The King of Islands: Tahiti

The King of Islands: Tahiti

Tahiti is known as the Hermes of islands, and its prices are equally Hermes-like. The luxury hotels on Bora Bora Island are the most expensive of the expensive, generally costing over $1000 per night. Actually, on Bora Bora Island, you can also choose cheaper hotels or homestays, costing about $300 per night, but the conditions are not as good as other hotels at the same price level on other islands. Tahiti is the birthplace of overwater bungalows, so with the mentality that since we’re here, we have to stay at an overwater bungalow on Bora Bora Island.

The atoll hotels on Bora Bora Island include Four Seasons, St. Regis, Terrazzo, and Conrad. Each hotel has its own characteristics: Four Seasons has the most beautiful lagoon, St. Regis offers the best snorkeling conditions, the largest overwater bungalows, Terrazzo has the best mountain view angles, and Conrad has the newest rooms, allowing you to overlook the Seven-Colored Sea from the hillside. Among these hotels, I like Terrazzo’s mountain views the most, which is also the most commonly featured angle in Tahiti’s promotional videos. Therefore, this trip mainly chose Terrazzo. The Intercontinental Moana’s Jellyfish Sea also attracted us, and there is a paid shuttle boat between the two Intercontinentals for easy round trips, so we specifically chose to stay one day at Moana. Additionally, with the mindset of saving money where possible, this trip also chose Tahiti Airport Motel and Bora Bora Royal Hotel as layovers when catching flights. Specific evaluations of the hotels will be reflected in the travel journal.

Activity Booking

Our destination this time is mainly Bora Bora, where there are many activities to experience. The hotel front desk can book activities, but according to the guides, hotel bookings are slightly more expensive. It is recommended to book activities through Viator. Previously in Melbourne, we used Viator to book a one-day trip to Penguin Island on a small train, and the activity was very good.

There are hundreds of activities available on Viator in Bora Bora. The activities that attracted us include snorkeling one-day tours, ATV island tours, water ATV, tram self-driving, underwater walking, 4WD island tours, hiking, and helicopter island tours… Unlike most resort-type islands, Bora Bora offers a truly rich variety of activities. Due to time constraints, we only booked two activities this time, but next time we definitely want to participate in more activities.

  1. Snorkeling One-Day Tour: This is truly the top activity and highly recommended. I will detail it in the travel journal later. It is important to note that once it’s peak season, you need to book this activity in advance. There are several options for snorkeling one-day tours on Viator. We initially wanted to book the one with the highest ratings, but when we checked two weeks in advance, it was already fully booked. In the end, we chose the second highest-rated option, guided by two young men, and the experience was very good.
  2. Tram Self-Driving: The biggest feature of Bora Bora is the unique combination of sea and mountain views, and the mountain scenery on the island is also rarely seen on other islands. Therefore, during this trip, we still wanted to experience touring the island. We debated for a while between tram self-driving and a 4WD one-day tour. The 4WD tour would have a guide introducing unique cultures and allow us to climb high to view the sea, while tram self-driving offered more flexible timing. In the end, considering our schedule, we chose to book the self-driving tour. Although this activity had more negative reviews on Viator, after experiencing it, we found it very good.

Other Equipment Preparations

For this trip, we brought the following equipment:

  1. More than 2 sets of swimsuits, as we plan to go into the water almost every day. To ensure there is always a dry swimsuit, we need to bring multiple sets;
  2. Coral-friendly sunscreen and sunblock mud. Actually, the ultraviolet rays in Tahiti are manageable, and sometimes you can skip applying sunscreen;
  3. Suitable snorkeling gear. If your ears tend to get water in, remember to bring earplugs. We bought them with the help of the local hotel;
  4. Itch relief sticks and mosquito repellent;
  5. Band-aids, iodine water, common cold medicine, and other common medications;
  6. Camera, tripod, and DJI Action 4 waterproof version;
  7. A sufficient number of dresses and makeup products. I thought of bringing many clothes before coming, but in reality, the activities are so abundant that there is no time for makeup and photography;
  8. US dollars or euros. In Tahiti, you can mostly use credit cards, but taxis must be paid in cash. You can use US dollars or euros, but it is recommended to exchange for Pacific Francs locally. Drivers may not give change if you pay with US dollars or euros.

The beauty of Tahiti cannot be fully captured in photos. Since my own photo-taking and editing skills are limited, I did not add any filters or adjust parameters to the photos. You can distinguish between camera and phone photos by their proportions. In terms of color, the camera photos more accurately reflect what the eyes see.

Bora Bora can be said to be a perfect combination of mountains and sea. Millions of years ago, a small island emerged in the vast Pacific Ocean, and this island is surrounded by a ring of atolls. Between them is a large expanse of layered blue, ranging from light blue to deep blue, almost encompassing all the colors of the sea. Words really fail to describe its beauty, and it further inspires admiration for the wonders of the Creator.

Due to the airplane window, the colors in the photos are overlaid with a light gray, but it really does not affect its beauty at all!

