Moorea
As a Travel Professional I am invited to
various supplier and tourist board events throughout the year. This week I went to a couple, one of which was
a presentation by the Tahiti Tourist Board.
These sessions are always very informative, and you learn so much about
the destination, accommodation options, how to get there and what you can do
once there.
I think that I thought of Tahiti as just
one island, or maybe I hadn’t really given it that much thought as it seemed to
be one of those mythical destinations, bringing to mind visions of an idyllic
island paradise that only the very fortunate are lucky enough to visit, so it
was never really on my ‘bucket list’
It turns out that Tahiti is more affordable than you think and belongs to a group of islands collectively know as French Polynesia and comprises
of 118 islands in total stretching more that 2000 km, divided into 5 groups
of islands; The Society, Austral, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Gambier, located in the
Pacific ocean, south of the equator and is in the same time zone as Hawaii, about
an 8 hour flight from Los Angeles. These islands receive the same number of visitors
in a year that Hawaii receives in a week, so they remain more unspoilt, are
very safe and friendly.
The most well-known islands are Tahiti,
Moorea and Bora Bora known for their coral fringed lagoons and of course the
famous over-the-water bungalows. The islands feature mountains, waterfalls, rugged
backcountry and beautiful unspoilt beaches, both black and white.
The average temperature is 27°C (80°F), summer is from November
to April with a warmer, more humid climate and winter is from May through
October, when it’s slightly cooler and drier.
There are many ways to explore the islands
on foot, by bike, horse, 4x4’s, or fun activities to enjoy such as go ziplining or paddle
boarding. Go swimming in the pristine
waters, marvel at the under water life with amazing snorkeling and scuba opportunities or just lay back
and enjoy this beautiful paradise.
French Polynesia takes advantage of the fantastic
year-round weather to grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and
spices. Fish from the lagoon or from
the ocean, ranging from perch, mahi mahi and parrot
fish eaten raw or sometimes marinated in lime juice and coconut milk. There are even specialized tours that let you
discover the flavors of the islands on picnics organized on beaches. You can also sample the local foods in restaurants,
food trucks and bars.
The most interesting fact about this
area is that it’s not as expensive as you would imagine. 7 nights accommodation starts at CDN $2000
per person, (US$1600, €1300), plus the flight to Papeete the capital.
But still, I think this a very affordable alternative to the Caribbean especially
for special life events, birthdays, celebrations and anniversaries.
Bora Bora
