The Pearl Farm
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Port
Avatoru, Rangiroa, French Polynesia
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$29
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 1½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Transfer by bus along the main road of Rangiroa, passing the airport just before turning into the Black Pearl Farm. Most pearl farms are small in size, and the number of staff here is quite typical of the farms in this region.
Upon your arrival at the farm, the staff will provide a 20-minute introduction to pearl farming and explain how black pearls are produced. Learn about the chronology and evolution of the industry, how oysters are selected, grown and then grafted for production. Grafting is the key element, as this requires a skilled craftsman to perform precise surgery on each oyster.
The real highlight of the excursion is the opportunity to view a selection of unset black pearls that are also available for purchase. Here, your guide will show you the criteria by which the pearls are graded for quality. You will see the round, baroque and semi-baroque pearls that range in grade from C to A+. This tour is ideal for those who have an interest in pearl cultivation or shopping for black pearls.
Notes:
The prices of pearls are fixed. Cash, Visa or MasterCard are accepted. The Tuamotus are very remote islands. Limited tourism infrastructure is part of the charm here; you are trading breadth of guide experience for authentic interaction. Please bring your spirit of adventure and bear with any language difficulties or operational surprises that may crop up. Mobility devices (wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, etc) cannot be accommodated on the transportation; these must remain on the pier at ship's security.