The Gambier, located at 1650 km South-East of Tahiti, consist of 4 islands: Mangareva (the largest and the most populated), Taravai, Akamaru and Aukena (all three basically uninhabited), and a few atolls, for a total superficy of about 30 km2!
Colonized around the 13th century by the Marquesans navigators en route to Easter Island, all 4 islands seem to have been populated until around the 19th century.
The catholic influence, in the Gambier, of the Fathers of the Sacré-Coeur, arrived in 1834 to block the influence of the Protestant Missionaries, led to the destruction of many marae including the huge marae of Mangareva as described by Moerenhout when he visited the archipelago.
Only a few tourists visit the Gambier because of the distance (from Tahiti, about 5 hours flight, a few times a month).
A truly unique and exceptional destination!
To visit in Mangareva: the St-Michel cathedral , built on the previous site of the marae of Rikitea, and the pearl farms.