Tag Archives: Bora Bora

Diver Coral
Bonaire, Caribbean, Central America, Cozumel, Islands, Maldives, Mexico, Oceania, Plan, Seychelles, St. Lucia, Tahiti, Thailand

Saving Coral Reefs

Leave a comment

 

Diving or snorkeling on a coral reef is a magical experience. It’s unfortunate that reefs in many parts of the world now face threats from human impact, but there is hope. Governments around the world continue to establish and expand marine preserves that protect coral reefs. And there’s a growing movement to move beyond mere protection and focus on restoration.

Currently, there are more than 100 international organizations dedicated to rebuilding coral reefs, and the leading method is the replanting of corals. Much like tree saplings, small fragments of living coral can be nurtured in a controlled environment, then replanted in the wild to revitalize natural reefs. This is a labor- intensive process, and many of these programs rely on volunteers to do the planting. If you are a diver or snorkeler who wants to get involved in coral reef conservation, here are nine resort destinations where you can make a difference during your vacation.

Four Seasons Bora Bora

The island of Bora Bora is surrounded by one of the world’s most scenic lagoons, and the Four Seasons Resort plans to keep it that way. Set within the lush landscaping of this premier property is the Sanctuary, a sheltered body of water that’s home to a marine research station and a coral nursery. The guests of the resort are invited to snorkel in this natural aquarium to witness or participate in ongoing coral seeding and planting work. During a half-day immersion session, participants learn how to harvest and graft corals into donut-shaped rings. These structures will later be placed in open water to form new reefs and disperse millions of coral spawn to help ensure Bora Bora’s reefs remain spectacular. For more info: https://www.fourseasons.com/borabora/

Bora Bora

Coral fragments planted by divers at the Four Seasons Bora Bora Resort are thriving and continue to grow and provide habitats for fish and other marine life. Photo: Four Seasons

Buddy Dive Resort, Bonaire

Bonaire has some of the healthiest coral reefs in the Caribbean, thanks to decades of protection. But even healthy and well- protected coral colonies can benefit from an infusion of new growth, and that’s the mission of Reef Renewal Foundation Bonaire and Buddy Dive Resort. The resort offers a range of coral replanting programs ranging from an afternoon session to a full week of volunteering. A Reef Renewal dive takes place on the nursery located in a shallow section of Buddy’s Reef, right in front of the resort dock. Participants learn the basics of assessing nursery health and tending to the corals. Full-day programs have divers helping foundation staff with nursery maintenance and out-plantings at a number of different sites. Buddy Dive also offers a Reef Renewal Week Package that includes 12 dives devoted to foundation activities. For more info: https://buddydive.com/

Bonaire

Newly planted staghorn corals in Buddy Dive’s coral nursery will grow into dense clusters that support a wide variety of marine life. Photo: Buddy Dive

Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort

The Ozone – AKA Outrigger Zone – is this upscale resort group’s conservation initiative to protect coral reefs through awareness and restoration. At Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort and Castaway Island, guests are encouraged to visit on-site coral nurseries and learn what can be done to protect the world’s coral reefs. Anyone who wants to take it one step further is encouraged to join the resort’s dive team and resident marine biologist in an ongoing replanting program. These programs include the creation and deployment of unique “fish houses” made from cultivated coral fragments. When placed in local waters, these structures transform into new marine life habitats as the corals continue to grow. Both snorkelers and divers can view the coral nursery and take part in the replanting program. For details: https://www.outrigger.com/fiji/fiji-beach- resort

Fiji

A collection of new corals is readied for placement on one of the fish house formations at Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort. Photo: Outrigger Fiji

