While most of the island's lagoon has a sandy bottom, head out to the fringing reefs to sites such as Anau and Tapu and you'll be rewarded with dive sites renowned for lemon shark sightings and manta ray encounters. With land elevations reaching no more than a few metres, the ethereal rings of coral that make up the Tuamotu islands surround lagoons rich with corals, fish, sharks and rays. Getting around the islands requires flying on Air Tahiti, the country's only domestic airline. While Mo’orea is only a short flight or ferry ride from Tahiti, it's home to more of the things you expect on a tropical holiday: white beaches, luxe resorts and an intensely blue lagoon. When it opens next year, it'll be the type of place I want to rent out with my family and a few friends and their kids, to snorkel in the still lagoon. There are no footprints in the finely crushed coral beach lining the lagoon, just the loopy tracks of hermit crabs. Within your chosen countries, (ours being Samoa, French Polynesia and the Cook Islands), you then have to think about island hopping again, as they are all made up of a number of islands. Island Hopping: French Polynesia. This country is the perfect island-hopping destination!I also share great tips and tell you more about the most important islands of French Polynesia! Explore the island of Moorea . All islands are serviced by these large ships which often have a few spots open for travelers at dirt cheap prices. While those intricate tattoo designs of scrolling waves and curling ferns will tell you everything there is to know about a person, the history is told in tales. Island hopping holiday in Tahiti. In the afternoons you can watch dolphins frolic in Tiputa Pass, the shores of which are an easy stroll or bike road from most hotels. Island hopping allows you to see every landscape, from geometric ridges strung with waterfalls on the high islands to flat, desert-like atolls where lagoons far outsize the landmass. It rivals Bora Bora for lush, high-peaked beauty but caters better to midrange travellers and families. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. It's a one-dimensional idea that, to paraphrase Rodgers & Hammerstein, you probably want to wash right out of your hair. Island Hopping on our French Polynesia Holiday by Guest Blogger | Roxana. It's a reverie induced by a sea that alchemizes from barely there cyan to an incandescent Uranian blue and then deep indigo; trees slung with martian green breadfruit and all-but-submerged coral atolls; and the perfume of jasmine, vanilla, and copra, cracked coconuts caramelizing in the tropical sun. He is emblematic of a new generation that is both globally aware and deeply committed to the islands' heritage, and keen to share it in deeper, more nuanced ways. When we got married, my husband and I first discovered the beauties of French Polynesia on our honeymoon trip, when we sought the privacy and unspoiled nature. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights. The plan is to open guesthouses in original Hotel Bora Bora bungalows that the couple have painstakingly moved and restored. April 14, 2020. Over the centuries these dramatic mountainous landscapes of the Marquesas have attracted and inspired the likes of Paul Gauguin, Herman Melville and Jack London. I was still impressed by the turquoise water and the overwater bungalows! It's worthwhile hanging around a day or two to explore Tahiti's many mountains and waterfall valleys such as Papenoo and Fautaua Valleys, on foot or by 4WD (try www.tahitievasion.com and www.tahiti-safari.com respectively). Less tourist infrastructure, plenty of beaches and a picture perfect waterfront village make Huahine the best island for those looking for warm Polynesian bliss without the hype. This is also true of Fiji, Tonga, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and so on. Ra'iatea is home to the country's biggest and most important marae (ancient religious site), Taputapuatea, as well as to the rare Tiare Apetahi, a white flower that only grows on the slopes of Mt Temahani. Inquire about air passes if island hopping within a single destination (for example, in Vanuatu and in French Polynesia). Everything, apparently, grows on Bora-Bora, and there are few pollutants, which means purer perfume. Samoa is the easiest (and therefore cheapest) to travel. There are shiatsu massages and facials at the spa, sportfishing for mahi-mahi and wahoo with no other boats around, surf lessons, laying down tracks in the recording studio, and hijinks on the outdoor parkour course. French Polynesia is not a single island but a collection of an archipelago comprising 100 islands. 7 Day Island Hopping | Islands of Tahiti. The cuisine of French Polynesia is a testament to its exotic luxe. Whilst here, we’ll introduce the lesser-known, adrenaline-fuelled side of French Polynesia as you spend days out on the water deep sea fishing, scuba diving and jet skiing. We are hoping to spend 3 weeks in Australia and then maybe 4 nights at Cook Islands and tahitit. The Tahitian-born architect Alain Fleurot, who is developing the motu, is there to show us around three fare (pronounced far-ray, Tahitian for “house”) that are almost finished, built out of the cleared aito—a local ironwood that can stand up to the triple threat of water, salt, and wind—and sun-bleached coral, patiently hand-puzzled together to form support columns. Written By Geoffrey Ravoire. April 2, 2019. Known as the ‘Sacred’ and ‘Vanilla’ Islands respectively, Ra'iatea and Taha'a share a common lagoon but are otherwise quite different. The wood has been left untreated so the structures continue to weather and form patinas; window frames and red cedar roofs blend into the shadows of the surrounding primary forest. In the boutique on a Tuesday morning, there's a lean, wind-whipped couple—midway through sailing their 50-foot Hinckley from New Zealand to California—browsing hats woven from faded pandanus fronds, kitten-soft suede travel totes, and sniffing potions including orange blossom-infused bath oil and grapefruit-sandalwood-vanilla and ylang ylang-coconut eau de parfums while Serge Gainsbourg growls over the speakers. Bora Bora is possibly one of the most romantic places in the world . “And it's the only place on earth I can crank my sound system as loud as I want and not piss off the neighbors.”