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 ACTIVITIES |
TOURIST BUREAU |
| GEOGRAPHY |
GETTING THERE |
| RESTAURANTS |
GETTING AROUND |
| HOTELS
IN TAHITI |
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Tahiti, often called The Island of Love, is the largest and most well known of the 115 islands and atolls that comprise French Polynesia. Crystal-clear water, spectacular coral reefs and black sand beaches surround Tahiti. Tahiti’s landscape consists of towering volcanic peaks reaching over dense rainforests of soft ferns and then plunging deep into the sea. At high altitudes, the dark, moist tree-ferns blanket the cloud forests and beautiful waterfalls cascade into cool rivers and streams.
Tahiti is comprised of two main island masses, Tahiti-Nui (big Tahiti) and Tahiti-Iti (little Tahiti), which are connected by an isthmus called Plateau of Taravao. A main road winds around the island between the mountains and the sea while an interior road climbs past dairy farms and citrus groves with panoramic views
The capital of Tahiti and her Islands is the bustling port of Papeete, alive with activity. Papeete contains the government offices, police headquarters, hospitals and clinics, banks, telecommunications center, airline and travel agencies, boutiques and black pearl shops. Papeete is a modern port with a population of about 70,000 people in the city and its suburbs. Enjoy Papeete’s unique cosmopolitan charms. Shopping is definitely one of them. Part of the fun of Papeete is sipping a drink and people-watching at a sidewalk cafe. Hop aboard le truck-as the locals call the open-air bus-to downtown, where an amazing selection of boutiques offers shell leis, woven hats, purses and other native handicrafts, while their neighbors feature the latest in French fashions. In the city’s many restaurants you’ll discover that Tahitians enjoy an enticing variety of native, French, Asian and other cuisines.
Today, the beautiful landscapes and the timeless charm of Tahiti’s past remain preserved just minutes outside the bustling sea port of Papeete. From the beaches and low-land plantations to volcanic peaks and rain forests, Tahiti has a magnificent variety of landscapes and vistas to enjoy.
TAHITI HOTELS
T
ahiti has several excellent resorts as well as some smaller economy style properties. For detailed information regarding the hotels in Tahiti we invite you to visit the Tahiti Hotels page in the "hotels" section of our website. TAHITI TOURS AND ACTIVITIESThere’s plenty to do on Tahiti- On land, you can explore untouched valleys, take a breathtaking helicopter ride to Mount Aorai, four-wheel through mountain streams, relax at an outdoor cafe, or play a round of golf on a beautiful, 72-par, 18-hole course that gives you a challenging game and incredible views of Tahiti and its outer reef. In the ocean, you can try your hand at big game fishing, water skiing, scuba diving, sailing, wind surfing and much more. There are challenging and unusual trekking tours into the interior valleys, and up the mountains, or you can walk across the island and investigate old lava tubes, burial caves and hidden grottoes
Please see our Tahiti tours and activities page for additional information.
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TAHITI TOURIST INFORMATIONThe tourist office in Papeete is on Boulevard Pomare (689-50-57-00).
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TAHITI GEOGRAPHY
Tahiti is the largest of the 115 islands and atolls that comprise French
Polynesia. Born in a series of volcanic upheavals nearly three millions
years ago, the island of Tahiti is a range of lushly forested peaks
plunging deep into the sea.
The island’s interior contains dense rainforests of soft ferns, waterfalls cascading into cool rivers and streams forming magnificent river valleys, and flat coastal areas containing fields of taro and tropical flowers.
Tahiti is comprised of two main island masses, Tahiti-Nui (big Tahiti) and Tahiti-Iti (little Tahiti), which are connected by an isthmus called Plateau of Taravao. The larger, Tahiti-Nui, is rugged and mountainous with its largest peak, Mt. Orohena, reaching 7,339 feet next to Mt. Aorai reaching 6,786 feet. Tahiti-Iti is a low, narrow mountainous strip of land with its highest peak, Mt. Roniu, reaching 4,341 feet.
The smaller portion, Tahiti Iti, is quite rural an abundance of lush, natural beauty with small villages along the coast.
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GETTING THERE
Frequent jet service connects Tahiti with the United States mainland, Canada, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia and Europe. The international airport is located in the village of Faa’a, which is just south of Papeete. Qantas, Air New Zealand, Air France, Hawaiian Air, and AOL all have flights from the United States to Tahiti.
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GETTING AROUND TAHITI
LE TRUCK
Le Truck is Tahiti’s public bus service The destination is posted on
top of each Le Truck, which always begins and ends its round trips at
the public market in the center of Papeete. They operate during the
daylight hours, with night transportation provided only to the West
Coast hotels, as far as Hotel Maeva Beach (last run depends on what’s
happening in town). Authorized stops along the road are indicated by a
blue sign with a drawing of Le Truck. Just wave to the driver to stop.
