Mataiva Information

Mataiva Information

Located at the extreme northwest end of the Tuamotu, Mataiva is a small reticulated atoll covered with coconut trees and surrounded by islets such as Motu Teaku, better known as the “bird motu”, which shelters many different sea bird species. A natural tropical aquarium, Mataiva’s round shaped lagoon is made up of 70 basins about 25 feet deep and nine channels that gave her, her original name: “nine-eyes island”.

The main village of Pahua is connected by a bridge over a shallow pass bordered by a few houses. The people, who live off of fishing and copra production, often take travellers to the center of the island (Mataiva Papa), a rocky islet in the middle of the lagoon. Its legend is similar to the one of Papiro Marae where an enormous coral throne is said to embody King Tu’s, a giant who watched over his pass and could cross the island in three steps to kill his enemies. The “Turtle Rock”, an old coral reef emerging from the lagoon, is a must for visitors willing to learn the secrets of ancient meteorology when passing clouds would announce the coming of turtles and therefore the beginning of the hunting season.