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The island of Tahiti, towering over the ocean like a proud and royal Queen, is crowned by a circle of majestic peaks.  The mountainous interior shelters deep valleys, clear streams, and high waterfalls, all bathed in the green iridescence of Mother Nature's light. The flat coastal lands, edged with a rugged coastline, are home to fields of tropical flowers and most of the island's population.

Papeete, the invigorating capital city and gateway to French Polynesia, boasts world-class resorts, spas, fine restaurants, nightclubs, and endless shopping at the vibrant markets, pearl shops, and boutiques.

Papeete

Papeete, Tahiti’s port capital, is much more than a stepping stone to the outer islands; it is a delightful blend of island sleepiness and cosmopolitan chic.  Both early discoverers and modern tourists cherish the city for its sheltered bay. The broad avenue along the waterfront is always abuzz with activity.  Explore the hibiscus-lined streets in the early morning cool and treat yourself to a breakfast of crepes from one of the charming snack vans edging the streets.  Window shop the boutiques or sip the local Hinano beer at an outdoor café.  On Sunday mornings wind down with Papeete locals by visiting the municipal market where stalls of handicrafts tempt tourists, and daily catches of seafood sit alongside bouquets of bananas.

View a selection of Excursions in Papeete.

Bora Bora

Bora Bora is encircled by a multihued lagoon and protected by a wall of coral reef.  Crowned by lush, green, volcanic peaks, you can understand why the late James A. Michener described Bora Bora as the most beautiful island in the South Pacific. Traverse this tiny island on bicycle and chat to locals, or explore Bora Bora’s rugged interior on a guided 4WD tour.  Pack a picnic and maroon yourself on a remote motu, or make a lunch date with a black tip reef shark and watch your guide hand-feed these amazing creatures.  End the day on a cultural note by enjoying a Polynesian dance performance while sipping a Tahitian cocktail at your hotel.

View a selection of Excursions in Bora Bora.

Moorea

Moorea is a daydream realized.  Serrated peaks and tremendous gorges are hugged by shallow bays and translucent lagoons.  Pineapple plantations dot the hills and waves lap quaint villages free of hotel development.  Befriend a local guide and hike the emerald valleys, or give your camera a workout at Belvedere Lookout where you’ll be mesmerized by the blue Tahitian horizon.  Wrap yourself in a rainbow by wearing tie-dyed pareus (sarongs), a Moorean specialty, or frolic with dolphins in crystalline lagoons at Dolphin Quest.

View a selection of Excursions in Moorea.

Taha’a

As your vacation begins in Taha’a, the sweet scent of vanilla envelopes your senses and pierces your thoughts.  Nicknamed the “Vanilla Island” for its production of over 80% of Tahiti’s vanilla crop, Taha’a’s remote beauty is only enhanced by its delicate aroma.  Accessible only by boat and home to approximately 4000 people, this Tahitian island truly is a hidden haven from the stresses of daily life.  Hike one of the walking trails crisscrossing the countryside, or watch the sun set over Bora Bora from lovely Tapuamu Bay.  The string of beautiful motu in the northern reef and passable lagoon makes Taha’a a yachter’s utopia, while the newly opened Tahaa Pearl Beach Resort & Spa allows visitors to be pampered in paradise.

Ra’iatea

Legend claims that Ra’iatea and Taha’a were originally one island that was broken apart when an enraged giant eel, possessed by the spirit of a girl he had just swallowed, broke through the earth and caused the sea to overflow, separating the island.  Ra’iatea boasts the same lush landscape of its sister island and both share a protected lagoon renowned for its fabulous sailing and scuba diving.

What differentiates Ra’iatea from Taha’a is its impressive inhabitants.  Often referred to as ‘sacred Ra’iatea,’ the island is home to Marae Taputapuatea, French Polynesia’s most revered temple and the meeting place for Polynesian mariners that discovered and settled Hawaii and New Zealand.  To see Ra’iatea’s other treasure you have to hike to Mt. Temehani.  Here you will find one of the world’s rarest flowers, the tiare apetahi.  The white flower is shaped like a palm tree and opens dramatically at dawn.  For aquatic rarities, visit a black pearl farm and pick up an inky Tahitian treasure.

Huahine

Composed of two islands separated by a narrow isthmus that can be crossed by foot during low tide, Huahine is the Tahiti of yesteryear.  Unblemished by concrete clusters of hotels and nightclubs, Huahine is a place where you can unwind without the sound of traffic interrupting your afternoon snooze.  Townsfolk gossip on jetties, waiting for boats to arrive, while children splash happily in the clear waters below.  Huahine’s friendliness is legendary in Tahiti as is its archaeological sites.  Dating back to 650 AD, the unearthed artifacts and ancient meeting houses are the oldest ever found in the Society Islands.

Recently brought back into the limelight by the Survivor television series, this windswept chain of islands offers much more than an exotic backdrop for shipwreck dramas.  Skeletons of ancient temples are guarded by giant stone tikis, while dolphins guide boats into bays bordered by steep cliffs.  Overgrown volcanic craters form natural amphitheaters in the otherwise jagged landscape and this is where peaceful villages selling Marquesan handicrafts can be found.

In the Tuamotus, a sprinkling of low-lying coral atolls in the heart of the South Pacific, the highlight of the week, following church, is the arrival of a cargo ship.  The entire village flocks to watch the parade of goods from the mainland get unloaded. Children eye chocolates and candy displayed in the store on board, while local men load bags of copra, the dry residue of the lining of a coconut, into the awaiting boat to be transported to Pape’ete.  Here life is simple but sweet.  Snorkel Rangiroa’s lagoon and see fish of unimaginable colors, or visit a pearl farm and see how these beauties are coaxed to life.  Snooze the afternoon away in the shade of a coconut grove or dine on ipo (a Tuamotan dumpling) while the soft sound of a radio drifts through the Tahitian air.