Then, just over a million years ago, Rurutu passed over the Arago hotspot, which lifted it roughly 150 meters.

Steep sea cliffs of ancient coral lifted by the event—called makatea—now largely encircle the island.

These are riddled with caves filled with concretions—indeed, Rurutu is largely unique among islands in French Polynesia in that its historic inhabitants were cave-dwelling.

Although its tiny community still subsists primarily on fishing and basic agriculture, tourism has been a growing industry, especially since François Mitterrand's visit in 1990.

Whale watching season sees the bulk of tourists, but the largely untouched native culture, the white sand beaches, and the lush tropical flora draw small numbers of tourists year-round.