Spread across 118 islands and five archipelagoes, The Islands of Tahiti are the first South Pacific hub after the Panama Canal, with year-round cruising for superyachts.
Mana is the heart of the Polynesian universe. It’s the life force and spirit that flows through everything, it comes from life, love, sharing, beauty, goodness that merge harmoniously in our universe. It is the reason you will feel treasured in The Islands of Tahiti. But The Islands of Tahiti are much more than peaceful scenic landscapes and incredible underwater marvels… They own a genuine Polynesian identity driven by an ancestral spiritual force.
A couple of thousand years ago, guided by celestial navigation, the first Polynesian settlers bravely sailed on their large outrigger canoes, presumably from South East Asia, driven by their hope to find a new heaven.
A special place was awaiting them in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. This tropical gem, which became their new home, was The Islands of Tahiti. The first migrants remained isolated from the rest of the world for at least 1,500 years, exploring the islands over centuries, living in harmony with nature.
Among the last untouched places on Earth
This territory, also officially called French Polynesia, counts 118 islands as her own and most are as pristine today as they were at the time the first Europeans set out to explore the Pacific Ocean.
Nowadays, these islands unveil their uniqueness to Superyachts and their guests in the quest for secluded and safe places, certainly amongst the last untouched places on Earth allowing exploration over a territory as wide as Eastern Europe made of 99% of water and 1% of land.
Visitors arriving by sea can feel the emotion that moved Captain Cook when he first spotted, in 1768, what is now known as The Island of Tahiti. He was delighted at how easy it was to navigate amongst these islands and sail into the various lagoons through the passes naturally made in the coral fringed reef.
The first South Pacific hub after the Panama Canal
As the first South Pacific hub after the Panama Canal, absolutely everything is suited to these vessels and their guests at any time of the year. The Islands of Tahiti are a varied cruising paradise. The islands of volcanic origin are divided into five different archipelagoes: Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Austral Islands and Society Islands, all with different geographical features and sceneries, desert white or pink sand islets.
Whether it be the easy access from overseas by private or commercial flight or inter-island flights, the excellent choice of provisioning and high-quality fresh supplies, the technical and maintenance yacht services, the perfect cruising grounds with sheltered anchorages and marina facilities, captains will enjoy taking their owners or charter guests island discovering, where every single place is simply breathtaking and special as human impact has remained willingly very limited.
Choosing where to charter
Many yachts choose to charter in The Islands of Tahiti throughout the year. The Society Islands and the Tuamotu Islands are often chosen for a first discovery trip, however, the other groups of islands boast very different destination experiences while being in the same country.
Your choice as far as where to charter will mostly depend on two factors: how long would you like to charter and what would you like to do?
Whichever part of The Islands of Tahiti you decide to cruise, it will suit all guests’ profiles from friends travelling together, families with young children or teenagers, senior guests to honeymooners. The local superyacht experts will work closely with you to customise the best itinerary meeting and exceeding expectations.
Society Islands
The most famous group of islands hosts the International Airport of Tahiti, the main island, which is often the starting point of any cruising. Touring the country, experiences offered to visitors include inner island safaris, private dance shows, quad biking, horse-back riding, golf, traditional Polynesian barbecue in Huahine, shopping for local art or pearls, spa treatments and fine dining as well as diving and snorkelling beautiful coral reefs and all water activities. These islands feature post card like lush green mountainous peaks and are the perfect place for a combination of water and land activities.
Starting either from the main island of Tahiti or from mythical Bora Bora, cruise and venture through islands offering unique occasions for cultural immersion with the locals.
The Gambier Islands
Located South West of Tahiti and at the end of the Tuamotu Islands. The main island is Mangareva, these islands feature beautiful lush mountains overlooking crystal clear lagoons. The first Catholic missionaries settled in the Gambier and the largest Catholic cathedral of French Polynesia was built in Mangareva. To date, the archipelago has remained the cradle of Catholicism in the country.
The area is renowned for great sports fishing and spearfishing, as well as beautiful hikes in the mountains. Some of the most beautiful Tahitian cultured pearls originate from Gambier Islands where the lagoons offer perfect conditions to grow and culture the Pinctada margaritifera oyster, the mother of these unique gems.
