Less than 10 minutes away from Papeete by air or 2 hour by ferry are the deep, spectacular bays and white sand beaches of Moorea. Only 40 miles around, the island can easily be circled by island tour, rental car or bicycle for the more adventurous. Try horseback riding along the beach or into the interior, hiking up to a hidden waterfall, or visiting the Belvedere view point.

The lagoons offer great snorkeling, scuba diving, jet skiing, glass bottom boating, and parasailing. One unique adventure allows you to step back into history with a hard-hat dive. Aqua Blue provides an underwater experience for swimmers and non-swimmers alike.

In addition to the excellent restaurants, you should plan to experience a Tahitian “tamaaraa” with food cooked in the traditional “himaa,” a pit filled with heated volcanic stones. Dancers from the local villages will entertain you with the songs and dances that have helped make Tahiti famous.