. Small details have been scrupulously considered—the Mariage Frères tea and reef-safe bath products; the mezcal at the bar that is sold only in one little shop in Oaxaca; the fresh shots of ginger juice laced with island honey at breakfast. There's a collection of ornately carved antique hunting spears, and the insanely high observation platform, 88 steps up, which I climb to find a daybed and a 19th-century brass telescope for scanning the horizon for humpback whales. Dive into crystal clear waters in search of radiant coral and rainbow-streaked schools of fish. For now, the character of the hotel lives on in the boutique. Nearby Fakarava's lagoon is Unesco Biosphere Reserve known for its reef sharks, manta rays, tuna and barracuda. The islands' own narrative arc is continuing to evolve. Located on a coral island, the hotel is a marvel of lavish amenities including a Deep Ocean Spa, canoeing facilities and snorkeling arrangements. For more information about island-hopping in French Polynesia, contact Kleon Howe. Hike huge and sparsely populated Nuku Hiva where treeless, wind battered cliffs lead to jungles of wild mango and rivers lined with the crumbling stone platforms of long-abandoned villages. Discover sharks and manta rays, humpback whales and sea turtles. It shows the different passes, which islands are included, their costs, and allowable baggage. Answer 1 of 6: My husband and I have 21 nights in the fall of 2018 in French Polynesia available. Literature's heavy hitters—Melville, Maugham, Michener—chronicled their time on the islands, using them as languid backdrops to the plot. The accounts of French explorer de Bougainville helped shape the utopian theories of Denis Diderot; Gauguin's bright-colored, side-eyed fin de siècle paintings and more shadowy woodcuts captivated a generation of modernists. Rent some wheels to tour the island, making sure to go up through the Opunohu Valley, where many ancient Polynesian temples are hidden in Indiana Jones-worthy jungle. © 2021 Condé Nast. The shores of Nukutepipi, a small atoll in French Polynesia, Our most popular newsletter for destination inspiration, travel tips, trip itineraries, and everything else you need to be an expert traveler in this beautiful world. Australia Day: the birth of a modern nation or a symbol of invasion and survival? It's this curious isolation that drew Laliberté here in the first place. I remember Tahi telling me about Polynesia's oral history, passed down the generations, which ascribes a legend behind every mountain, river, and island. French Polynesia, a peppering of volcanic islands across two million square miles of the South Pacific Ocean, occupies a certain place in our collective imagination, and has long served as a sort of Edenic foil to our modernizing, mechanizing world. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. “We're born storytellers,” he says. All the islands are small and require no more than a day or two to see the sights but add more if you want to melt into the pace of island life. More recently, Elizabeth Gilbert, in The Signature of All Things, sends her protagonist, a young female botanist, from her life of science and structure in 19th-century Philadelphia to Tahiti in search of the spiritual, the divine, and the magical. In 2017 they opened a boutique, perfumery, and spa on the island's quiet Matira beach, miles from the cruise port of Vaitape. Island Hopping in French Polynesia Stretching across two million square miles in the South Pacific, French Polynesia's islands are endlessly appealing. If you want to see the island with a less shocking price tag the mainland hosts some small hotels and family-run pensions, including Sunset Hill Lodge (www.sunset-hill-borabora.biz). For two hours we see only coral—chunky brainlike neon purple lobes and enormous wispy fire orange fans—and so many weirdly wonderful fish, such as the yellowstripe goatfish, with its old man's face, and Roberta, a stingray that befriended TiTi decades ago and swims ahead of our boat all the way back. What turns out to be a red-tailed chick looks up and squawks but doesn't move, secure in her right to be there. These 100 islands of French Polynesia are set apart so much so that they are spread over 2000 km! The pair moved from Mexico to Bora-Bora with their three children in 2016 for the flowers. He jumps easily between chatting about traditional celestial navigation, which he studied, along with Polynesian linguistics, and where to eat in Los Angeles. There are few places on Earth as beautifully natural as the islands of French Polynesia. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter @wendyperrin, and sign up for her weekly newsletter to stay in the know. The best time to visit is the cooler dry season months of May to October, which also fall outside the cyclone season. Island Hopping Island Hopping in Tahiti. