Day 1 (Arrive + settle in Rautini)

Morning / Midday

• Fly to Arutua on Air Tahiti; the airport code is AXR and the flight time is about 1h10 from Tahiti, per Air Tahiti’s destination page.​

• Air Tahiti states Arutua airport is on a motu and there is no shuttle, so you must take a boat to reach the main village of Rautini (about 20 minutes).​

Afternoon

• Check in, then do a gentle village/lagoon walk and confirm your boat excursion schedule for the next day.​

Evening

• Early dinner and sleep; atolls feel best when you align with daylight and lagoon timing.​

Day 2 (Full lagoon day: motu picnic + snorkeling)

Morning

• Book a guided lagoon outing focused on Arutua’s strengths: fish park visit, pearl farm stop, and picnic on a motu (this exact mix is described in an official Tahiti Tourisme PF listing for a local pension).​

Midday

• Motu picnic + snorkeling (bring reef shoes, sun protection, and a dry bag for phone/ID).​

Afternoon

• Add light fishing time if offered (again, commonly bundled in Arutua lagoon days per the same official listing).​

Evening

• Rinse gear, hydrate, and keep plans simple—tomorrow is your “pearl + free time” day.​

Day 3 (Pearls + slow exploration + depart)

Morning

• Do your second lagoon block: a dedicated pearl farm visit (buying is optional, but it’s one of Arutua’s signature industries per Air Tahiti’s destination page).​

Midday

• Free time: swim in a safe, calm lagoon area near your pension and enjoy the “out of time” pace Air Tahiti describes for Arutua.​

Afternoon

• Plan your boat transfer back to the airport motu with extra buffer time (small boats + weather can affect timing).​

Split-stay strategy

Arutua is small, so “split stay” is less about neighborhoods and more about balancing boat logistics and your return flight.​

• Night 1: stay with an operator that can coordinate airport boat transfers smoothly.​

• Nights 2–3: optionally switch to a second pension if you want a different lagoon frontage or excursion style (confirm transfers in advance).​

Top 10 activities (Arutua)

• Boat transfer + orientation day in Rautini (make it easy).​

• Guided motu picnic day.​

• Snorkeling in lagoon “aquarium” areas during the excursion.​

• Visit a fish park (often included in excursions).​

• Pearl farm visit (learn + browse).

• Lagoon fishing add-on (if offered).​

• Sunset lagoon swim (simple but iconic Tuamotu experience).​

• Stargazing (minimal light pollution is typical on small atolls).​

• Photo walk through village life (respect privacy; ask before photographing people).​

• Trip planning with official Tuamotu region resources.​

Top 10 attractions

Arutua is not an “attractions” island in the museum/theme-park sense; its “attractions” are natural and activity-based.​
Practical, visitor-friendly attractions to list:

• Arutua lagoon (core natural feature).​

• Motu islets used for picnics and snorkeling.​

• Fish parks (lagoon aquaculture areas).​

• Pearl farms (industry + visits).​

• Rautini village (main settlement).​

If you want a strict “top 10 attractions,” confirm whether it can include named businesses/points (pensions, pearl farms, guides).​

Top 10 restaurants (official-links-only constraint)

Arutua is very small, and dining is often provided by pensions rather than standalone restaurants with websites.​

Top 10 shopping (what shopping means on Arutua)

Shopping on Arutua is typically limited to pearls, small crafts, and essentials, so plan “serious shopping” in Tahiti before flying out.​
Use Arutua shopping time mainly for pearl-farm purchases and small gifts that travel well.

Travel tips (Arutua-specific)

• Airport logistics matter: Air Tahiti explicitly states there’s no shuttle and you must take a boat about 20 minutes between the airport motu and Rautini, so coordinate transfers carefully.​

• Pack smart: bring reef-safe sun protection, a dry bag, and reef shoes for motu/snorkel days.​

• Connectivity and supplies: assume limited services; confirm what your accommodation provides and carry any needed meds/snacks.​

Official links 

Tahiti Tourisme (official destination): 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com

Tuamotu Islands (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/tuamotu-islands/

Air Tahiti (official): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/

Air Tahiti – Flights to Arutua (official destination page): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/arutua

Air Tahiti – Booking in agency (shows Arutua agency hours): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/booking-in-agency

Tahiti Tourisme PF directory (find tourism pros/POIs): 

• https://tahititourisme.org/en-org/trade/build-a-vacation/find-a-tourism-professional-or-a-polynesian-point-of-interest/

Pension Vainui (Arutua) official listing page: 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/activities/so-much-to-do/pension-vainui-arutua-en-en-pf-3438381/

Tahiti Tourisme PF contact: 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/contact/