All About Tahiti / Bora Bora
Tahiti and Her Islands comprise an area officially known as French Polynesia. The Islands are scattered over four million square kilometers (one and a half million square miles) of ocean in the eastern South Pacific.
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BORA BORA
Bora Bora's main island sits like a jewel in the center of its legendary multi-colored lagoon, which is surrounded by off-shore islets inside a protective necklace of coral. Bora Bora's guided tours bring visitors closer to the people, sites and history of this world-famous island. Knowledgeable guides can tell visitors all about the island's environment and ancient culture, as well as its strategic importance during World War II.
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Few watering holes are so mythic that they merit inclusion on a list of historic sites, but Bloody Mary’s bar/restaurant is an exception. It’s a Bora Bora institution, thanks to the many international celebrities who have passed through the doors. The restaurant’s most famous patrons are listed on a prominent sign inside the bar. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The Mount Pahia, a majestic volcanic peak, is greatly admired for its imposing beauty. Depending on the weather and the time of day, visitors can see brilliant contrasts in light and color between the great peak and the ever-changing lagoon that surrounds it.
Situated on the island’s east coast, Mount Otemanu is the highest point on Bora Bora. Made of ominous black rock, this ramrod-straight peak dwarfs nearly everything on the island.
NIGHTLIFE
When night falls on Bora Bora, the city slows to a quiet crawl. But the island is so beautiful that even a mundane activity like walking takes on wondrous new resonance. Take a night stroll along one of white-sand beaches, or relax over drinks at a beachfront resort. Though the island offers relatively little in the way of wild revelry, visitors can take in a night show at any of the island’s resorts, if they make reservations, or dance at Le Recif, the island’s only disco and after-hours club.
DINING
Recently a number of quality, budget-priced eateries have broken ground on Bora Bora, making the island’s dining scene even more exciting and diverse. When it comes to dining on Bora Bora, the choices are many. Naturally, there is an abundance of Polynesian eateries on the island, which prepare tempting and exotic seafood dishes. Visitors will also find American, Chinese, French and Italian cuisine here, as well as Polynesian variations on the aforementioned themes.
SHOPPING
From small-ticket items to costly crafts and souvenirs, visitors can easily get their shopping "fix" on Bora Bora. The island boasts an assortment of boutiques, stocking such budget mementos as T-shirts and pareos, to expensive gifts like hand-crafted jewelry, carvings and woven goods. Several boutiques sell the unique Tahitian black pearl.
The boutiques in the resort hotels are well stocked with vacation needs, souvenirs and black pearls, while the smaller hotels carry such items as T-shirts, suntan lotion and film.
If shoppers happen to be on the eastern side of the island, be on the lookout for the small, outdoor vendors who set up shop around Anau Village. The wares here make for great souvenirs, such as shell leis and green (drinking) coconuts.
NATURE/SIGHTSEEING
The resort hotels in Bora Bora can arrange to take visitors and a loved one to a private motu (islet) for a secluded picnic. This is a true Tahitian experience that is not to be missed.
French Polynesia is known the world over as an aquatic Neverland, but the waters around Bora Bora are exceptional even by Tahitian standards. Bora Bora’s lagoon is home to the large manta ray, which makes this area popular among divers. Indeed, many of the island’s most popular diving sites are named after the creatures, including Manta Bay, Manta’s Reef, Manta Ray Channel and Manta Ray Pit. Mantas aren’t the only sea-life on Bora Bora. Divers can also see Moray eels, turtles, barracuda, and grey sharks.
A popular attraction with both locals and tourists, Matira Point is a pin-shaped parcel of land that is home to one of Bora Bora’s finest public beaches.
MOOREA
Often likened to James Michener's mythical island of Bali Hai, Moorea is marked by volcanic peaks reflected in the tranquil waters of its two signature bays. Take a crash course in the culture and geology of Moorea by signing up for one of the many guided tours offered on the island, which can be organized through a visitor’s hotel's activities desk. They’ll be astounded by Moorea's fertile plantations and gorgeous vistas, not to mention its friendly people.
SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST
Get ready for a quest of discovery that spotlights Polynesian culture and some of Moorea’s fabulous natural resources. Meet stingrays and exotic tropical fish. Learn dolphin training techniques and participate in the daily care of these amazing animals.
Visitors can indulge their inner explorer and take in a Moorean submarine excursion. Plunge as low as 200 feet deep and marvel at the island’s undersea flora and fauna.
Old Polynesian charm blends with quaint European style at this curious guest house. Chez Pauline is a great place to purchase souvenirs and relics, including grinding stones, prehistoric stone tikis, and wooden artifacts culled from around Moorea’s Afareaitu Village.
Perhaps Moorea’s most spectacular scenic overlook, Belvedere Point provided the setting for the film saga “Return of the Bounty,” featuring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins. As the locals will tell visitors, the Point offers an awe-inspiring panoramic view of the Opunohu Valley. From their perch on the crater’s ridge, visitors will enjoy a superlative vista of the Cook and Opunohu Bays.
The Opunohu Valley has yielded many ancient remnants over the years, most notably the stone “marae” temples and archery platforms which were used by Polynesian royalty in pre-Christian days (archery was a sacred sport in ancient Tahiti). Visitors can start their excursion by hiking through the Paopao Valley, and conclude their journey in Opunohu Bay.
Unlike many of Moorea’s historical sites, Tiki Theatre Village is actually a recreation of a pre-colonial Tahitian village. A massive tiki-like sculpture greets visitors at the entrance. The Tiki Theatre Village dance troupe performs four times weekly, and their kinetic shows must be seen to be believed.
