As the sun rose on another day in paradise, National Geographic Orion made its way between Futuna and Alofi, the destination for the day’s activities. The morning’s itinerary took guests on a tour of the beautiful island of Futuna, visiting a cannibal oven and the Cathedral of Poi whilst accompanied by friendly islanders. After a morning basking in the sun, most guests were itching to get in the water and the island of Alofi gave them the perfect opportunity.
After hearing about the history of the island and the arrival of Christianity with Saint Pierre Chanel, guests were treated to a warrior dance whilst they enjoyed refreshing coconut drinks. The town of Poi is home to a beautiful cathedral which we were able to explore. Many opted to climb to the upper levels in order to enjoy panoramic views of the stunning coastline.
After a hot morning, most were eager to cool down and enjoy the selection of water sports on offer, which included snorkeling, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking. The corals and marine life were easily accessible from the snorkel platform. Conditions were perfect with no current and great visibility allowing everyone to enjoy. And our masterful undersea specialist dove her way down to investigate the deeper reefs for our later enjoyment.
Those that preferred land and the shade hiked along the island of Alofi where they were treated to rich densities of birds amongst striking forests. The trees were alive with eastern-wattled honeyeaters, Pacific kingfishers, Fiji shrikebills and swiftlets, as well as the occasional nesting red-footed booby.
