The very name “Tahiti” invokes mental pictures of a tropical island paradise, and its position in history which has portrayed it as an island paradise with seductive women and an idyllic lifestyle, have added to the mystique that still brings tens of thousands of tourists here every year. Tahiti and its surrounding islands are now one of the leading tourist destinations in the entire Pacific region. The history of the population of the Pacific Islands goes back more than 2000 years BC, when the great Polynesian migration began. The Islands of Tahiti, Hawaii and New Zealand form the Pacific triangle and the other islands in this area such as Tonga, Samoa and the Cook islands all fall into this region and have the same ancestry. In addition, they all speak the same language. History indicates that the Tahitian Islands were first settled by the Polynesians in around 200BC having arrived in the islands aboard their huge double hulled canoes is a migration that initially started in Asia around 4000BC. In 1521, Magellan sighted the island group that is now known as the Tuamotu Atolls. In the second half of the seventeenth century, explorers from both Britain and France landed in different parts of Tahiti and each claimed the island group for their country. Historical figures of great importance like Captain James Cook on the barque “Endeavor” and William Bligh aboard the “Bounty” both visited Tahiti during their exploration of the South Pacific. The islands eventually became part of France and still have the French President as their head of state. Tourists today will find a heavy French influence now throughout the island group.

As a tourist destination, the Tahitian Islands have few equals. The names of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, the Marquesas and others are part of five archipelagos that contain a total of 118 islands and coral atolls. The capital is Papeete which has a population of around 130000 people. It is the main arrival point for visitors coming to Tahiti and there are many resorts and hotels in Tahiti in its immediate vicinity. The atmosphere is definitely French Polynesian with French colonial architecture, and plenty of great restaurants, cafes and bakery’s. From here you can transfer to other island groups by air or inter island ferry services. Many of the outer islands are great destinations with wonderful resorts. Bora Bora and Moorea, Manahini Atoll, Huahine, Raiatea and the Marquesas are fantastic places for a relaxing island holiday. Most of these are volcanic islands with an interior that is covered with rain forests and feature beautiful waterfalls, rock swimming holes and perfect coral lagoons. Over water accommodation in thatched Polynesian style bures are popular in Tahiti and can be found in a number of locations. Bare boat charters are big business here with a large fleet of charter catamarans and yacht available for a floating holiday in the crystal clear waters of Tahiti’s large lagoon. Many international cruise liners also call into Tahiti and Bora Bora. The clarity of the local waters attract scuba divers from around the world, and some of the surfing breaks around the Tahitian islands are legend among the worlds surfing elite.

Tahiti is a land of dance, music flowers and festivals. If you can come in July, you can experience the Heiva festival where islanders gather in Tahiti from the surrounding islands and engage in ancient sporting events and traditional dances. This is a land where the tattoo was invented, huge ocean going canoes are built and navigated around the Pacific and flowers and dance play an important part in everyday life. It is a travel destination with a power to have visitors return time and time again to experience that beautiful lifestyle and relaxing atmosphere that only a holiday in Tahiti can generate.



































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