Island of Tahiti

The island of Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia, located in the South Islands archipelago, in the South Pacific Ocean. The landscape of the island is very diverse, so traveling around the island will give vacationers an unforgettable experience. The island of Tahiti is beautiful landscapes, impressive waterfalls, not to mention unique museums, which can not be found anywhere else in the world. Sometimes this island is called the “Queen of the Pacific.”

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Video: Tahiti

Contents

General Information

Tahiti is of volcanic origin and is divided into two parts connected by the narrow Isthmus of Tarawai. The northern part is the densely populated Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) and the southern part is the almost deserted southern Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti). Around the island stretch interrupted in some places coral reefs, limiting the lagoon from the open sea. Both parts of Tahiti are characterized by a mountainous landscape formed over the centuries from the original volcano. Reaching 2,241 meters, the mountains are covered with dense jungle. The total area of the island is 1,042 km².

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Tahiti is not only the largest island, but also the political and economic center of French Polynesia. The city of Papeete is the capital and seaport where cruise ships call. The colonial-style presidential palace is the biggest attraction and symbol of the French presence in the region. Although the locals of Tahiti consider themselves French and live wealthier than their neighbors, they are in awe of Polynesian culture.

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Tahiti has a population of approximately 170,000, which includes Europeans, Asians, and mixed. The first Europeans to enter the island were the Spanish, but in the 17th century they left the island as there was no gold on the island. In the 19th century, Tahiti was turned into a French colony. Each island in the territory has its own and unique sense of tradition and culture.

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Vacationing in Tahiti – has become a symbol of enjoyment, prosperity and chosenness.

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Climate

The climate in Tahiti is tropical. November through April is the rainy season, with the wettest month being January with 340 mm of rainfall in Papeete. August is the driest month with 48 mm of rainfall. Average temperatures range from +21°C and +31°C with slight seasonal variations. The lowest and highest recorded temperatures are +16°C and +34°C. From November to April the climate is warmer and wetter, from May to October the climate is slightly cooler and drier.

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History

To this day, the exact date of settlement of Tahiti has not been ascertained with certainty. What is known is that the Tahitian population is descended from settlers from other Polynesian islands such as Tonga and Samoa. The date of settlement is thought to be from 300 B.C. to 300 A.D. There is a long list of Tahitian rulers starting around 1100. But in the eighteenth century there were actually six separate dominions on the island, each with its own rulers. In the mid-eighteenth century, the region of Pare was ruled by the warlike chief Hapai. He died in 1767. His son Pomare, as a result of a long war, managed to subdue all the other dominions and establish his authority over the entire island. By the mid-19th century, the Pomare dynasty’s holdings also extended to the island of Moorea, the Leeward Islands in the Society Archipelago, and the Tuamotu Islands.

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The first European visitors to Tahiti were the Spanish, who arrived there in 1606 under the leadership of the Portuguese Pedro Fernández de Quiros. However, due to the island’s lack of gold and other precious minerals, it did not attract the interest of the aliens.

Nevertheless, over time, the island became known as a “free love” paradise. The crews of ships docking here were usually met by naked Tahitian women who considered the guests “gods” and willingly had intercourse with the latter. The crews of the ships of Samuel Wallis (1767) and James Cook (1774) left on the island not only blond children, but also massively killing the natives diseases – syphilis and influenza. The then population of the island, according to the German naturalist Georg Forster, who accompanied Cook, was about 200,000 people, one and a half times more than today.

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In 1788, the British expedition ship Bounty, commanded by Captain (with the rank of Lieutenant) William Bligh, arrived in Tahiti, sent to the island in search of breadfruit seedlings needed by the British as cheap food for black slaves on the sugar plantations of Jamaica and Barbados. He found King Pomare I, opposed by all the neighboring chiefs, in a very difficult position.

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In an effort to unify the island, Pomare tried to establish friendly relations with foreigners. Tahitians readily accepted sailors, taking advantage of their familiarity with the trades, trying to procure as many firearms as possible from the crew, and even making attempts to encourage Europeans to take a direct part in the struggle to unify Tahiti.