Sandals Resorts, St. Lucia

Protecting and restoring the coral reefs in the Soufriere Marine Managed Area in St. Lucia is a project headed by CLEAR Caribbean in collaboration with the Sandals Foundation. As part of the project local communities and schools are engaged and educated on the value of reefs. While guests at Sandals may enjoy windsurfing and wakeboarding as part of the activities now scuba divers can add one more endeavor to the list by learning the art of coral planting. This activity is available to certified divers staying at any one of the island’s three Sandals properties – The Grande St. Lucian, Halcyon Beach, and Regency La Toc. The program begins with land and in- water practice sessions that culminate in a special dive trip where participants will attach corals to new reefs. Once these new corals are established, they provide shelter for fish and lobsters, along with coastal protection from storms and swells. For more info: https://sandalsfoundation.org/environment-project-coral- restortation https://www.clearcaribbean.org/

St. Lucia

At the Sandals St. Lucia coral nursery volunteer divers can help transplant newly grown coral fragments to area reefs. Photo: Sandals

Anantara Dhigu, Maldives

Anantara’s Dhigu resort sits on a stunning private island ringed by white-sand beaches and colorful coral gardens. To ensure the future health of these sites, guests are encouraged to adopt a rope. This program, which was launched more than a decade ago, embeds coral fragments onto ropes that are then positioned to provide optimum sunlight and water quality. Guests can adopt a rope by donating, while those who want to get hands-on can participate in attaching corals to their rope with the help of a resident marine biologist. As the rope transforms into a living piece of reef, it will be moved to the resort’s snorkel trail and other area reefs. Along the way, the nursery staff provides updates and photos so participants can witness the results of their work. For details: https://www.anantara.com/en/dhigu-maldives

Maldives

At Anantara’s Dhigu resort, a diver checks the status of corals planted on a new snorkel trail. Photo: Anantara Dhigu

Four Seasons Seychelles

This premier Four Seasons property created the Petite Anse Reef Restoration Project to protect and nurture corals. A key element of the program uses divers to collect pieces of broken coral damaged by natural events such as wave action. These rescued corals are placed in the resort’s coral nursery for later replanting, and in the first two years of the program, more than 16,000 coral fragments were replanted on the reef. A unique element of the program is known as the Love Grows Beautiful Things experience, which gives couples a chance to use rescued corals to create a heart-shaped coral formation that will be placed on the reef. For info: https://www.fourseasons.com/seychelles/

Seychelles

At the Four Seasons Seychelles, coral fragments are placed on frames that will allow them to grow into heart-shaped formations. Photo: Four Seasons Seychelles

Xbalanque, Roatan

The Roatan Marine Park is always looking for volunteers to help keep the island’s coral reefs healthy. You don’t have to be a diver to participate in the various educational and outreach programs at the foundation’s coral nursery. Divers can take their experience to the next level with a Coral Restoration Certification Course to learn the skills needed to participate in coral restoration. Once qualified, divers can become coral farmers for a day. Those with a true passion for the reefs can take the next step with a longer-term internship program. The foundation works with a number of local hotels and resorts, and a favorite with vacationing divers is the Xbalanque, which is a luxury boutique property located within easy walking distance of Marine Park headquarters. For info: https://www.xbalanqueresort.com/

Roatan

Divers surface after relocating corals to a reef in the Roatan Marine Park. Photo: Roatan Marine Park

El Cid La Cieba, Cozumel

In 2023 the Cozumel Reef Restoration Program will mark its tenth year of research and action to protect and restore coral reefs in the waters of this favorite Mexican scuba diving destination. Founder Dr. German Mendez remains hands-on with both educational programs and volunteer diving activities. A unique aspect of this restoration project is the use of underwater platforms that become recovery stations for damaged corals. Volunteer divers help by scouring the seabed for coral fragments, which are then placed on the platforms and allowed to grow until they are large enough for replacement on the reefs. One to five-day programs are offered by the foundation, which is based at the El Cid La Ceiba Beach Hotel. For info: https://www.elcid.com/cozumel/el-cid-la-ceiba-beach- hotel/

Cozumel

Divers attach rescued coral fragments to a concrete platform as part of the Cozumel Reef Restoration Program. Photo: Cozumel Reef Restoration

