Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel

The chapel at Easo was built in 1898 to mark the landing of the first Catholic missionaries on Lifou, and it stands white and small on a headland above Jinek Bay, reached by a short steep path from the road. From the terrace outside the bay opens below with the reef edge visible through the water. Jinek Bay itself, at the foot of the headland, is one of the better snorkelling sites in the territory.

What you actually see

• The white chapel - the small 1898 building on the headland.
• The bay view - Jinek Bay and the reef edge from the terrace.
• The Jinek snorkelling - the reef below the headland, entered from the shore.
• The mission history - the landing the chapel was built to commemorate.

When to go

April to November is the dry cooler season. Cruise ship days fill Jinek Bay completely. Mornings are calmest for snorkelling.

Honest expectations

The path up is short but steep and uneven. Jinek Bay is overwhelmed on cruise days and access is limited then. The chapel interior is often locked.

Nearby

Jokin is north, and Wé is east across the island.