As an effective tool, the natives used the custom of the so-called “guest marriage”, which had long been common in Polynesia. Arranged theatrical performances timarodi with elements of orgy, local girls and women willingly entered into a relationship with the sailors of the “Bounty”, much to the chagrin of the ship’s crew, delayed on the island because the seedlings of breadfruit did not have time to catch up with the time of its arrival.

Pomare received invaluable help from the mutineers on the Bounty, led by Fletcher Christian, who captured the ship shortly after it sailed from Tahiti. They helped the king not only with their muskets, but also provided him with a real military vessel built from improvised materials by Morrison, a former ship’s carpenter. With the help of the Bounty crew members he hired into his service, Pomare consolidated his position in 1790 and defeated the rebellious chief Eimeo Mahine. The chiefs of the Atahuru region, allies of Eimeo, also submitted to Pomare. One of the decisive results of the attack on Atahuru was the capture of the marorua, a belt decorated with red feathers, a symbol of royal authority.

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Upon leaving the island, the mutineers from the Bounty forcibly took 13 Tahitian women with them, from whom some of them bore children after the soon-to-be-forced landing on Pitcairn Island.

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In 1797 the first missionaries from the London Missionary Society reached the island. For a long time their work to convert the islanders to Christianity was accompanied by resistance from the natives. Nevertheless, by 1812 the British missionaries managed to convert several Tahitians to the new faith, and after the baptism of the local king Pomare II and his victory over the local chiefs on the island was created a unified state in which Christianity was declared the official religion.

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After becoming a Christian, Pomare II forbade the worship of pagan gods and ordered the destruction of Marae shrines. He also issued a set of laws prohibiting human sacrifice, polygamy, guest marriage, and infanticide.

The forced spread of Christianity to Tahiti had almost disastrous consequences for the locals. Russian navigator Otto Kotzebue, who visited the island in 1824, observed not only the almost complete destruction of the traditional religion and culture of the natives, but also a marked decline in agriculture and demographic crisis.

Beginning in 1830, English and Catholic French missionaries competed for influence in Tahiti. The expulsion of the former in 1838 was used by France as an excuse for increased activity on the island.

During the reign of Queen Pomare IV in 1842, Tahiti became a French protectorate while the monarchy continued under French supremacy. A Polynesian revolt against French rule, which broke out between 1842 and 1847, was brutally suppressed by French troops. In 1880, Tahiti was made a French colony. King Pomare V, who had inherited the throne from his mother in 1877, signed a treaty with the French on June 29 that transferred supremacy over his entire state, the Community Islands, the island groups of Tuamotu and Tubuai. A French law issued on December 30 of the same year confirmed Tahiti’s colonial status as a component of French Oceania, later renamed French Polynesia. During World War II, the island served the U.S. as an outpost in the South Pacific.

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In October 2006, an armed mutiny occurred on the island. According to eyewitness reports, rioters first seized the presidential palace, protesting low living standards and high prices, and then demanded the immediate return of the country’s president, Oscar Temaru, from a meeting of the Pacific Island Forum held in Fiji. According to the French press, the riot was organized by members of the now-dissolved “Polynesian Intervention Group” (Groupe Polynesienne d’intervention (GIP), created by former French Polynesian President Gaston Flosse to provide disaster relief in the region.

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What to see and do

Beaches

Most beaches in Tahiti have black volcanic sand. The best beach in Tahiti is considered to be Plage de Maui. It is on the south side of the island, the road is long, but the white sand and clear lagoon are worth the trip. Punaaui beach is 18 kilometers from the town of Papeete, on the west side of Tahiti. It is still one of the few former beaches on the island. The beach itself is not too good, sand mixed with pebbles, but the best part is in the water. Take a snorkel and a mask and swim. The water is calm, not many people. There is a large grassy lawn for relaxing and ball games, outdoor showers and toilets.

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Surfing

In the south of Tahiti is the village of Teahupoo (Teahupoo), which attracts tourists from all over the world due to the natural phenomenon of the local bay – high waves. Teahupoo is one of the top ten best places in the world for surfing. It is famous for its waves, which often take the shape of a tube. The tube is considered one of the most difficult waves for surfers and the most spectacular for spectators. Since 1998, under the auspices of the Professional Surfers Association, Tihapu has hosted one of the stages of the World Surfing Championships, the prestigious Billabong Pro Tahiti, in August. For surfing enthusiasts, the Tahiti Surf School (Ecole de Surf Tura’i Mataare, www.tahitisurfschool.info) offers equipment rentals and instruction.