Speedboat Island Tour

All major hotels on the island have corresponding airport pickup counters at Bora Bora Airport. After getting off the plane, you just need to state your name. The Intercontinental has two hotels on Bora Bora Island, both sharing a pickup speedboat. The speedboat will first take guests to the closer Terrazzo, then to Moana. Upon our arrival, the pickup staff presented us with a garland made of gardenias and two bottles of ice-cold Evian mineral water. We handed over all our luggage to the staff, and then were taken directly to our room for the night.

Because there weren’t many people on this flight and only we stayed at the Intercontinental, the speedboat that was supposed to be shared with other guests became our private speedboat, which was quite fortunate.

As soon as we left the airport, we could see Bora Bora’s most distinctive welcome island, which is the most unique airport we have visited so far. Additionally, what amazed us the most was that even just at the airport, the seawater outside was already the most beautiful seawater we have seen, making it hard to imagine the surprises that lie ahead.

After a 40-minute ride, we arrived at the Moana Hotel. The seawater at Moana Hotel had become a super clear glass-like sea. Although the ride was not short, we were quite eager to take it again and see Bora Bora’s colorful sea.

Moana Resort

After getting off the speedboat, staff members were waiting for us at the dock. They introduced us to the basic information about the resort and then brought us two iced drinks. We only needed to show our passports and sit in the lobby while the staff handled the check-in process. Actually, the official check-in time at the hotel is supposed to be 3 PM, but we arrived around 12 PM. Fortunately, the staff checked us in immediately without having to wait until 3 PM.

Moana is relatively small overall, so you can walk around easily. After completing the check-in, the staff led us to our rooms. We were really looking forward to staying in an overwater bungalow for the first time! Our bungalow was room number 39, located in the center of the resort, and it looked quite cute from the outside. From the window of the room, we could see the super beautiful glass-like sea, it was really, really, really gorgeous!

The beach at Moana Hotel is probably the best beach in Bora Bora, with fine, soft white sand. In contrast, the beaches at atoll hotels, such as Terrazzo, are covered with gravel. Walking on the snow-white sand with crystal-clear seawater washing over like jelly creates a very pleasant feeling. The hotel also offers many water activities, such as parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, etc. Non-motorized equipment does not require additional fees; you just need to report your room number to the staff.

Under each overwater bungalow at the hotel, corals are planted. As the saying goes, “when the water is too clear, there are no fish,” but unexpectedly, in such clear seawater, you can see many small fish. The most distinctive are the blue small long fish. The picture below is not very clear, but in reality, they are really beautiful to the naked eye, often swimming in groups. In the rooms at Terrazzo, it’s less common to see fish swimming by. You can go directly into the water from the overwater bungalow platform. At Moana, the overall water depth is only 1.5 meters, and the bottom is covered with fine soft sand, which is very suitable for snorkeling and beginner swimmers. However, it is recommended to wear beach shoes and snorkeling gear to prevent scratches.

The pick-up point is very close to Moana, just a three-minute walk away. After the staff verified our information, we smoothly picked up the small car. Previously, the pictures on Viator showed cars with front and back seats for two people, but unexpectedly, this time they had updated to cars with two seats side by side.

Driving was very simple, almost like driving a ride-through car at an amusement park. The speed was quite slow, up to 50 km/h, but usually around 30-40 km/h unless you kept pressing the accelerator, which is basically the speed of an electric vehicle. Because the speed is very slow, if you see a car following behind, remember to pull to the right to let the car pass first. Overtaking is rare here, and most cars quietly follow behind. This time, we chose to drive around the island counterclockwise.

After lunch, we continued our island tour. Next, we arrived at Vaitape, the central area of the main island, where there are many shops. Because lunch took a bit longer, we simply wandered around Chin Lee Supermarket, which, judging by the name, should be a Chinese supermarket. Upon entering the supermarket, it felt more modern than we had imagined, and it was quite well-stocked.

We passed by Matira Beach on the main island of Bora Bora, which is a free public beach. The color of the sea here is truly beautiful, and it also has the largest lagoon area on the main island of Bora Bora.

Finally, we smoothly returned to the car rental point and successfully circumnavigated the main island of Bora Bora! Returning the car was also very smooth, and we saw that the battery still had about 50% left. In summary, we were very satisfied with this activity. Within the four hours, it took about one and a half to two hours to circle the island, leaving the remaining two hours for free activities. If you have a whole day on the main island, it is recommended to choose the eight-hour option directly, as it is not much more expensive than the four-hour one and allows you to stay longer at scenic spots.

    After returning the car, we hurried to Moana Marina to prepare for our departure to Terrazzo. Although it was our second time passing by this sea, we still stopped again to take a photo, and it never got tiring no matter how many times you look at it.