Pay the Driver on the right side of the cab when you get off.
TAXIS
Taxis are readily available throughout the island
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TAHITI RESTAURANTS
There are several excellent restaurants with menus featuring local specialties, French, Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and American choices. Prices vary to fit just about any budget, and remember that all taxes and tips are included in the posted prices.
LES ROULOTTES
Les Roulottes are mobile diners that set up shop around 6 pm each
afternoon along the boat dock and serve hot meals until the wee hours of
the morning. These two dozen licensed, colorful food-vans provide a
variety of inexpensive but fresh and well prepared dishes, as well as a
bar stool to sit and watch the waterfront scene of Papeete-by-night. The
sights are almost as good as the food. Here you can order barbecue
steaks, chicken and shish-kabob, served with French fries, Poisson cru
and Russian potato salad. Specialty diners serve pizza cooked in a
wood-burning stove, couscous, fish and chips, Tahitian food, barbecue
veal and freshly worked hot delicacies from the provinces of China. Your
dinner can be a veritable movable feast, with a tempting choice of
crepes for dessert. No alcohol is served here, but the bars and
nightclubs are just across the street.
LA PETITE AUBERGE
Pont de l’ Est, Papeete
P.O. BOX 2665 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 42. 86. 13
FRENCH Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Res. Closed Saturday. All cards.
PACIFIQUE BLUE CAFE
Boulevard Pomare, Papeete
PO BOX 4489 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 42. 87. 58
FRENCH Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Res. Open every day. All cards.
JARDIN DES GOURMETS
Patutoa, Papeete
PO BOX 932 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 42. 79. 60
FRENCH Lunch/Bar. Closed Sunday. All cards.
AUBERGE DU PACIFIQUE
PK 11, 4 Punaauia
PO BOX 2533 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 43. 98. 30 Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Res./PanoramicView/Closed Sunday.
Amex/Visa/Master cards.
LE COCO’ S
PK 13. 5, Punaauia
PO BOX 130 069 Punaauia - TAHITI
Tel.(689) 58. 21. 08
Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Res./Panoramic view. Open every day.
Amex/Visa/Master cards.
LA CORBEILLE D’ EAU
Boulevard Pomare, Papeete
PO BOX 20 215 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 43. 77. 14
Lunch/Dinner/Res. Closed Saturday noon and Sunday.
Amex/Visa/Master cards.
LE BELVEDERE
Fare Rau Ape, Pirae
P.O. BOX 5588 Pirae - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 42. 73. 44
Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Res./
Round-trip transportation included/Panoramic view. Open every day.
Master/Visa cards.
L’ O A LA BOUCHE
Passage Cardella, Papeete
P.O. BOX 343 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel.(689) 45. 29. 76
Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Res. Closed Saturday noon and Sunday.
Master/Visa/Amex cards.
L’ API’ZZERIA
Boulevard Pomare, Papeete
P.O. BOX 20 437 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 42. 98. 30
ITALIAN Lunch/Dinner/Bar. Closed Sunday.
Master/Visa cards.
LE RELAIS DE LA MAROTO
Papenoo valley
P.O. BOX 20 687 Papeete - TAHITI
Tel. (689) 57. 90. 29
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner. Continental and French cuisine. Wine list.
Open every day. Visa card.
TAHITI HOTEL RESTAURANTS
HOTEL LE MANDARIN NOA NOA
51, Rue Colette, Papeete
Tel. (689) 42. 16. 33
LE PLAZZA
(Chinese cuisine) Menu/Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Res.
HOTEL ROYAL PAPEETE
Boulevard Pomare, Papeete
Tel. (689) 42. 01. 29
- LE GALLIENI Breakfast/Menu Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Res.
- LA CAVE Bar/Res/Entertainment. All cards.
HOTEL SOFITEL MAEVA BEACH
PK 7, 5 Punaauia
Tel. (689) 42. 80. 42
- LE BOUGAINVILLE Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Special Events/Show/Tahitian feast and show on,Sunday/Res.
- SAKURA (Japanese Teppanyaki) Dinner/Bar/Res.
- BAR MOOREA/BAR TERRASSE Snack/Cocktails/Bar. All cards.
TAHITI INTERCONTINENTAL RESORT
PK 7, Faaa
Tel. (689) 86. 51. 10
- LE TIARE Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Bar/Brunch/ Special events/Tahitian feast/Res./Show. Marvelous evening on Friday night.
- LOTUS Lunch/Dinner/Menu. All cards.
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