Rangiroa, Tuamotu Islands, Islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia (Blue Lagoon)
It truly is a bucket list destination and has been on my list since I first entered the travel industry a decade ago. It may have taken me almost 10 years but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit the Islands of Tahiti when the invitation from 5Continents arrived into my inbox! Only 10 travel advisors from Canada were selected to participate and I could not have been more elated to have been selected!
A whirlwind 4-island exploration trip with hotel site inspections, a fully immersive cultural experience with an array of transfer and transportation options and an excursion on each island, the trip everything I could only begin to imagine and so much more!
A whirlwind 4-island exploration trip with hotel site inspections, a fully immersive cultural experience with an array of transfer and transportation options and an excursion on each island, the trip everything I could only begin to imagine and so much more!
Tahiti Fam Group with 5Continents arriving in Fa'a a International Airport, Papeete, Tahiti.
For the very first time to Tahiti, hands down the best experience to fly there is none other than Air Tahiti Nui, the national airline for the Islands of Tahiti! They fly from Seattle, and Los Angeles to Papeete, the capital of Tahiti. Now, there are certainly other airlines but none will come close to the true Tahitian experience onboard Air Tahiti Nui, where your vacation truly begins the minute you step onboard their Dreamliner aircraft. You are immediately welcomed by the all-Polynesian crew, and the bright colours of the seats brings an immediate sense of excitement and exhilaration as you feel you are truly heading to paradise!
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Only eight hours from Los Angeles, and nine hours from Seattle, you arrive in Papeete, the capital of Tahiti. Once you depart the plane and head into the airport, guests are welcomed by a group of Tahitian dancers and singers providing cultural entertainment as you arrive and wait in line to enter the country instantly experiencing the hospitality of visiting their home.
Our flight from Seattle was a day time flight so when we arrived, it was 11:00pm at night. Upon arrival at our hotel, we settled in and got ready for an early morning the next day to attend the largest trade tourism event for the Tahiti Tourism, the Tahiti Travel Exchange, a conference for North American travel advisors and local Tahitian hotel, hospitality and tour companies. The importance of tourism to the islands was a key message as highlighted by the President of the Islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia, “There is a Tahiti for everyone”. This is more than simply visiting a destination for tourism. They invite guests to feel what it is like to live how the locals live, experience all sides of the islands that are different and unique, but also all connected by mana (their life force).
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We met with so many local Tahiti suppliers, from hotels, excursion companies and transportation suppliers and everyone was absolutely lovely! The consistency in the passion and the pride they have for their islands, their history, their culture and their people is what draws you to their mana. The sense of love they have for life and its simplicity is something we can definitely use a lot more of these days!
We ended the day inspired and excited to experience the islands for the rest of our trip!
We ended the day inspired and excited to experience the islands for the rest of our trip!
Maeva = "Welcome"
Our itinerary was a jam packed one, and not one I would suggest taking lightly! We visited 4 islands, including Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Rangiroa, through a variety of transportation options, 13 hotel inspections, three excursions (Moorea excursion cancelled due to the heavy rain) all in the course of 10 days!
Here are some of the standout experiences to enjoy on a trip to Tahiti!
Here are some of the standout experiences to enjoy on a trip to Tahiti!
1. Visit the Marche de Papeete (Papeete Market).
Papeete is the capital of Tahiti and is where all international visitors arrive. It is a vibrant city, full of people and a hub of activity. Travellers start and end their vacations here, whether it be a land tour, island-hopping adventure, or through a cruise.
The Papeete Market is located in central Papeete and is full of fresh fruit, produce and fish for locals, arts, jewelry and handicrafts for souvenirs, and all kinds of apparel, including the iconic Tahitian pareo in different stores located through the two floors of the market.
Papeete is the capital of Tahiti and is where all international visitors arrive. It is a vibrant city, full of people and a hub of activity. Travellers start and end their vacations here, whether it be a land tour, island-hopping adventure, or through a cruise.
The Papeete Market is located in central Papeete and is full of fresh fruit, produce and fish for locals, arts, jewelry and handicrafts for souvenirs, and all kinds of apparel, including the iconic Tahitian pareo in different stores located through the two floors of the market.
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2. Tahiti Island Tour
Explore the diverse island landscapes with a Circle Island Tour of Tahiti, where your guide will drive you around the island, immersing you in the culture, stories and significance of notable landmarks. Doing the tour of the island gave us an intro to Tahitian hospitality, lifestyle and history while exploring the amazing and diverse landscapes of the island.
