Experience
the Islands of Tahiti
The Society islands
Tahiti, the Queen
The largest and most lively of The Islands of Tahiti, known simply as Tahiti, lives at the pace of culture, music and dance. Attend an enchanting Tahitian dance show called ‘ori Tahiti, or visit a contemporary art exhibition, an unusual play, a traditional or modern concert. Tahiti – and especially Papeete – provide the opportunity to discover artistic expression of all kinds.
Tahiti is also famous for its hospitality and sweet, relaxed atmosphere where everyone is welcome. The first thing visitors will notice is that the spontaneous and sincere friendliness of Tahitians is hard to match. Here, people smile all the time and often take the time to share a piece of advice, information or a story. Visitors will instantly feel comfortable living at the pace of island life.
As you travel throughout the islands, Tahiti slowly unveils its beauty. It can be explored in many different ways: black sand beaches on the East coast, white sand beaches on the West coast, diving, beginner’s and legendary surf spots, mountainous peaks within desert lush valleys or the historic site of Papeete’s colorful market and, oh, so much more.
Moorea: Nature's playground
The quiet waters of the lagoon and the annual trade winds from April to October allow for a variety of activities, from outrigger canoeing to paddle boarding, kite boarding, water skiing and even surfing around of some of the passes. One of The Islands of Tahiti, Moorea is a haven for divers who instantly fall in love with the varied coral reef eco-system and the colorful mix of marine life. While scuba diving or snorkeling, you might encounter stingrays, sharks and marine turtles in a clear lagoon sparkling with different shades of blue. On the mountain side, the sharp landscape is watched over by eight summits featuring a magnificent ancient volcanic crater which has now become a lush valley. It is the perfect area for hiking, horseback riding, quad biking or exploring on a four-wheeler.
Colorful, flowered and radiant, the island of Moorea is a pleasure for all the senses. Stroll luxuriously between gardens and white sand beaches, myriad flowers and pineapple plantations or watch fishermen on their outrigger canoe or to listen to the sound of the ‘ukulele sitting under a purau tree (Hibiscus tiliaceus). You’ll relish these magical moments and this unmatched world of enchantment.
Many artists live on the island of Moorea. Painters, carvers, jewelers and tatoo artists have settled down on this island and take their time to capture the island’s beauty and serenity and find the inspiration to create their art.
Tetiaroa: The eco-friendly island
With limited ways to get to this island, the best method is to join a weekend cruise departing from Papeete to access this fragile but preserved island, which serves as a bird sanctuary. The island is looking to be granted a special status of natural reserve in order to regulate access and promote best practices for a sustainable and responsible approach of excursions.Tetiaroa shelters one of the largest colony of birds in Tahiti. White terns, brown boobies, frigate birds, red-tailed tropic birds and the amazing great crested birds – whose colony is the only one in the Windward Islands – all coexist in Tetiaroa. Birds come to breed in this uninhabited haven and their environment has to be respected and preserved in all possible ways.
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The Brando: A New High-End Eco-Hotel
Launched in 2014 on Motu Onetahi, the Brando is setting new standards for luxury accommodations in The Islands of Tahiti. It is unique in all respects and relies entirely on renewable energy with solar panels and coconut oil. Sea water air conditioning (SWAC) is a key element by producing cold air with ocean water from 3,150 ft. deep (960 meters). Nearly invisible from the sea, the 35 villas are beautifully integrated with the magnificent landscape. A scientific research eco-station is contributing to the research, conversation and education related to Tetiaroa and its amazing biodiversity. A desalination plant will provide the resort with fresh water, while rain water is collected from the technical area buildings. The resort is confident that it will soon obtain LEED platinum certification, the highest accolade of this most respected program for assessing the environmental impact of new constructions. The other islets remain undeveloped and are serving as field for scientific observation and data collection.