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Spend a night here, before hopping across those tempting waters to the jungled island of Moorea where you’ll spend two nights at the beachfront Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort. Private, beach-laden islets encircle Bora Bora's spectacular lagoon. French Polynesia, a true paradise on earth, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Island Hopping the Islands of Tahiti French Polynesia- Part Two- Accomodations May 27, 2020 By Linda Leave a Comment In addition to the natural beauty that is found in the Islands of Tahiti, another reason the islands are on the short list for most honeymoon clients are the iconic overwater bungalows that have captured the dreams of so many. With over 100 islands spread throughout five archipelagos, French Polynesia is as varied as it is exotic. By continuing we assume your permission to use cookies, as detailed in our privacy and cookie policy. We take the main road that hugs the island's 61-mile perimeter of rocky beaches and palm-lined inlets, ringing a rain forest bursting with candlenut and mape trees, waterfalls, and the mysterious tiare apetahi, a wild gardenia that only grows on Raiatea. On the south shore, about halfway around, we stop, get into a small fishing boat, and putter for five minutes to reach the tiny motu Nao Nao, owned by the family of a friend of Tahi's who started coming to French Polynesia in the early 2000s with his parents to surf, fish, and camp in what he says felt like Hawaii a century ago. Home to the small yet busy capital of Papeete, over half of the country's population and few resorts, most visitors quickly depart for more far flung islands. Now, where to go? I researched intensively the Air Tahiti and ferries schedules, and I have come up with an itinerary that works with the flights. Dec 31, 2019 - Stretching across two million square miles in the South Pacific, French Polynesia's islands are endlessly appealing. With this suggested Answer 1 of 2: We've been looking to book our trip to Tahiti, and I found this site very helpful. I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and surveys. A highlight is a thrilling stop at a shallow sandy area to feed and swim with reef sharks and stingrays. The path from the airstrip to the lagoon beach snakes through one of the Tuamotu Islands' primary forests. Island-Hopping in French Polynesia: What to See in Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti Can you imagine anything dreamier than island-hopping around French Polynesia? We are budget to moderate type travelers & trying to find the most economic way of accomplishing our preliminary itinerary. Romantic Getaways Romance For All In Greater Fort Lauderdale. The most luxurious are Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa and Vahine Island Private Island Resort. And is it possible to... French Polynesia. Where is French Polynesia located? I'm not too surprised to learn that Tahi is also friends with Nicolas Malleville and Francesca Bonato, the savvy couple behind cult hideaway hotel and perfume label Coqui Coqui, who helped put Tulum, and more recently Valladolid, on the new-nomad map. Into the sea with a big-wave surfer or free diver, for example, or getting inked by a tattoo artist: After all, the monochrome art form, which appeared in place of writing on the islands, still has deep social significance. Discover the embodiment of paradise during your French Polynesia vacation, visiting the islands of unforgettable Bora Bora and secluded Tikehau. Westerners are all trying to be like us, getting tattoos and surfing!” With arms inked in elaborate designs and two enormous boar's tusks hanging from a green cord around his neck, Tahi is, it appears, fully owning his culture. Try out the spectacular diving in Rangiroa . April 2, 2019. And is it possible to... French Polynesia. Here's the low down on what makes each island region special. April 14, 2020. Romantic Getaways Romance For All In Greater Fort Lauderdale. After a day or two you'll be waving to new friends on the road and blissfully unaware of what day of the week it is. Vehicles and drivers are available at hotels and pensions. Hiva Oa is where you'll find Gauguin's grave and a museum dedicated to the artist (who spent his last years here). This is where you'll find those world famous overwater bungalows where glass coffee tables let you peer into the fish-filled waters below and nightly buffet feasts are served by fiery torch light. That's not to say there aren't some theatrics. Since 2015, our field correspondent Jenny Kingsley has been sharing stories from the Arctic through her journalism project Meet the North. Island-hopping in French Polynesia is a thrill, even when it rains Jody Schmal Aug. 26, 2015 Updated: Dec. 19, 2017 1:59 p.m. Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Reddit Pinterest Whether you choose to spend your days lounging on the tranquil beaches to soak up each island’s unique views or exploring the islands’ cultural sites and rich marine life. And product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and craftspeople, creating experiences go... In Nike, listening to Bad Bunny, ” he 's telling me site May be reproduced without written. 7: Hi folks I just wondered if you are flexible with your time easiest! Pacific Ocean million dollars much so that they are spread over 2000 km,! Be there Blogger | Roxana up for her weekly newsletter to stay in the of... 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