Explore the diverse island landscapes with a Circle Island Tour of Tahiti, where your guide will drive you around the island, immersing you in the culture, stories and significance of notable landmarks. Doing the tour of the island gave us an intro to Tahitian hospitality, lifestyle and history while exploring the amazing and diverse landscapes of the island.
 Marae Arahurahu - traditional Tahitian temple |  Grottos of Maraa |
Tahara'a Belvédère Viewpoint
3. Try the famed “poisson cru”, the national dish of the Islands of Tahiti!
Each place has a slightly unique version but it is essentially a Tahitian ceviche – a dish of fresh raw tuna, cut into bite-size pieces, with fresh lime juice and coconut milk, tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. It is served on its own as an appetizer in a fresh coconut shell or it can be served with rice, similar to a Hawaiian poke bowl. (I may have tried it every day during our trip.....calories don't count when you're travelling for work, right?)
Each place has a slightly unique version but it is essentially a Tahitian ceviche – a dish of fresh raw tuna, cut into bite-size pieces, with fresh lime juice and coconut milk, tossed with cucumbers, tomatoes and onions. It is served on its own as an appetizer in a fresh coconut shell or it can be served with rice, similar to a Hawaiian poke bowl. (I may have tried it every day during our trip.....calories don't count when you're travelling for work, right?)
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4. Enjoy a traditional Polynesian show.
Nothing gets you more excited than the explosion of the vibrant dancers adorned in colourful skirts, garlands and headpieces, captivating sounds of the drums, ukuleles and haunting melodies. Their movements tell you their stories of love, nature and tradition, and their feet stomp to the rhythm of the drums. It’s a true cultural experience, one that they are proud to share with you. Many hotels will have shows once or twice a week so make note of the evening shows but you will likely experience a few during your trip and they are not to be missed!
Nothing gets you more excited than the explosion of the vibrant dancers adorned in colourful skirts, garlands and headpieces, captivating sounds of the drums, ukuleles and haunting melodies. Their movements tell you their stories of love, nature and tradition, and their feet stomp to the rhythm of the drums. It’s a true cultural experience, one that they are proud to share with you. Many hotels will have shows once or twice a week so make note of the evening shows but you will likely experience a few during your trip and they are not to be missed!
Polynesian dancers at Manava Beach Suites in Moorea, Tahiti
(And sometimes, they select people from the audience to participate!)
5. Visit a pearl farm.
The Tahitian cultured pearl is one of the islands’ largest export and known for its size and beauty. There are only three places in the world that can grow cultured pearls and the French Polynesia is one of them. A South Pacific oyster can live up to 12 years meaning it can grow up to 4 pearls in its lifetime.
On our last day in Rangiroa we went to a pearl farm to see how pearls are grown and harvested. It takes a minimum of 5 years to grow a cultured pearl and we got to watch the whole pearl farming process, and the work that goes into growing them.
Just like diamonds, the quality of pearls differs and the colours, lustre and shape of the pearl can determine the grade. There is a certain percentage of imperfections permitted at each grade but the lower the percentage, the higher the grade.
You will see pearls everywhere you go in Tahiti – from the Papeete market, souvenir stores at the hotels, and boutique luxury pearl stores with a wide variety in styles, sizes and prices. After a visit to the pearl farm and learning about the process, the time and labour involved, you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the value and price of pearls but also how they differ from natural pearls as well.
The Tahitian cultured pearl is one of the islands’ largest export and known for its size and beauty. There are only three places in the world that can grow cultured pearls and the French Polynesia is one of them. A South Pacific oyster can live up to 12 years meaning it can grow up to 4 pearls in its lifetime.
On our last day in Rangiroa we went to a pearl farm to see how pearls are grown and harvested. It takes a minimum of 5 years to grow a cultured pearl and we got to watch the whole pearl farming process, and the work that goes into growing them.
Just like diamonds, the quality of pearls differs and the colours, lustre and shape of the pearl can determine the grade. There is a certain percentage of imperfections permitted at each grade but the lower the percentage, the higher the grade.
You will see pearls everywhere you go in Tahiti – from the Papeete market, souvenir stores at the hotels, and boutique luxury pearl stores with a wide variety in styles, sizes and prices. After a visit to the pearl farm and learning about the process, the time and labour involved, you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the value and price of pearls but also how they differ from natural pearls as well.
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5. Enjoy a private island motu picnic and experience all the shades of blue up close in a lagoon tour.
