Tokelau Islands

No large hotels, stores, restaurants, no hustle and bustle of a city life, just miles of sand, turquoise water, plenty coconuts, the sun always smiling and happy, friendly people. This is what Tokelau means. This outer-island Polynesia is at its finest welcoming people seeking a relaxed, tranquil leisure by the sea.

Tokelau is a Polynesian word meaning "north wind". Its origin is connected with the fact that sailing ships could get to Tokelau only when the north wind blew, which is very rare in these latitudes.

Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and Hawaii. Tokelau comprises three atolls - Atafu, which is the largest city on the islands, Fakaofo and Nukunonu.

The atoll of Atafu consists of 42 islets. The inner lagoon of the island is rich in fish and crustaceans, which makes it an enjoyable place for diving and snorkeling. A warm welcome and friendliness of the locals, their unique music and dance rituals, customs and cuisine, language and history will be welcoming the tourists visiting this atoll.

The atoll of Fakaofo consists of different small islands, most of them covered with lush coconut palms. The shores of the islands are quite varied - in the south and west there are not too many shallow beaches of pure white coral sand, while many northern and eastern parts are covered with coral sand. The lagoon water is very pure, so right from the shore blue caves can be seen, fringed with coral array of fantastic shapes, which flit among colorful tropical fish. With its rich underwater flora and fauna it makes a wonderful place for diving.

Atoll Nukunonu also has a wonderful lagoon dotted with numerous small reefs and full of small fish. Alternatives to snorkeling or fishing here can be different trainings of climbing palm trees without the aid of technical devices - a rare skill, to be up to a height of about 15 meters trunk of the palm, which is absolutely smooth and has no branches. The rest of your time in Nukunonu you can just lie on the numerous beaches of all shapes and sizes, stretching along the perimeter of the lagoon, or take lessons of traditional canoeing. Extreme lovers will not be disappointed, as at this atoll fairly unusual methods of marine fisheries have survived: only in this region can be seen fishing of sharks "by a bag" (a bag of blood-soaked canvas is just thrown into the water, and when a predator begins its attack, they fearlessly jump into the water and wind the fish head with that bag, depriving it of the ability to move and breathe), or an octopus fishing "on a jug" (tied to a rope a ceramic vessel with a narrow neck filled with scraps of fish is lowered into the water. When the octopus creeps to eat its usual delicacy, it cannot get back any more). Many of the inhabitants of the atoll will show the ancient art of "kilikiti" (a sports game, a sort of cricket), or "games with fish", when using special techniques and devices a gaggle of reef fish gathers, demonstrating the visitors here all the same "tricks" that we used to see in the circus ring. And, of course, here you can find plenty of excellent dive sites.

The Luana Liki Hotel in Nukunonu is the only hotel and public eating center in Tokelau. Many tourists would just choose staying with some of the islanders, asking them in advance. The wonderful tropical weather gives the opportunity to visit the islands of Tokelau any time of the year and have a wonderful pastime here.