Of course, one could not think of Tahiti without mentioning the ultimate gem, preciously cultured in the islands’ lagoons and worn by all the Polynesians as a symbol of their attachment to the ocean: the Tahitian cultured pearl. This delicate pearl, the result of tireless efforts, feature various shapes and a myriad of colours. None is alike and it’s their uniqueness which makes them so rare and special… Whilst in the Tuamotu Islands and Gambier Islands, a visit to a pearl farm is a must.
Marquesas Islands
The mystical Marquesas Islands called “Te Henua Enana” – The Land of Man, have inspired many artists such as French painter Paul Gauguin and writer Herman Melville. With beautiful white and black sand beaches nestled at the bottom of immense cliffs, surrounded by rugged mountains offering exceptional hikes and encounters with wild horses, it is also the home of tattooing; the Marquesas Islands boast traditional art where artists proudly exhibit their meticulous carvings and other fine creations.
Te Moana Nui and Polynesian culture
“The Big Ocean” has always played a prominent role in the Polynesians’ everyday life, especially in the remote islands.
The Tahitians have always loved and considered music and singing as one of their means of communication. At the sound of the ukulele and toere drums, the graceful traditional dancers depict stories through refined gestures, songs and exquisite costumes and the yearly Heiva I Tahiti Festival held in June – July, is the epitome for hundreds of dancers, singers and musicians from all over The Islands of Tahiti performing and competing to showcase the best of their art and traditions driven by the Mana.
Tuamotu Islands
Located North East of the Society Islands, the 78 atolls of the archipelago were first spotted by Magellan in 1521 but he sailed past and it remains the first recorded European sighting of French Polynesia. Between the pristine lagoons and the ocean, these atolls also offer shallow spots for less experienced divers, beginners and snorkellers, with endless untouched coral gardens. The atolls are either uninhabited or host a small village where the population is always delighted to meet visitors and share part of their everyday life: fishing, hand crafting, and grafting the well-known Tahitian cultured pearls.
The Tuamotu Islands are home to a UNESCO biosphere, which includes the atolls of Fakarava, Toau, Kauehi, Niau, Taiaro and Aratika. It is the dream location for private secluded beach barbecues and parties but also family adventure and treasure hunts! The immense lagoons offer ideal shelter for vessels to explore the islands at length. The Tuamotu Islands are world famous for their thrilling drift dives along the natural passes.
Marine life and conservation
The Islands of Tahiti are home to the most amazing and abundant marine wildlife. With a country made of 99% of water, ocean conservation is a daily priority and has been a marine mammal sanctuary since 2002 with both whales and dolphins protected. Dolphins will greet you at the bow of your yacht as she cruises through an island natural pass along with the magnificent humpback whales visiting every year during the Austral Winter in their quest for a mate or to give birth.
The Islands of Tahiti host one of the largest shark populations and is well known for safe recreational diving with these amazing animals. In order to face the threat of shark finning, Tahitians pride themselves on having been conservation pioneers since 2006 by creating the first sanctuary worldwide. The Tuamotu island of Fakarava and five neighbouring atolls became a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2009. The untouched atolls feature incredible marine life and many Superyachts cruise them at leisure.
Charter licence
Applied through the Service du Tourisme, via the yacht agent, prior to the yacht’s arrival provided that the vessel already has a charter booked. The timeframe to obtain the licence is between 5 to 6 weeks. Granted for a period of 6 months, it is renewable every 6 months. A 5% charter tax applies and is calculated on the gross charter rate.
Maintenance and refit
Skilled manpower and infrastructures are available for superyacht refit on the main island of Tahiti.
Navigation conditions
- No permit required in any of the archipelagoes allowing maximum itinerary flexibility
- Excellent navigation conditions year round
- Most passes are deep enough for yachts to go through (10 to 15m)
- Local navigational charts are accurate and regularly updated
Local dedicated superyacht professionals
Please check Tahiti Tourisme: superyacht.tahititourisme.travel
Featured in Superyacht Australia Magazine
Featured in Superyacht Australia Magazine Issue 14. Explore the full digital edition for more destination guides, industry news and interviews from across the Asia Pacific superyacht sector: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/197365019/
Image credit: © Rodolphe Holler
