It is a rare instance when our experiences meet our expectations. On the Islands of Tahiti, however, even the most vivid of visions cannot suffice for the beauty and romance that awaits you on its enchanted isles. Photographs of Tahiti’s clear cerulean waters, softly swaying palm fronds and clusters of overwater bungalows simply do not do justice to seeing – and experiencing – it for yourself.
There is no better time to visit the Islands of Tahiti than now, especially as the islands commemorate the 50th anniversary of the overwater bungalow, a Tahitian original, created in 1962 by three American hoteliers. Combining the design of traditional Polynesian grass huts with sturdy stilts over the water’s edge, it is the accommodation of choice for discerning travelers who seek nature with all the comforts of a luxury hotel room. The bright blues of the surrounding lagoons reflect and fill your bungalow with an aqua glow. Tropical fish swim beneath glass floor panels. Your private balcony is the ideal perch from which to look out onto the amber-colored sunsets. You can even have breakfast delivered to you via outrigger canoe. To unwind, simply draw a bath in your sunken bath tub.
On the islands of Moorea, Bora Bora and Rangiroa, all those features and more await in some of Tahiti’s most iconic and sumptuous overwater bungalows.
On Bora Bora, romance flourishes. The luxurious seclusion of your own private bungalow is just one way in which the island enchants you. Whether you explore the neon-lit turquoise lagoons by snorkel, scuba, canoe or catamaran, you’ll fall in love with the serenity of your surroundings. Private helicopter rides over the island give you an exhilarating perspective and panoramic views of this tropical Shangri-La.
The legends of Polynesia imbue Moorea with an otherworldly aura, where majestic mountain ridges, flowing waterfalls and gem-colored, fern-covered cliffs surround you. According to local lore, the panorama of volcanoes of Moorea formed the second dorsal fin of the fish that eventually became the island of Tahiti. Explore ancient archeological sites in the Punch Valley, fine-dine Polynesian style, scuba dive in the lagoon, hike the lush trail from Vaiare to Paopao or just savor the view from your overwater bungalow. The picture to the left is the inside of a bungalow at the Intercontinental Moorea. The photo on the right is dining at the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa.
The atoll of Rangiroa, a string of coral encircling a luminous turquoise and jade-green lagoon, is one of the world’s greatest dive destinations. Here, you are treated to a spectacular natural occurrence – the rush of water where the ocean and lagoon meet, and where manta rays, sea turtles and tropical fish can often been seen. When viewed from above, the 240 tiny islets, or motu, that make up the atoll resemble a delicate pearl necklace strewn out across the blue ocean for more than 110 miles.
Seeing the Islands of Tahiti from above, however, is no match to being there. In your very own private overwater bungalow, where the islands’ natural beauty is within your reach, you can fully indulge in all this exotic paradise has to offer.