Zeavola, Thailand

Set on a scenic beach at the northern tip of Koh Phi Phi Island, Zeavola is one of Thailand’s leading Five Star PADI dive resorts. The resort combines luxury accommodations with diving adventures that offer an opportunity for guests to get involved and make a difference in the marine environment. The volunteer program begins with instruction and practice on the methods used to reconstruct and replant coral structures. These skills are then put to work during dive trips that restore corals in the surrounding waters. Non-divers can also help, as the resort schedules regular snorkel excursions that remove fishing gear and plastic debris from the reefs to prevent corals from suffocating. For more info: https://www.zeavola.com/

Thai Phi Phi

A free diver participates in a coral reef cleaning session at Thailand’s Zeavola resort. Photo: Zeavola

Stuart Cove Snorkeling Bahamas
Asia, Bahamas, Bahamas-New Providence, Bahamas-Out Islands, Cabo San Lucas, Caribbean, Hawaii, Islands, Mexico, Oahu, Oceania, Plan, Play, Tahiti, Thailand, Trip Ideas

Where to Snorkel with Sharks

Leave a comment

 

Forget those old cliches about “shark-infested waters.” The reality is that these often-misunderstood creatures pose very little danger to humans, and are far more likely to avoid the splashing chaos of swimmers and divers. But there are certain places around the world where sharks can be found with predictable regularity, allowing snorkelers with a sense of adventure a chance at a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

New Providence, Bahamas

From Thunderball to Into the Blue, a vast majority of the underwater shark encounters that show up on the big screen were filmed in the waters near Stuart Cove’s dive center in the Bahamas. Decades of feeding have conditioned the area’s resident population of gray reef sharks to the presence of humans, and they hang around even when they aren’t getting a handout of fish bits. Snorkelers can get in on the action with trips to several of the area’s shallow reefs, where the sharks will cruise by, but otherwise ignore the fin-wearing interlopers. There’s usually a dive guide with a camera on hand to grab a shark-and- snorkeler shot for anyone looking for a great social media post. Visit: https://stuartcove.com/

Stuart Cove Sharks

Underwater sites with clear and calm waters in the Bahamas await divers and snorkelers on a Stuart Cove’s adventure. Guided adventures include shark sightings. Photo: Salisbury University Geography Students/Flickr

Bora Bora, Islands of Tahiti

The huge sand-bottom lagoon that surrounds the island of Bora Bora is filled with all manner of fish life, including a group of resident lemon sharks and rays. Encounters sometimes begin right from resort beaches or near over- water bungalows, but more guaranteed are the boat trips provided by several tour companies, which ferry snorkelers to areas within the lagoon where the sharks and rays are known to gather. Snorkelers who prefer a more controlled environment should visit the island’s Lagoonarium. This natural enclosure is located near the island’s eastern shore, and it is home to a variety of sharks, rays, tropical fish, and sea turtles. More adventurous swimmers can also book trips to outer reefs where dolphins and manta rays may join the mix. Visit: http://lagoonarium.e-monsite.com/

Bora Bora Snorkeling with Sharks

Shark and ray feeding trips are available from resorts for visiting snorkelers in Bora Bora. The sandy flat outside the lagoon is populated with hungry sharks and stingrays. Photo: Michael Rubenstein/Flickr

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo is the gateway to the Sea of Cortez. All manner of sharks and large marine mammals pass by this point on their way to and from seasonal hunting and breeding grounds. The Pelagic Safari takes small groups of snorkelers on a half-day or all-day speedboat cruise into the open waters of the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez. When a likely site is located, participants go overboard with snorkel gear and drift with the waves as the boat follows to provide support. Depending on the season, snorkelers may come face-to-face with anything from humpbacks and gray whales to blue and mako sharks, billfish, and massive schools of Mobula rays. Visit: https://pelagicsafari.com/

cabo sharks

Modula rays invade the waters off Southern Baja and the Sea of Cortez on a seasonal basis. Plan a visit May through July or November to January. Photo: Pelagic Safari