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Cape Venus

On June 3, 1769, British navigator James Cook, English astronomer Charles Green, and Swedish botanist and zoologist Daniel Solander observed the passage of Venus across the disk of the Sun at Cape Venus during Cook’s first voyage around the world. This unusual astronomical phenomenon repeats every 243 years.

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Cape Venus is a popular stopping point on a road trip around the island. It has a huge lighthouse, a number of plaques, a black sand beach, a cafe, and a gift store. Included on the list of most excursions to Tahiti. Cape Venus is located 10 km east of Papeete.

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Tomb of King Pomare V

The last king of Tahiti, Pomare V ruled for only 3 years (1877-1880). He was forced to abdicate by the French governor with the support of Tahitian chiefs. On June 29, 1880, the last monarch of the Pomare dynasty ceded Tahiti along with its dependent islands to France. The tomb is built of coral slabs and volcanic lava.

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Arahoho

Arahoho (Trou du Souffleur de Arahoho) is a hole in the ground from which a jet of water occasionally rises into the air. Waves roll up on the shore, creating a pressure differential, after which a jet of water rises into the air. There are four holes in total – three in the rock and one by the road along the coast. We cannot say that the sight is impressive, but if you rent a car and are traveling around the island, it is worth stopping, looking, tasting fruit from a food stall nearby. Plus, there are three waterfalls nearby.

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Fautaua Falls

Fautaua Falls (Fautaua) is considered one of the highest waterfalls in the world (almost 300 meters). There are three waterfalls in one place a short distance from each other, so on local maps they are labeled as les troix cascades (the three waterfalls). The highest waterfall, Fautaua, is a 5 minute walk from the road, with another 15 minute walk to the other two. During the dry season, the waterfalls look less spectacular.

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Fautaua Falls is located in the valley of the same name. The waterfall can also be reached on foot. Not far from the town of Papeete the trail to the Fautaua Valley begins. The trail is best hiked in a group or with a local guide. The trail is gated, so you must first pay a few dollars for a pass. Tahiti Evasion (www.tahitievasion.com) offers similar hikes.

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Arahurahu

Arahurahu is the only fully restored marae (sacred site for the Maori people) in French Polynesia, which is also used as a museum. The ancient marae was chosen for restoration in 1953, at a relatively close distance from Papeete, located in a picturesque place and having an important historical significance. Marae were used by Polynesians for religious rituals, offerings, celebrations of military victories, and the enthronement of chiefs. Arahurahu serves as the site of ancient Polynesian ceremonies during the Heiwa celebration in July. Arahurahu is located in Paea, 23 kilometers west of Papeete.

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Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens

American physics teacher Harrison Smith established a botanical garden in Tahiti in 1919. The 137-hectare garden is punctuated by walking paths along streams, ponds, palms, apricots, bamboo and many other species of trees, shrubs, plants and flowers collected by Harrison Smith from tropical regions of the planet. The Botanical Garden tour gives a good understanding of Tahiti’s flora and fauna. Hours of operation are daily from 9am to 5pm. The Botanical Garden is located in Papeari, 51 km of highway (PK 51), near the Isthmus of Taravao. This is Tahiti’s wettest region, so take an umbrella.

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Paul Gauguin Museum

A Japanese-style art museum dedicated to the life and work of Paul Gauguin in Tahiti. Museum exhibits include original Paul Gauguin documents, photographs, reproductions, sculptures, prints, gouache paintings, sketches and prints from prints. Reproductions of Gauguin’s work and works by Tahitian artists are available for sale. The museum has a restaurant and gift store. The museum is located directly across from the Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens and has two separate entrances – from the botanical gardens and the nearby beach park. The address is Mataiea, Highway 51 (PK 51).

