashing onto the surrounding reef as a reminder of where we are. We felt far away in the Marquesas; the Tuamotus has brought it to a new level.

Turns out that our first landfall in the Tuamotus is right where Thor Heyerdahl landed Kon Tiki after his epic journey across the South Pacific in 1947. We dinghied over to the island and walked out to the breaking waves on the edge of the reef. For sure a sense of respect for Thor and his team making that journey on a raft made out of balsa wood and hemp rope without a GPS and a water maker. 

The island where the Kon Tiki crew took refuge.

Out by those breaking waves in the distance is where Kon Tiki landed in 1947.

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On our way from the Marquesas to the Tuamotus.

Our anchorage on Raroia, Tuamotus, French Polynesia.

In the middle of nowhere...

Raroia anchorage

Getting used to the sharks.

While still in the Marquesas, we stumbled upon a school festival by the locals for the locals. The tourism factor here is about zero.

Traditional tattoos, a common sight.

Another pic from the Marquesas. The wild hibiscus trees shed their blossoms every afternoon. Sometimes the ground is covered in these gorgeous flowers.