Oahu, Hawaii

There are some sharks that are best seen from behind bars, and that’s exactly what snorkelers can do at Hawaii Shark Encounters. These adventures take place three miles off the north shore of Oahu. After reaching deep water, the tour operator stops the boat and deploys shark cages that float on the surface. Snorkelers enter these cages, and chum with fish deployed to lure oceanic predators. The species that show up most often are Galapagos, sandbar, and tiger sharks, but there’s also a chance of a visit from blue sharks and hammerheads. To make the encounters more thrilling, the cages are fitted not only with bars, but also Plexiglas windows that provide unimpeded viewing. Visit: https://hawaiisharkencounters.com/

Oahu Hawaii Shark Diving

Both thrilling and educational, shark cage adventure tours on the north shore of Oahu will dispel many shark myths and create awareness for their protection. Photo: ptpablo/Flickr

Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

The Phi Phi Islands are the stuff of postcards and screen savers. Rising like giant limestone haystacks from emerald waters, these unique formations are surrounded by coral reefs and riddled with secret coves fronting white sand beaches. In recent years, one of the fastest-trending adventures that visitors to the islands can experience is the chance to swim with black-tip reef sharks. Several tour companies ferry snorkelers to shallow reefs, where these non-threatening sharks forage among the formations in search of hidden morsels. Morning is said to be the best time to sign up for these tours, as this is not only when the sharks are most active, but also the times when there are fewer swimmers in the water. After the swim, there’s usually a chance to visit mysterious sea caves and have lunch on a deserted beach. Visit: https://www.getyourguide.com/discovery/phi-phi-islands-l9477/snorkeling-tc57/?utm_force=0

Phi Phi Islands Snorkeling

From Phuket, visitors can take boat tours to the amazing Phi Phi Islands. Some may stop at Monkey Beach, while others head out to reefs. Photo: Corey Hamilton/Flickr

Bimini, Bahamas

The waters of the Gulf Stream flow close to the Bahamian island of Bimini, bringing game fish and sharks in from the deep blue. This gives snorkelers a rare chance to meet oceanic marine life in shallow water, including reef sharks and hammerheads. The starting point for these thrilling encounters is Bimini Undersea,  which is located within the fisherman’s village at Resorts World Bimini. Participants board speedboats for a three-mile trip to a formation known as Triangle Rocks. There, in depths of 25 feet or less, the reefs attract passing sharks, which are clearly visible in the clear water. This half-day trip is considered safe and appropriate for all ages, as the sharks gather in anticipation of a free meal, but are not fed while snorkelers are in the water. Visit: https://biminiundersea.net/

Bimini Bahamas Dive With Sharks

Up-close views of reef sharks can be experienced in special programs like The Sharks Adventure at a beautiful reef, south of Bimini. Photo: sassamafracken/Flickr

Oahu Hawaii Outrigger Waikiki Beach
Barbados, Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, Islands, Key West, Oahu, Oceania, Plan, St. Kitts, Tahiti, Trip Ideas

Christmas, Island Style

Leave a comment

 

If your idea of a white Christmas involves ivory colored sands, accented by palm tree green and ocean blues, then you need to head for the tropics, where islanders celebrate the holiday season in unique ways that combine familiar traditions with elements of the local culture and setting. To help you start planning, here are six idyllic destinations where you can experience Christmas island style.

Hawaii

Christmas is a big event in Hawaii, but they do things island style. Santa sheds his polar garb in favor of board shorts and an Aloha shirt, and trades his sleigh in for an outrigger canoe pulled by dolphins. Locals decorate palm trees with lights and sing carols in the Hawaiian language accompanied by ukulele, but they also cue up for the arrival of the Christmas ships that bring more traditional pines from the mainland. You may see locals adding a Santa hat to their swimsuits, and call out “Mele Kalikimaka” as they head to the beach. Christmas dinner is served luau-style, with a roast pig as the centerpiece. The best place to catch all the tropical traditions of the season is at Waikiki Beach, with a stay at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, where the trees are decorated with tiny flip flops and surfboards, and hula performers replace Christmas carolers. This is also where Santa paddles his outrigger canoe ashore each year to have breakfast with hotel guests.