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Robert Wang Pearl Museum

The museum illustrates the history of pearls, the predilection of nobles, the legends, customs and technical aspects of pearl cultivation, the role of pearls in art, history, mythology, philosophy, customs, how they influenced the religion of the Tahitians, and their role in the economic development of French Polynesia. It is the only museum of its kind in the world. It also features Robert Wang’s private collection, including the largest Tahitian pearls. The museum has a store, but be aware that this is the most expensive place to buy black pearls in Tahiti. Yes, the quality is fantastic, but the prices are astronomical.

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The Robert Wang Pearl Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free. Located on Pomare Boulevard in Papeete, the website is www.robertwan.com

Museum of Tahiti and its Islands

This ethnographic museum was founded in 1974 to preserve Polynesian historical exhibits and cultural traditions. Exhibits showcase the geologic history of the islands, the richness of the underwater world, the flora and fauna, and the history and culture of the indigenous people. There are exhibits on traditional weaving, tapa (non-woven material made from tree bark) making, early tools, tattoos, farming tools, and weapons. Most of the names of the exhibits are translated into English. Address: Punaauia, 15 km west of Papeete, website www.museetahiti.pf

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Tours and excursions

Trips around the island

Several companies offer trips around the island. The road around Tahiti Nui is 114 kilometers long: 54 kilometers from Papeete to Taravao along the east coast and 60 kilometers back along the west coast. Tahiti Iti is less populated than its older twin. The asphalt road ends about halfway along the north and south sides.

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Note the red-topped concrete markers on the side of the road with kilometer markers (“pointes kilomètres” in French, or “PK” for short). They indicate the distance in kilometers between Papeete and the Isthmus of Taravao, that is, the distance from Papeete to Taravao in each direction, rather than the total number of kilometers around the island.

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Trips around the island are offered by Adventure Eagle Tours (www.tahiti-adventure-eagle-tour.com), and Marama Tours (www.maramatours.com). Half-day or full-day trips include visits to museums and other places of interest, with lunch usually at the Paul Gauguin Museum restaurant.

Safari Expeditions

So-called safari expeditions into the interior of Tahiti. Travel in open-body SUVs on steep, often dirt roads through Tahiti’s central volcano crater and usually the Papenoo Valley. In good weather you will reach the 1440m high volcano crater, in clear weather you can cross the island (full day tour), visit marae (Polynesian cult centers), waterfalls.

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Don’t forget to bring a bathing suit, towel, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent. Choose a clear day – safari expeditions don’t go to the mountains when the weather is bad, and even if it’s not raining, the clouds on top of the mountain can hide the fantastic scenery. The best time is the dry season from June to early September. Tahiti Safari Expedition (www.tahiti-safari.com) and Tahiti-Aventures (www.tahiti-aventures.net) offer similar tours. The latter company also offers jet ski trips around the island’s coastline.

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Helicopter Tours

Flights over Tahiti and the neighboring island of Moorea are offered by Polynesia Hélicoptères (www.tahiti-helicopters.com). Flights are quite expensive, lasting from 20 to 45 minutes, depending on the route.

Hiking

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Tahiti has a number of trails for hiking, especially in the Papenoo Valley, along Lake Vaihiria, to the top of Mount Aorai, in the remote southern parts of the island. But note that these are not American or New Zealand national parks with well-marked trails, and French gendarmes do not rescue hikers who get lost while climbing mountains. Downpours can cause flooding, with small streams coming out of their banks, along which most trails run. In addition, fast-growing tropical greenery can quickly hide a trail easily visible a few days ago. Permits must be purchased to hike some trails.

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Accordingly, it is best to hike with a guide. Tahiti Evasion (www.tahitievasion.com) offers all-day hikes in the Fautaua Valley, the Orofero Valley on Tahiti’s south coast, and to the top of Mount Aorai, the island’s third-highest peak. The company offers wilderness hikes on the island’s uninhabited east coast for several days with overnight stays. All hikes, with the exception of the Mount Aorai climb, are not challenging. Tahiti Evasion also offers hiking excursions on other islands in French Polynesia. Similar hikes are offered by: www.tahitirevatrek.com , www.polynesianadv.com

Snorkeling

Tahiti does not boast quality diving like the other islands of French Polynesia. There are plenty of small fish, but don’t expect to see sharks, manta rays and other large marine animals. TOPdive Tahiti (www.topdive.com) offers diving at 12 sites around Tahiti (and 5 other islands in French Polynesia. Dive-Tahiti (www.dive-tahiti.com), in addition to diving, offers snorkeling, evening cruises, whale watching (August, September, and October only), and open ocean swimming with dolphins.