NIGHTLIFE
Moorea eases into nighttime like a cavalier might ease into his smoking jacket. Indeed, once the sun sinks in Moorea, the atmosphere becomes laid back and relaxed. In place of celebrational frolic, Moorea nightlife centers around cultural and social activities. Visitors can take in a dance performance at the Tiki Theater Village or savor a repast at one of the island’s hotels.
DINING
Colorful food-vans are legendary around Moorea for good reason – Les Roulottes provide delectable, fast food at reasonable prices. It’s a Moorean custom for locals to mingle with visitors at the various Les Roulottes around the island. Meals range from barbecue steaks, chicken and shish-kabob to pizza cooked in a wood-burning stove or freshly cooked delicacies from the provinces of China.
If visitors are fed up with the steak-and-potatoes routine, they can break the habit at Moorea’s diverse and exciting restaurants and grocers. Continental is the keyword here, with plenty of patisseries, brasseries, and seafood eateries to serve them. They’ve never tasted French, Italian or Chinese cuisine like they serve on Moorea. The island’s chefs cook with a decidedly Polynesian passion and flair.
SHOPPING
If shoppers want to take home some fine indigenous crafts, then they should plan a visit to the boutiques, shops and art galleries of Moorea.
In keeping with the island's proud heritage, merchandise on Moorea has a decidedly Polynesian feel. Visitors can select from an array of goods, including black pearl jewelry, paintings, pottery, sculpture, wood carvings and woven artifacts. Moorea's laid-back lifestyle is chronicled in the work of many of the island's local artists.
NATURE/SIGHTSEEING
Take a guided hike through the luscious rainforest of Le Col des Trois Cocotiers (Pass of the Three Coconut Trees).
Witness the undersea wonders of Moorea with a deep-sea fishing expedition. Half- and full-day excursions are available, as well as trolling off-shore Moorea. Picnic and drinks are often included in expedition deals.
Moorea Lagoon Beach, Temae Beach & Village Faimano are three beaches that offer exquisite vistas, plenty of swaying palms, gentle surf, and prime swimming and snorkeling.
TAHITI
Often called “The Queen of the Pacific,” Tahiti is the largest of the islands. Home to mountain waterfalls, beautiful beaches and the capital city of Papeete, its effect on visitors is magical. Whether by air, land or sea, visitors can learn more about Tahiti through one of the many tours offered on the island. From breathtaking aerial tours to leisurely sightseeing explorations via boat or all-terrain vehicle, there are countless ways to savor the splendor of Tahiti. Most tours can be arranged by hotels.
NIGHTLIFE
Get lucky at one of three hotel casinos in Tahiti. The Pacifica, Prince Hinoi, and Royal Papeete hotels now offer private, 24-hour gambling casinos. Visitors can spin the roulette wheel or try their hand at blackjack or poker.
Visitors should toss off their inhibitions – and their shoes – and dance the night away at one of Tahiti’s many clubs. They provide an excellent opportunity for visitors to mingle with the locals. Some of Tahiti’s clubs boast a ballroom ambiance, while others jump to the driving rhythms of disco beat or rock and roll.
Tahiti’s local bars possess an almost mythic quality. Packed with revelers, these no-nonsense, smoke-filled nightspots present a great opportunity for visitors to mix with the locals.
DINING
Les Roulottes are colorful food-vans that provide good, fast food at reasonable prices, and every evening hundreds of Tahitians and visitors gather to eat, laugh and enjoy the end of the day. Meals range from barbecue steaks, chicken and shish-kabob to pizza cooked in a wood-burning stove or freshly cooked delicacies from the provinces of China.
The mixture of Polynesian and French cultures has resulted in a fertile culinary environment. There is a variety of splendid foods available in Tahiti ranging from traditional Tahitian fare to fine French cuisine, and tempting combinations thereof. The Tahitian diet consists mostly of fish, shellfish, breadfruit, taro, cassava, pork, yams, chicken, rice and coconut.
Visitors will also find any number of Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants of various price categories and quality. For Americans accustomed to fast-food, Papeete and some of the outer islands serve hamburgers, steaks, fries and similar staples.
SHOPPING
Tahiti’s premier marketplace, Le Marche, is a great place to pick up handicrafts and souvenirs. Shoppers will find an assortment of jewelry, hats, skirts, carvings, mats and weaving here, as well as small cafes and vendors offering tempting fruits, vegetables and fish.
Situated directly across the waterfront, the Vaima Center, a four-level, block-square shopping center, has everything from airline bureaus, banks and boutiques, to book stores, travel agencies and restaurants.
NATURE/SIGHTSEEING
Teeming with footpaths where visitors can view its acres of well-cultivated plants, the Harrison W. Smith Botanical Garden of Papeari feature bamboo, bananas, palms, hibiscus, and mapes (an indigenous chestnut tree).
Tahiti’s only real lake, Vaihiria is a vast reservoir for rain and the river water that plunges down the outer wall of the Papenoo crater. Surrounded by luxuriant, green mountains, the Vaihiria Lake area is popular for its large eels and nearby banana plantations.
The fern-covered caverns in Maraa Fern Grotto, have become a must-see destination for Tahiti visitors. The site actually features three grottos.
Where to Stay
French Polynesia offers your couples a myriad of places to stay, but be sure they are aware that quality is often reflective of cost, meaning if they choose to stay at a cheaper location, they will probably get what they pay for.
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HOTEL/RESORT
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Bora BoraNui Resort & Spa
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Sofitel Bora Bora
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Sheraton Moorea
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Moorea Pearl Resort
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Hotel Maitai Polynesia
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Hotel Tiare Tahiti
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Inter-Continental Tahiti Beachcomber Resort
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Le Meridien Tahiti
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Le Royal Tahitian Hotel
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Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa
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Sheraton Hotel Tahiti
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Sofitel Bora Bora
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SofitelMoorea
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St. Regis Bora Bora Resort & Spa
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