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A Guide To Exploring Tahiti And Her Islands

Oscar Waterworth May 13, 2015

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Are you looking for a perfect destination for the vacation from your dreams? Look no further. You’ll get an opportunity to visit Tahiti probably once in a lifetime. Surprise your family or your partner with an exotic adventure which will be retold and remembered for a long, long time.

  •  Where is Tahiti?

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Tahiti is actually the largest island in the group of islands also known as French Polynesia, located in the South Pacific. This archipelago is known by the name Society Islands, and divided into two groups: Leeward islands and Windward islands, Tahiti being a part of the latter group. French Polynesia is called that way, because they used to be a French colony so they use French as one of their official languages, along with Polynesian. These beautiful mountainous islands have risen above the ocean level because of the volcanic activities in the past, and they are surrounded by coral reefs all along the coast.

  • How to get there and where to stay?

The fastest and the most practical way to get to Tahiti is by airplane. The only public airport on Tahiti is located near the Pape’ete, the capital of French Polynesia. Once you land here, you can explore the urban part of the islands, and to be honest, probably the cheapest one. You can stay here for a few days, check out different clubs and restaurants before you proceed to your hotel or wherever you have decided to stay. And, the choice of different accommodation is remarkable – from the most elite hotels with private spas and beaches, to private family resorts with romantic overwater bungalows.

  • What can I do there?

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If you have assumed that Tahiti is just another island where you can only sunbathe, drink Mai Tai cocktails and swim the entire day, you were wrong. Adventurers can try diving – transparent waters of Tahitian coral reefs are hiding the greatest diversity of underwater species on the world. You can listen to dolphins singing because here is their natural habitat. If you are brave enough, you can even swim with sharks in Bora Bora Island on the northwest.

  • What can I expect from the natives?

First of all, it would be nice if you could speak a little French, otherwise you can find yourself in trouble. Only a few natives understand and speak English, and you probably don’t understand Polynesian. However, don’t underestimate their knowledge and wisdom. In Polynesian Culture Centre you will find people who speak English as their forth or even fifth language. At the same time they are very proud on their ancient Polynesian heritage. If you are interested in their culture and history, perhaps you could visit the National Museum of Tahiti. On the entrance you will be able to see the lost anchor of Captain Cook, found and restored in 1978. In the evening, nightclubs are crowded with people, both locals and tourist. If you want to learn a few new moves, you can either watch traditional Tahiti dancing shows and you can try to follow what locals do. After a few Ginger Margaritas you will be more than ready to participate.

  • So, what about nightlife?

Even though your holidays in Tahiti can be a good time to rest and relax, if you can’t imagine summer holidays without summer parties, do not despair – Tahiti has a lot to offer in that regard as well. The most popular night club is by far the Paradise Night. Some other clubs that come to mind to all those who visited Tahiti are Ute Ute and Sugar, two clubs placed next to each other, so you don’t even need to walk a long way if you decide to mingle and see what else is there. As for the types of bars, one can find karaoke bars, clubs with DJs, or traditional Tahitian music – literally everything from the music that is popular worldwide to the one you can hardly hear when you’re not in Tahiti. Last but not least, we should not fail to mention the famous Tahitian food trucks, which are closely linked to nights out, because, you guessed it, that’s where you’ll go to grab a bite after a night of dancing and/or singing.

  • What is the most delicious food I can eat there?

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Tahiti is famous for its cuisine. It is easy to spot the influence of the world’s best cuisines, from European (French, Italian) to Chinese, Vietnamese, and domestic Polynesian. Traditional dishes are based on fish and other fresh seafood. Our recommendation for the perfect meal by the ocean is traditional dish of Tahiti – Poisson Cru (raw tuna fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk).

  • Where can I buy the best souvenirs?

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Probably the best souvenirs you can bring back from your vacation or your honeymoon are the famous Tahitian black pearls. They appear to be magical, since you can never have enough of them. They come in various shapes and shades, from dusky purple and gray-blue to peacock green. These little pieces of art are grown on the pearl farms in the lagoons of Huahine, Taha’a and the Tuamotu Atolls. You can buy them in the local markets too, and the best market to visit is “Le Marché”, market in Pape’ete. There you can shop along the waterfront for all kinds of Tahiti collectibles: native wood carvings, pareu, oil artwork, etc.

  • What other islands are there?

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If you are feeling adventurous and would like to explore the beauties of French Polynesia, we suggest you visit some of the nearby islands and see for yourself what they have to offer. You can go on one of the Tahiti cruises and sail around the islands.  Moorea, Tahaa – the Vanilla Island, Bora Bora, one of the most romantic places in the world, Huahine and Rangiora with their black pearl farms, or even Raiatea, the most sacred island in the South Pacific, all of these will blow you away.

If we had to use one word to describe Tahiti, it would be – paradise. Beautiful scenery, great climate, interesting and fun things to do, are the reasons so many people choose Tahiti as their holiday destination. This is the perfect place for newlyweds on their honeymoon, couples who want to fall in love again, groups of friends and families with children alike.

 


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