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- Main settlement on Nanumea (the village) — The real heartbeat of the atoll: daily life, canoe launching, elders mending nets, and informal stalls selling fish and coconuts. Visit for honest conversation, watching traditional crafts, and to catch a local celebration if your timing’s right.
- WWII relics and old airstrip remains — Concrete slabs, rusting hardware and scattered foundations from the Allied presence in the 1940s still dot parts of the islet. It’s a compact, tangible slice of history you can walk around and imagine — quieter and less “cleaned up” than museum displays elsewhere.
- Nanumea lagoon snorkel sites — Clear, shallow channels and coral bommies close to shore make for excellent snorkeling: colourful reef fish, giant clams, and healthy hard corals because visitor numbers are
- Main settlement on Nanumea (the village) — The real heartbeat of the atoll: daily life, canoe launching, elders mending nets, and informal stalls selling fish and coconuts. Visit for honest conversation, watching traditional crafts, and to catch a local celebration if your timing’s right.
- WWII relics and old airstrip remains — Concrete slabs, rusting hardware and scattered foundations from the Allied presence in the 1940s still dot parts of the islet. It’s a compact, tangible slice of history you can walk around and imagine — quieter and less “cleaned up” than museum displays elsewhere.
- Nanumea lagoon snorkel sites — Clear, shallow channels and coral bommies close to shore make for excellent snorkeling: colourful reef fish, giant clams, and healthy hard corals because visitor numbers are tiny. Best explored with a local who knows the safe passes.
- South-west sandbank picnic (hidden gem) — At low tide a narrow spit appears off the reef where locals go for family picnics, shell collecting and unforgettable low-tide walks. You’ll be sharing the space with sand dollars, hermit crabs and postcard-clear water — bring shade and sunscreen.
- Lakena islet day trip (secluded motu) — Hidden gem — A short boat ride away, this tiny motu offers private beaches, old coconut groves and quiet snorkeling just offshore. Locals use it for short retreats and small ceremonies; visitors who come respectfully often get a very warm welcome.
- Turtle-nesting beaches (seasonal) — Hidden gem — Parts of Nanumea’s shoreline are used by sea turtles to nest. Visit with a local guide or community group who protect the nests at night — it’s a slow, rare experience you won’t easily replicate on busier islands.
- Canoe-building yards and traditional boatmaking — Watch skilled craftspeople shape outrigger canoes, lash hulls and fit sails the old way. The techniques and wood choices here reflect northern Tuvalu traditions; seeing a canoe take shape is a cultural workshop in miniature.
- Evening maneapa gatherings and fatele — Drop in on a community maneapa (gathering space) for an evening of song, drumming and fatele — the local dance-song. It’s participatory, loud, authentic and one of the best ways to feel the island’s social rhythm rather than just observing it.
- Reef pass fishing and local fishing techniques — Join (or watch) fishers using traditional handlines, throw-nets and spearing techniques around the reef passes where fish concentrate. It’s practical, sustainable local knowledge — and often ends with a shared meal.
- Breadfruit and coconut groves behind the village — Small family plots of breadfruit, pandanus and coconut shape both the landscape and diet here. Visiting these groves (with permission) offers a close look at local food systems, simple agroforestry and the seasonal rhythms that island life still depends on.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.