Tahiti Live Cam

• NORTH SOUTH

The Islands of Tahiti are a mythical destination

More spectacular than any man-made monument, the magnificent scenic beauty of the Tahitian islands has forever made it the dwelling place of the Gods. There is nowhere else quite like it: the islands' gigantic volcanic shapes, the emerald lakes that reflect the sky, the secret waterfalls and nearby - orchids in full bloom! And unparalleled valleys hidden beneath masses of star-flowered tiare bushes, all tangled in with flame trees, hibiscus and huge pandanus in whose roots wild pigs love to wallow.

Whether on Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine, Bora Bora or in the Marquesas; whether on foot, on horseback, on mountain bike or 4-wheel drive vehicle - you can enjoy long hikes into the heart of secret mountains where the dizzy-making views embrace lagoon, bays and the vast Pacific Ocean. Paraglide high above luxuriant tropical forest valleys, or dive into the icy coolness of waterfalls or natural pools that reflect the flowers of paradise and porcelain roses.

And then dream under the breadfruit tree, that living symbol within the precincts of the great sacred marae Just as the gods and kings of old! And before coming back into the world of men - how about a game of tennis or golf or even... pétanque!

Neptune's Empire? Surely that must be Tahiti and Her Islands of the 100,000 shores! Shores of white, pink and deep purple sand fringing the expanses of their lagoons, where outrigger canoes and sailboats furrow the surface as they fly in the bright exuberance of the trade winds.

Reef shores, multi-hued foreshores that give the explorer the wonder of red anemones, large violet colored sea urchins and giant clam-like shells with night-blue velvet flesh. Fairytale corals inhabited by parrotfish and "Picassos", "convict surgeons" and blue demoiselles, all of them so unafraid and just as curious as the swimmers.

Shores wide open to the long waves of the Pacific Ocean, where surfing was invented many centuries ago! Reef passages where dolphins play and manta and gray rays live their lives and go about their business in silent throngs.

The warm South Seas are one of the great attractions of Tahiti and Her Islands. Underwater marine fauna is reflected in the diversity of the island groups and their seabeds. The familiar dance of tiny shoals of butterfly-fish, angelfish or clown-fish around the coral together with the majestic flight of the giant manta rays are the prelude to even more exciting adventures. For divers, the 118 islands that form the patchwork pattern of French Polynesia open up a vast domain of unlimited resources. They invite you to an irrisistible underwater journey. Experienced divers and even beginners will find their feet itching to get into flippers!

In the Society Islands, which include The Windward group (Tahiti, Moorea and Tetiaroa) as well as the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora and Maupiti), the mountains continue as deeply below the sea as they rise high in the sky. Here too are gentle lagoons with their swirling arrays of shimmering fish and steep reef faces covered in coral flowers. There are waving Gorgon heads that are only found on the Tahiti peninsula which is all too often neglected by tourist itineraries. There are many such attractions however, and for divers in particular where the ecosystems have been preserved, thus making it possible to come in contact with a great many special varieties of animal and plant life.

The Leeward Islands are also well known for their amazing diving spots that are home to all sorts of rays and which harbor hundreds of multicolored fish, escorted by shoals of barracuda or sharks. There are in fact so many different large predators in the atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago that even the most hard-bitten divers will re-experience thrills they thought they had lost ! The dive you make as you ride the incoming tide through the reef is especially well known for the wide variety of marine life you meet. It is altogether a most unusual kind of dive.

Further north, the long Pacific swell has carved out an underwater scene that is the exact image of the Marquesan Islands above. Here we find caves, canyons and steep peaks that are home to giant manta rays and hammerhead sharks. Diving here is in unspoiled nature. All marine life has retained its original pristine state with its most unusual settings that are totally different from what you find elswhere in Tahiti and Her Islands. A place of unexpected delights. Finally, there are the Austral Islands with their fantastic trips to view the humpback whale every Southern winter. The whales venture into our lagoons, filling the ocean with their whalesong. What an opportunity for divers to experience an unforgettable encounter!

Classified hotels of every type can be found that combine quality with marvelous integration into natural sites, be it on hillsides or above lagoons. Here you can also find classic hotels which are admirably suited to business people. They are endowed with all the modern means of communication and their level of comfort ranks them amongst the best. There are also Polynesian style hotels where each room is a separate building. They are breezy and surrounded by flowers and yet still have the benefits of all the modern conveniences worthy of their classification. Whichever hotel you choose, the interior decor has a charm of its own based on the refinement of the chosen materials : wall hangings of "Peue" (woven pandas mats), majestic shell and mother of pearl from the Tuamotu, luminous "tifaifai panels" (patchwork cloth or applique with plant motifs), not forgetting also armfuls of many-colored flowers. And there is even more: the ultimate and unique hotel experience - the full luxury bungalow, built over the waters of the turquoise lagoon and its many colored fishes, where room service comes to you over the water by canoe. A dream come true.

Nearly one thousand accommodation units and two thousand beds are available in the varied range of Tahitian accommodation and small hotels whether it is a family pension or a home stay. All these different types of accommodation, similar to rural lodges or family guest rooms, are available in all the islands catering for tourists throughout the five Tahitian island groups. Some of them offer full board (pension) including meals prepared with the local specialties, whilst others have their own kitchens or shared facilities. But all of them are located on quiet sites and, as in the Tuamotu group, they may even be built over the waters of the lagoon. Visitors who wish to get to know the locals and discover a lifestyle that is modest and yet simple and welcoming will be delighted."Polynesian hospitality" is not just a hollow phrase. It is to be experienced in this style of accommodation and you will soon realize that it is perfectly expressed in the Polynesian Small Hotel Federation's motto "Haere Mai", which means "come to us".

Floating hotels, ranging from the superbly comfortable to the highly luxurious, constantly ply the waters of French Polynesia. Passengers can rest assured that they will be pampered as they cruise around these golden islands, discovering their diversity from their best side - the ocean. Large luxury liners provide discovery cruises around the islands whilst a smaller vessel, still fitted out for the greatest comfort, based in Raiatea will charm those seeking a 4-5 day cruises. There are also discovery cruises available to the Leeward Islands and Tuamotu Islands, as well as " Robinson cruises , " eco-tourism " cruises, and " surfing " cruises organized, so you can savour the delights of these fabulous islands onboard well appointed catamarans. For those who wish to venture further to the enchanting Marquesas Islands, a mixed cargo vessel will admirably fulfill your desire to discover the six main islands and their fantastic scenery.