Polynesie - marlon brando's island in tahiti - king of arue

… The private atoll of Marlon Brando, in the middle of the Pacific, with only a few nautical miles of Tahiti, any idea ?

This article was writed, created and has the copyrights of Sabrina Poerava (my wife) , thz Sab for the article and the work translating from french to english.

~ Located at 42 kilometers in the north of Tahiti, Tetiaroa is a concentrate of splendors of archipelago of Tuamotu. Hardly making 7 kms diameter, ten motu encircle a luminous lagoon.

 ~ Formerly “Teturoa " (open sea) was the name of the atoll: A legend said that  it was also used as mask for the royal treasures. Indeed, Tetiaroa was a kind of residence during the summer for the ari'i (king) of Arue (commune located on Tahiti). The majority of the motu were inhabited by a population whose essential function was exclusively to maintain the coconuts and the taro plantations, the breadfruit trees.

This atoll was famous to be used as refuge or vacation resort even to the royal Tahitian families. Sometimes, several tens of dugouts disseminated on the beaches of the lagoon. Its members were there in order to rest, have fun or to proceed to the " Ha' aporia" (fattening) of the women: they ate in an excessive way to reach certain plumpness, which was then a criterion of beauty. A little bit forgotten, the atoll finds all its recognition in a curious way…

 ~ Everyone knows, this film, turned mainly on the island of Moorea, opposite Tahiti, which brought the actor Marlon Brando to make knowledge with all the hidden treasures of our islands. In 1966, Marlon, fallen in love with Tetiaroa, bought part of the atoll, which he managed later to acquire completely.

~ It made their build on the motu Onetahi a small rustic local material hotel: small capacity, 6 rooms in all, local timber structure and total integration in the vegetation (and not on the beach or worse on the lagoon). Its passion for the beauty of this island made that, lasting of the decades, Tetiaroa, attended by rare privileged tourists, remained preserved

~ Equipped with an extraordinary ecosystem, Tetiaroa shelters not only a site of laying for the marine tortoises but also an ornithological sanctuary on Motu Tahuna Iti, a true refuge for thousands rare local birds.

 ~ Like often on the atolls, one of the motu of Tetiaroa (the motu “Manu" which means "oiseau") was colonized by tens of thousands birds which nest there today in a nearly perfect serenity, with shelter of their principal predatory that are in Polynesia the rats, the cats… and us of course! A place of peace only disturbed by the incursion of some tourists and residents who push the ballade until there, but without never spending the night there. The visit can be done only over one day, impossible to remain on the spot longer, an appreciable measurement I think and which give only more value to the few moments spent in the middle of this atolls.

 ~ The bird’s island of Tetiaroa thus offers the lodging and the cover to only a few number of species which proliferate there: Fou brun, Sterne à bec noire, Noddi, Grande Frégate.

 ~ It is possible getting there aboard a sailing ship "L' Escapade" :  8:00 of navigation.

~ L' Escapade is a monohull sailing dinghy of 14m with which its owners organize, upon request, some days relaxation in Tetiaroa. Here the program:

* 6:00: departure of the sea front on the quays of PAPEETE, and taken breakfast on board. You will be able to benefit from the crossing to admire the vastness of the Pacific, the calm one and the breeze marinates very vivifying…

* 10:30: arrived with a small gymnastics of the zodiac to pass the coral barrier… and finally, you discover Tetiaroa, these colors and these natural scents, its preserved fauna and its flora. You will be entitled to the guided visit and with accompanying notes on to the bird’s island. Then, bathe in the lagoon with translucent and pure water.

* 14:30: lunch local on the sailing ship, but the meal is done with sight on the atolls and the birds dancing in the blue sky, under a radiant sun!

 * 15:30: return on PAPEETE with an arrival envisaged towards 19:30, your spirit still filled of the wonders you’ve seen…

~ The trip, with the breakfast, the lunch, the drinks and the guided visits on site cost approximately 100€ by people and 50€ for the children from 4 to 12 years (younger, it’s free, fortunately!).