Cruises visiting Aukena, Gambier Islands (French Polynesia)

Located 5 kilometres southeast of Mangareva, Aukena is today the 4^th-largest of the Gambier Islands in French Polynesia, with a population of around thirty inhabitants. This port of call will be an opportunity for you to dive into the past, to the era when Aukena was discovered by the sailor James Wilson in 1797. There are several remnants of this missionary period, such as the watchtower serving as a landmark on the southwest of the island or the Church of St. Raphael, constructed in 1839. These buildings nestling in the forest lead to sumptuous white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Take the time to explore this island in the Gambier archipelago, and get a taste of French Polynesia’s gentle way of life.