Tahiti doesn't just mean tango! Smack-dab in the middle of the Pacific with scenic beaches, mountains, Polynesian and French-influenced culture, the island offers tons of opportunities for outdoor and indoor fun! Whether you're looking for extra fun during the week(s) of our workshops, or wanting to do a week of tango, and then enjoy some relaxing leisure time out around French Polynesia, here are some excellent ideas for your island getaway!
Around Tahiti
You'll be flying into Papeete, the capital of French Polynesia, and the territory's biggest city. Full of charming restaurants, shops, performance venues and more, you'll have your pick of relaxing daytime and night-time outings during your stay! Enjoy local delicacies from the Papeete market, schedule an upscale evening of fine French dining, reserve a table with a breathtaking view up in the mountains at O Belvedere, you'll have an unforgettable gastronomical experience par excellence!
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Scuba and Snorkeling
The waters around Tahiti are teeming with coral reefs. These natural treasures give home to huge varieties of aquatic life, from countless species of fish to turtles and rays! This makes the area a dream for snorkeling and scuba diving. Bring your own gear, or rent from one of the local providers, and go out and take in the beauty of life underwater!
The aquatic life is almost universally docile. Tahiti is surrounded by a reef, which wards off more dangerous creatures like sharks. The sharks that do make it into the reef are very small, and quite shy of humans. In the last 50 years, there has only been one incident of shark attack around the islands (source) |
Sailing and Watercraft
What's an island adventure without getting out on the water? The soothing, back and forth rock of the ocean beneath you and the bright, warm sun above will be enough to lift anyone's cares away! Tahiti's coastlines are dotted with numerous places to rent whatever kind of watercraft you want (you're welcome to bring your own too!). Take a sailing course on a catamaran, and watch your balance as you ride the waves! Rent a kayak or a paddleboard, and enjoy a relaxing, up-close-and-personal voyage next to the ocean! Schedule a glass-bottom boat tour and go out to explore the reefs! If you can think of it, Tahiti's got you covered!
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Hiking
Like Hawaii, the atolls of French Polynesia formed through geologically recent volcanic activity. This gives many of them wondrous mountainscapes, and excellent opportunities for extraordinarily scenic hikes. Have you ever wanted to summit a lengthy mountain ridge, breathe in the clean, high-altitude air and gaze out over the endless horizon of ocean? Tahiti's got you covered, and more!
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Moorea
Moorea is the closest island to Tahiti, nestled just right off the north-western coast, and reachable in a 30-minute ferry ride. Like Tahiti, its mountainous, tree-covered interior offers fantastic variety alongside its wide-open coastlines, and makes for a wonderful destination spot during your stay! Catch one of the ferries, rent a car or a couple scooters and drive along the shoreline to one of the many beaches, trailheads or vistas. Schedule a guided day tour, or, if you'd like to stay overnight, the island hosts many resort-like retreats as well as more modest "Pensions" (that is, boarding house-like live-ins) that provide a more quiet, natural kind of experience.
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Other Atolls
Although you'll be flying into the big island, Tahiti is surrounded by over a hundred atolls. Whether you're looking for a swanky, high-class excursion to Bora Bora, or a quiet, wild retreat out on the Marquesas, you'll find what you want all within a short flight! Set up a couple-day getaway to a single island, or plan a week-long trip with Air Tahiti where you hop from island to island! For those wanting a more leisurely trip out on the ocean, why not get to one of the islands aboard a cruise instead? Island paradise awaits!
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Useful Sites
- Tahiti Tourisme
- Air Tahiti