Travel
Waking up aboard a 25-foot luxury catamaran with nothing but the purest crystalline waters, a sorbet sunrise, and tiny exotic islands scattered around you is like waking up somewhere far over the rainbow. With no cell phone service or a stranger in sight, your incessantly busy mind feels still enough to marvel—for the first time in a long time—at something as simple as the gentle, warm breeze of the ocean whispering over your face. Suddenly you remember the gift of being alive.
Spotlight
Photos: Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa
THE SECRET ISLANDS OF
RA’IATEA TAHA’A A HIDDEN TAHITIAN UTOPIA IS REDEFINING PARADISE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO RECHARGE By Chad Schubert
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This is just one way to experience the remote islands of Ra’iatea and Taha’a, two of 118 islets that make up the distant French Polynesian tropics. Or as I’ve come to know them, Tahiti’s best-kept summer secret. After a Hollywood insider told me how A-listers like Eva Longoria and Julia Roberts were escaping to this remote utopia for the ultimate mind, body, spirit History and Renowned recharge—something I was in desperate need of after Vanilla Farms a long grueling year as a talent publicist—I knew I had Taha’a is symbolically known as the “Vanilla Island,” as on to go. these fertile lands some of With the two islands encircled together by a common the highest quality and most lagoon, I was fascinated by the way they were seemingly fragrant vanilla is grown and adrift together in their own sacred little world, sought after by chefs around untouched by crowds, chaos, and the “hot-spot” fanfare. the world. Island tours of It’s recommended to visit both islands given their Taha’a will guide you here small size, close distance, and vast differences. Ra’iatea, and can be easily booked meaning “faraway heaven” and known as the heartbeat from the neighboring of the Islands of Tahiti, may be the second-largest town island of Ra’iatea. in French Polynesia, but the draw here is its secluded white sand beaches and impressively high mountain To book your adventure today, ranges covered in lush tropical forest. Taha’a, on the visit AirTahitiNui.com. other hand, commonly referred to as “the place where time stops,” is significantly smaller, has green low rolling hills, and is the quietest of Tahiti’s islands. Together the two (just a 35-minute boat ride apart) offer a perfectly combined experience of peace and relaxation, thrill and adventure. The best way to get here is with Air Tahiti Nui, which provides one of the top services in the sky and offers easy access from Los Angeles and New York. While there a number of luxe and fabulous ways to experience the rich nature of these lands, my journey here with a close friend will highlight three for you, starting with a stay in the piercing blue lagoon aboard a private luxury catamaran with Tahiti Yacht Charters. At first, spending days at sea didn’t appeal to me, but the world-class service of a Tahiti Yacht chartered vessel quickly changed that opinion with its at-your-leisure flexibility and the chance to discover mind-blowing sights you’d never experience from the shore. From the moment you step onto the vessel, your own personal crew graciously meets your every need (including fresh cocktails as soon as you finish swimming in the open ocean). Every meal is fresh, light, and delectable, and you can paddle board, kayak, snorkel, or request to get off the boat whenever you want. The captain, who knows every hidden postcard-worthy sight of this paradise, took us out on a dingy boat daily to privately explore deserted islands 500-feet long, Unplug in Tropical Seclusion deep jungle rivers, shipwrecks, and the most incredible coral reef The hidden Opoa Beach Hotel on Ra’iatea is a perfectly isolated sanctuary to disconnect and recharge. The property is popular gardens you’ll ever snorkel in your life. with honeymooners and quiet reality-escapers, offering easy access to adventure and the neighboring island of Taha’a. To book your stay, visit OpoaBeach.com. Photo: Eric Pinel
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