This article is reposted from a reader’s WeChat public account, Lazy 33’s Food, Drinks, and Fun. Original link.

The previous post covered document preparation for planning the trip; this one is about choosing islands. Compared with the Maldives, Tahiti is less developed, so there are fewer islands to agonize over. Based on our itinerary, spending around four or five days on each island with a young child felt like a relaxed pace while still allowing us to enjoy a lot. As mentioned in the previous post, our little one was an almost-3-year-old boy, but you can choose based on your own family’s situation.

So first, let me introduce the three islands we ultimately chose.

Bora Bora

If you’re only visiting one island, most people will choose Bora Bora. There’s no need to say much about Bora Bora’s beauty; descriptions like the “Hermès of islands” and “the most beautiful island in the world” are well deserved. What makes its geography unique is that most Bora Bora hotels are located on the Motu - a reef islet formed by broken coral and sand, surrounding an atoll - that ring the main island. From the Motu, you look out at Mount Otemanu on the main island right in front of you, with layers of blue-gradient Lagoon in between, creating the unique experience of “sitting by the sea and looking at the mountains.”

However, Bora Bora is also the second most expensive island in Tahiti. In peak season, a standard overwater bungalow at a top-tier resort can run 2000+ USD per night, and even the relatively cheaper options still cost several hundred dollars. If you stay in Bora Bora alone for a full week, it adds up quickly.

Moorea

Usually, people visiting Tahiti choose two islands - Bora Bora and Moorea. Moorea stands out for its convenient transportation - it’s only about a 25-minute ferry ride from the main island of Tahiti - wide range of activities - whether on the water, under the water, or on land, it offers the most activity choices of any island - and budget-friendliness - the best hotels on the island can cost less than relatively budget options in Bora Bora.

We think Moorea is absolutely worth visiting for first-time travelers to Tahiti. Especially if you’re traveling in July - when humpback whale have arrived in Moorea but not yet in Bora Bora - Moorea is a great place to swim with whales.

Taha'a

Besides the popular choices of Moorea and Bora Bora, I chose Taha'a from among the lesser-known islands. Taha'a is known as the vanilla island and is famous for its vanilla. Taha'a is very close to Bora Bora, and while it may not have Bora Bora’s dozen shades of blue, it has its own distinctive beauty.

In fact, Taha'a was our favorite stop on this trip, even more than Bora Bora. A big part of that was the hotel we stayed at - Le Taha'a. Le Taha'a is also not on Taha'a’s main island, but on a Motu. It wasn’t until we arrived that I truly understood why our travel agent Maeva said, "Le Tahaa is really magical! I love this place, it is really one of my favorite spots on Earth and this Relais & Chateaux hotel is just the typical Polynesian luxury you can experience within our islands." To keep this post from getting too long, I’ll go into more detail about its charm in the later hotel post.

Next, I’ll talk about a few islands I also researched. All images below are from the internet; please contact for removal if needed.

Rangiroa/Tikehau

Rangiroa was one of my top choices among the less touristy islands, and in the final stage of planning I ultimately chose Taha'a over Rangiroa. Rangiroa and Tikehau are different from the other Society Islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Taha'a). They belong to the Tuamotu Islands, a relatively flat chain of coral atolls. Rangiroa is Tahiti’s best-known destination for diving and snorkeling. Around sunset, even just walking along Tiputa Pass, you may be able to see dolphins playing in the water. Tikehau is known for its pink sand beaches.

          Image source: https://www.facebook.com/AirTahitiNuiNorthAmerica/photos/tikehau-and-rangiroa-offer-alluring-pink-sand-beaches-has-anyone-visited-either-/10157316581348566/

I ultimately did not choose Rangiroa, first because the Tuamotu Islands are not as convenient as the Society Islands, and second because the hotels on Rangiroa did not seem as comfortable, based on reviews, as the ones on the other islands we were considering. Still, if I go back to Tahiti again, Rangiroa would absolutely be on the list.

Fakarava

Another even more off-the-beaten-path island known for diving is Fakarava, which diving enthusiasts may want to consider.

                   Image source: http://www.ogsociety.org/journal/featured-articles/294-dreaming-in-fakarava.html

The Brando

The Brando is actually a hotel rather than the name of an island. The island, called Tetiaora, was purchased by Oscar-winning actor Marlon Brando Jr. After his death, his descendants operated a hotel on the island and named it The Brando. In reviews across major websites, the phrases most commonly used to describe The Brando are heaven on Earth and real paradise.

                                                                         Image source: https://thebrando.com/

As mentioned above, Bora Bora is the second most expensive island in Tahiti, and Tetiaora is the most expensive of them all. The suites at this ultra-luxury resort may be jaw-droppingly expensive, but The Brando may also be one of the most expensive “entry-level rooms” in the world - the cheapest room type starts at 3,300 euros per night, and the two-night minimum stay requirement alone is enough to scare people off. If your budget allows, or if you’re planning a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, or simply want to experience what paradise feels like, this may be the place to splurge.

Finally, for Huahine - an island I didn’t research in depth - I’ll borrow descriptions from a few local agent I contacted. I’ve included their contact information as well.

Huahine

  • Our "Garden of Eden" with dense vegetation filled with numerous flowers and fruit trees, ideal destination for more of a Polynesian experience; - Samanta Meunier <[email protected]>
  • Huahine is truly authentic Tahiti.  It is the most unspoiled of the islands we serve and will give you the best insight into the people and culture of French Polynesia. On Huahine, we work mostly with the Maitai Lapita Village – a fun spot that is a convenient base for exploring the rest of the island. - John Stanier <[email protected]>

              Image source: https://www.tahiti.com/island/huahine

In the next post, I plan to cover transportation options, including flights to and from Tahiti and inter-island transportation within Tahiti. When I was booking this trip, I found very little information online about this part, which made it quite confusing. I hope it helps others plan better. See you next time!

Tahiti Series

The original article was published in 2021, so some parts still include pandemic-related information. I hope this series gives people interested in visiting Tahiti a better understanding of what to expect.

About the Author

This article is reposted from a reader’s WeChat public account, Lazy 33’s Food, Drinks, and Fun. The account features original and well-written articles, so feel free to follow if you’re interested.