Lagoon tours offer amazing experiences to get into the crystal clear waters for the most breathtaking water life experiences. We swam with stingrays and sharks in Bora Bora and Rangiroa, the original Blue lagoon, home to “shark city”, where you see so many sharks swimming around aimlessly in and around you in the water.
Lagoon tours offer amazing experiences to get into the crystal clear waters for the most breathtaking water life experiences. We swam with stingrays and sharks in Bora Bora and Rangiroa, the original Blue lagoon, home to “shark city”, where you see so many sharks swimming around aimlessly in and around you in the water.
 Black tipped sharks swimming in and around you in the water. |  |
It's called "shark city for a reason! So many sharks and birds in a feeding frenzy!
All the shades of blue are visible from afar and up close, and the lagoon boat tours take you around the island and into the waters for amazing snorkelling opportunities in Mother Nature’s natural aquarium! Then enjoy a private island picnic lunch with freshly caught lagoon fish prepared right in front of you. Our guides also handmade straw hats for everyone in our group and their handiwork and craftsmanship in their art is amazingly impressive.
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In Bora Bora, we snorkelled in amazing clear turquoise waters, swam with sting rays and sharks, who were so friendly with us! We then enjoyed fresh coconut bread, and fresh fruit as we enjoyed the beautiful music sung by our guide, Ray.
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Here is a quick video summarizing our experience. And if you’re enjoying the music to this video, don’t mind the wind because it’s all Ray, providing us with the a bit of entertainment as we enjoyed fresh fruit and coconut water in a private beach and lagoon area owned by his family.
He is blessed with the most amazing “office” as he calls it. He gets to share this beautiful island with guests who come to see her beauty, and immerse themselves in the experiences. The people here are filled with so much kindness and love for life. It’s truly been a blessed experience!
He is blessed with the most amazing “office” as he calls it. He gets to share this beautiful island with guests who come to see her beauty, and immerse themselves in the experiences. The people here are filled with so much kindness and love for life. It’s truly been a blessed experience!
6. Stay in an overwater bungalow.
Tahiti is the birthplace of the overwater bungalow when it was first built on the island of Raiatea in 1967 and the experience of staying in one is available on so many different islands. So while staying in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora is the bucket list dream for most, it has become the ultimate experience in your luxury stay in paradise with the price tag to go along with it!
Tahiti is the birthplace of the overwater bungalow when it was first built on the island of Raiatea in 1967 and the experience of staying in one is available on so many different islands. So while staying in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora is the bucket list dream for most, it has become the ultimate experience in your luxury stay in paradise with the price tag to go along with it!
 View from overwater bungalow at Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts |  View from Maitai Polynesia in Bora Bora |
You can stay in different types of accommodations including a garden bungalow, beach bungalow, hotel rooms or even Tahitian guest houses for a more authentic experience. Split up your stay with a variety of accommodation types for different experiences and for something that can be suitable for your budget.
Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea, Tahiti
If you are staying on Papeete and want to stay in an overwater bungalow, the Intercontinental Tahiti is the only hotel on the island of Tahiti that has overwater bungalows.
 Intercontinental Tahiti |  Intercontinental Tahiti |
These are only a snippet of the amazing experiences to be had for an Islands of Tahiti vacation and there really is so much more to explore and experience. We had a short time on each island to provide a small teaser of what you can experience.
A vacation to the Island of Tahiti is more than a getaway—it’s an immersion into paradise, where stunning natural beauty, vibrant Polynesian culture, and unparalleled luxury come together to create memories that last a lifetime. Whether you're dreaming of lounging on pristine beaches, exploring lush rainforests, or savoring world-class cuisine, Tahiti offers something truly magical for everyone.
Ready to turn those dreams into reality? Contact a Certified Tahiti Specialist like myself today to start planning your personalized adventure to this tropical haven. It's not something I would have been able to put together well without having the first hand experience to know the complexities of travel and how to make it as memorable as possible.
A vacation to the Island of Tahiti is more than a getaway—it’s an immersion into paradise, where stunning natural beauty, vibrant Polynesian culture, and unparalleled luxury come together to create memories that last a lifetime. Whether you're dreaming of lounging on pristine beaches, exploring lush rainforests, or savoring world-class cuisine, Tahiti offers something truly magical for everyone.
Ready to turn those dreams into reality? Contact a Certified Tahiti Specialist like myself today to start planning your personalized adventure to this tropical haven. It's not something I would have been able to put together well without having the first hand experience to know the complexities of travel and how to make it as memorable as possible.
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