Nanumea Atoll

Nanumea is the northernmost of the Tuvalu islands, a long thin atoll with a lagoon that has no deep pass, so ships stand off and boats work through the reef. American forces built an airstrip across the main islet in the 1940s and the cut and the coral surface are still visible. A ship lies wrecked in the channel. Around six hundred people live on the atoll, 610 at the 2022 census. The atoll lies closer to Kiribati than to the southern islands of its own country.

What you'll find

• The old airstrip - the cut and coral surface still crossing the islet.
• The wreck - the vessel lying in the channel through the reef.
• The lagoon - enclosed water with no deep pass for shipping.
• The village - the settlement of around six hundred people.

When to go

May to October is drier and calmer. Ships run every few weeks at best. November to April is the cyclone season.

What to expect

The ship from Funafuti takes around two days and sailings are infrequent. There is no accommodation beyond community arrangements. Landing through the reef depends on conditions.

Nearby

Nanumaga is south, and Niutao is southeast.

Key facts