    Checking into Terrazzo

    After returning to Moana, the hotel staff helped us carry our luggage to the dock, so we didn’t have to drag our bags for that part of the journey. Before arriving at Terrazzo, we first saw the large suite at the front end, which is the most expensive room type in the resort. Naturally, it offers the best view with unobstructed mountain scenery. About 15 minutes later, we arrived at the Terrazzo dock, where a day tour boat was also docked. The patterns on the boat were very characteristic of Tahiti and quite beautiful. As soon as we boarded, a staff member drove a golf cart to wait for us. Like Moana, after handling our luggage, we were taken directly to our room. The staff member was a French girl who had come from Paris to Tahiti and likely settled here. After completing the check-in, she continued to drive us to our room. Along the way, she introduced us to various areas of the hotel and mentioned that if we needed a car, we could call the front desk, as the golf cart transfers are free of charge.

    Terrazzo Hotel is not very large overall, and we reached our room shortly after arriving. Our room was a lagoon view type, located closer to the mountains within the entire resort. From the balcony outside the room, we could see Mount Otemanu, although it was somewhat obstructed. Additionally, the water depth here is 2.5 meters, which is much deeper than Moana’s overwater bungalows. Looking underwater, the number of fish is noticeably fewer than in Moana. The hotel has a dedicated snorkeling lagoon, so we did not snorkel from the overwater bungalow.

    We arrived at the restaurant around 7 p.m., just in time for Polynesian Night at the Reef Restaurant, which offered a buffet dinner. At 8 p.m., the Polynesian show was scheduled to begin. The restaurant had an outdoor platform dedicated to the evening’s performance. Since we made our reservation relatively late, all the seats in the first row closest to the platform had already been booked, so we found a random spot to sit down.

    Although we are seafood lovers, we felt that the meal was missing something without any hot dishes. However, the desserts and cakes were quite good. At 8 p.m. sharp, the Polynesian show began. The performers on stage were very enthusiastic, and both the instruments and costumes showcased the distinct charm of Tahiti. The show lasted for over half an hour, and the performers gave it their all. After the performance, the dancers invited audience members to come up on stage and learn the dance moves. The men and women had different movements to learn, and while some participants took it quite seriously, their moves ended up being quite funny, making the whole experience very entertaining.

    Main Island Restaurant

    We weren’t too accustomed to the food at Terrazzo’s restaurant, so for dinner, we chose Lucky House on the main island, located very close to Moana. We arrived at the restaurant around 6:30 p.m., and it was already packed with people. To be honest, the crowd was justified—Lucky House’s food was amazing! The chicken burger was incredible, with the bun toasted to crispy perfection and the chicken juicy and flavorful. The freshly baked pizza smelled amazing and tasted just as good as anywhere else, highly recommended! We unanimously agreed that Lucky House was the best restaurant we had tried during our stay—definitely worth a visit!

    Snorkeling Day Tour

    Our guide arrived punctually at the hotel a little after 8 a.m. The group consisted of about 12 people, with stops at several hotels to pick everyone up. Today’s guides were two Polynesian cousins, Manu and Tini. They were extremely friendly, engaging with us throughout the day. There were also several French guests, and Manu impressively alternated between English and French explanations.

    Before departing, Manu asked how many times we had been to Bora Bora. Some had visited twice or three times, but we were among the few first-timers. It made us eagerly hope for our second Bora Bora trip to come soon.

    The snorkeling tour included three dive spots, with the first located in the open sea, crossing the boundary between the Pacific Ocean and the lagoon’s waters. Each spot allows only a limited number of boats, usually just two or three, ensuring a great experience to enjoy the snorkeling.

    Shortly after we arrived at the first spot, we saw a school of sharks! It was thrilling to encounter them so closely—though, of course, touching the sharks was not allowed, and safety precautions were emphasized. This snorkeling spot was absolutely amazing and highly recommended!

    After finishing at the first spot, we headed to the second. As we cruised back into the lagoon, we were lucky enough to spot dolphins! Our boat immediately turned toward them, and these playful creatures swam alongside us, both at the bow and along the sides. It was magical, and the guide mentioned how rare it is to encounter them. Each time we passed other boats, Tini would exchange hand signals with their captains to share the news of the dolphin sighting.

    The final snorkeling stop was at the Coral Garden, where the seabed features shells arranged to spell out “I LOVE BORA BORA.” This spot had the most fish, although they were smaller and less vibrantly colored compared to those at the second spot, making the photos slightly less striking. Nonetheless, the variety and beauty of the marine life were captivating.

    The Final Sunset and Dinner

    After taking a shower back at the hotel, we headed to Lucky House for dinner. On the way, we passed TIARE MARKET on the main island, which we highly recommend! It offers a wide variety of products, including an impressive selection of instant noodles, so if you’re worried about food options, there’s no need to pack too many—just buy them here.

    Before dinner, we revisited the public beach where we watched the sunset on our first day to enjoy our last evening in Bora Bora. Although it was a cloudy day, the clouds made the colors of the sunset even more stunning, resembling a beautiful painting. We were also lucky to witness a breathtaking display of fiery clouds. Bora Bora truly surprised us again and again!