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Marama Tours offers trips around the island, into the interior of Tahiti by SUV, picnicking on motu (small island), evening yacht cruises, fishing, helicopter tours, snorkeling, golf. Website www.maramatours.com

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Horseback Riding

For horse lovers, some Tahiti ranches offer tours. The trips to the mountains are often accompanied by lunch. L’amour de la nature à cheval ranch (www.lamournatcheval.onlc.fr) offers such tours.

Shopping

Papeete is Tahiti’s main shopping center. Black pearls and handicrafts form the main interest for tourists.

Handicraft goods

Although most inexpensive souvenirs are made in Asia, many locals, especially on the outer islands, produce a wide range of items: hats, bags, baskets and mats woven from coconut and pandanus leaves, sea shell products (especially candle holders), wooden drums, plates, bowls and sculptures carved from local woods.

Look out for monoi, a naturally fragrant oil made from coconuts and tiare flowers. The pleasantly scented oil has regenerating and rejuvenating abilities, and is used to moisturize the skin.

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Pareu fabric (akin to Polynesian sarong) is a very popular traditional garment for men and women. Pareu is a strip of fabric that is wrapped around the body and thus protects the skin from the sun in hot tropical climates. A Pareu can serve as a dress, shorts, scarf, and towel at the same time. They are inexpensive and will serve as a wonderful souvenir. Pareu are sold almost everywhere.

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Le Marché de Papeete

This is Papeete’s large two-story market. Here you can dine, buy jewelry, calendars, postcards, cups, fruit, scented soap, vanilla beans, costumes, woven hats, sea shell necklaces, monoi and pareu. It is located in downtown Papeete.

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Black Pearl

Papeete has dozens of bijouteries (jewelry stores) of black pearls. Many pearl stores are located in the Centre Vaima Shopping Center, along boulevard Pomare.

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Visit the Robert Wan Pearl Museum (Musée de la Perle Robert Wan, www.robertwan.com), located on Boulevard Pomare across from the Protestant Church. Named after Robert Wan, the man who first began cultivating black pearls in Tahiti in the 1960s. This museum tells the history of pearls since antiquity, culturing methods, and what to look for when choosing them. The Museum has a Robert Wan Tahiti store with high quality black pearl jewelry, but is very expensive.

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On the second floor of the Centre Vaima Shopping Center, is the jewelry store of Didier Sibani (Sibani Perles Joallier, www.sibani.com), another pioneer of the local jewelry industry. Sibani also has a sales network in all the main islands of French Polynesia.

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One of the largest black pearl dealers in French Polynesia, Tahia Collins (www.tahiacollins.com), has a small store on Pomare Boulevard.

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Pearl Market

The Tahiti Pearl Market (Tahiti Pearl Market) has stores in Tahiti and Bora Bora, and sells placer and finished pearls. You can choose your pearls and have them made into finished pieces to your favorite design within a few hours. The store is located on Colette Street in Papeete. The website is www.tahitipearlmarket.com

Vaima Shopping Center

Centre Vaima Shopping Center (Centre Vaima) in Papeete is Tahiti’s largest shopping center. It includes cafes and restaurants, a movie theater, airline offices, travel agencies, duty-free stores, pearls, jewelry, perfumes, opticians, clothing, etc. Located in downtown Papeete between the seafront and Rue General de Gaulle, www.centrevaima.com

Even the most expensive pearl stores offer discounts. Despite the general rule of no haggling in French Polynesia, don’t pay the price listed on the price tag and politely ask for a discount.

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How to get there

All international flights arrive at Fa’a’ā International Airport (Aéroport International Tahiti Fa’a’ā, www.tahiti-aeroport.pf), 7 km west of the city of Papeete. Its runway is built on a reef and it is French Polynesia’s only international airport. Once you’ve cleared customs, you’ll immediately see a visitor information booth. Look here for maps and other useful information. There is no departure tax for international or domestic flights.

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