Rurutu: Vaitumu Village Hotel

Four days at Vaitumu Village on Rurutu, the island of whales in the Austral Islands, about 600 km from Tahiti. Humpback whales come here to nurse their calves from July to November, and you can see them from the headlands near Moerai.

Rurutu is a limestone island full of caves, such as Ana Taupe'e, the monster's mouth, and known for pandanus hats and baskets. Vaitumu Village has seven beachfront bungalows facing the sunset, a pool and a restaurant, and arranges 4x4 tours, cave walks and whale outings.