Despite the hardships this beautiful atoll has endured over the last 80+ years it is one of the most beautiful places to visit. We had the pleasure of visiting 8 of the 12 islands on the perimeter of the Rongerik Atoll.
This is our beautiful anchorage between Rongerik Island and Bird Island. Look at the various colors of blue!
Most of the island have this stunning pink sand on the lagoon side that has crystal clear turquoise waters lapping up their shores.
On the windward side (ocean side) you can find these pretty little pools of water with crabs, fish, and eels thriving.
A few of the islands have coral walls that put on an impressive water display when the waves crash against them.
Sand dollars covered one part of the beach on Rongerik Island. It was a treasure trove of beautiful shells. I tried so hard to walk around them so as not to ruin the beauty for others.
Loads of Bird Colonies
One island has been apply named “Bird Island.” However, most of the islands are heavily populated by a variety of birds, including boobies, frigates, terns, and oh so many more. When humans come ashore, the birds become super curious. These birds are not used to seeing two legged creatures. Many will fly right over your head or swoop down you to check you out.
We did our best to stay on the outer perimeter of the island – as close to the water’s edge as possible so as not to disturb the birds and their nests.
So Many Babies
The good news is that we came across many birds nests with 1-2 eggs in each nest. I’d say half were on the ground and half in the trees. The nests on the ground are a clear indication that there are no rates on the islands. Check out this beautiful blue egg.
We also came across over a dozen infants and teenagers. They are so cute when they are so fuzzy! Yes, I have a very good zoom on my camera. We tried to always be 10 meters from the nest and the babies.
Turtle Nests
The other beauty about rat-less islands is the survival of the turtle nests. We encountered so many nests but never saw any baby or mamma turtles.
We came across an old ship wreck. Only the bow remains.
Our blog posts run 4-6 weeks behind actual events. We were in Rongerik during the last week of December and early January 2025. Don’t miss out on our last blog post on The Haunted Past of the Northern Atolls.