Pension Rangiroa Plage

The setting is pleasant, and the ocean with sharks is very close. The accommodation itself is old and dirty, though cheap. There’s an extremely noisy suction pump and broken windows, so sleeping well is pretty much impossible. During the day, you’re better off going elsewhere to enjoy the beautiful island.

The hosts were really kind, and the water here was the best I’ve ever seen. They even picked me up from the roadside after I got hurt during the surf contest. I came for the 2018 contest, and the airport pickup was smooth. There’s a market a short walk west, and they serve nice food at lunch. The kitchen and bathroom are basic but do the job. Beds are a bit dated, but fine for the price. Just remember to buy drinking water at the local markets in time.

We had a lovely dinner sitting by the water and watching the sun go down. It felt relaxed enough that my husband still had his towel around his board shorts after swimming. The food was tasty and reasonably priced, about 1700 per meal, and came quickly, in around 15 minutes. He had Mahi Mahi with rice and vanilla sauce, which made the rice especially good, and I had Tartare Maison with a fresh salad. The waiter recommended the tartare, and it was really good. The menu and staff are French-speaking, but it’s easy to work out or use Google translate. The staff were cheerful and happy to serve us.

I contacted the host before my trip to Rangiroa and never got a reply. At the airport I met a couple who also planned to camp there; she had responded to them, but the airport shuttle didn’t work. When I arrived, there was space for just one tent, and the owner was anything but helpful. I wouldn’t recommend it.