Oahu Outrigger Aloha Christmas

At Oahu’s Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, the lobby Christmas tree provides a traditional reminder of the season, while ukulele tunes and bare feet proclaim: “you are in the islands.” Photo: Outrigger Waikiki

St. Kitts

Forget the twelve days of Christmas. On the island of St. Kitts, the holiday season lasts from late November through the first of January. This is the time of the Sugar Mas, an island-wide celebration that combines elements of Carnival with English Yuletide traditions. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, streets are filled with a series of colorful parades and processions. Clowns, stilt-walking moko jumbies and troupes of street performers dance to the rhythms of soca and calypso music, while pageant contestants showcase elaborate costumes. Christmas provides a brief respite as families and friends gather for special holiday meals, then the party returns with J’ouvert, when costumed dancers fill the streets of Basseterre on Boxing Day. The six-week celebration culminates with the Grand Parade on January first. All are welcome at these street parties, but guests who want to mix revelry with relaxation might want to choose a quieter setting for their home base. A favorite is Belle Monte Farm, where cottages sit within a 400-acre farm on the foothills of Mount Liamuiga. This setting provides an authentic sense of local culture, while also reward palates with exceptional dining opportunities.

St. Kitts Holiday Dish

In St. Kitts, Christmas is a time to enjoy the island’s national dish, which showcases flavors of the island with stewed salt fish and spicy plantains, seasoned breadfruit and coconut dumplings. Photo: St. Kitts Tourism Authority

Fiji

In the Islands of Fiji, the Christmas season is about family, fellowship and food. Beginning several weeks before Christmas Day, homes are decorated with candles, lamps and ribbons, and entire communities come together to sing and perform traditional dances. Christmas Eve is the time for traditional lovo feasts, and a special holiday dish is palusami, which is spiced mutton wrapped in leaves and cooked in coconut cream. On Christmas Day, most islanders head to church in the morning, then head to the beach for more food and fellowship. The best ways for visitors to tap into the community spirit is with a stay at a small property such as Navini Island Resort, which is located on a small coral cay near Malolo Island, and accommodates just 20 guests in ten traditional villas. On Christmas morning, the staff begins Christmas Day by singing carols outside of guest villas, and all are invited to partake in a Christmas service. In the evening, the kitchen also serves a traditional western Christmas dinner complete with plum pudding.

Fiji Yasawa Islands

Singing is a core element of Fijian culture. At Christmas time, traditional choirs may perform a mixture of Polynesian folk tunes and European carols. Photo: Chris McLennan/Tourism Fiji

Bora Bora

In the two weeks leading up to Christmas, the island of Bora Bora is humming with preparations. The town of Vaitape becomes the site of Le Village de Noel—the Christmas Fair. Here on the town’s central square, vendors set up stalls that offer a wide variety of local products that includes shell and mother of pearl jewelry to hand-made clothing, colorful pottery and traditional musical instruments. The market overflows with local fruits and flowers, and crowds browse to the sounds of ukuleles and guitar music. An island-wide party takes place on the Saturday before Christmas, beginning with a parade of colorful floats, followed by a night of dancing and dining from ‘roulottes‘, the island’s iconic mobile restaurants. On Sunday, crowds gather once again for Christmas caroling, with performances from island choirs. Visitors can complement these public events with a private holiday celebration at the Four Seasons Resort, where the first class festive package begins with an arrival by private chartered jet and a stay at a premier over-water bungalow. Participants are treated to a special five- course dinner on Christmas Eve, and an even more sumptuous nine-course New Year’s Eve feast, followed by fireworks on the beach.

Bora Bora Christmas Four Seasons

At the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, the deck at the Sunset Bar becomes the setting for memorable celebrations at Christmas time and New Years. Photo: Timothy Joyce/Flickr

Barbados

On an island where Caribbean and British cultures blend with seamless ease, holiday traditions dating from the old country still hold sway. Radio stations play traditional carols, homes and businesses are decorated in festive arrays, downtown Bridgetown glows under red and green holiday lights, and even the traffic roundabouts are transformed to depict Christmas themes. Locals don their seasonal best to attend the annual Christmas morning service at Queen’s Park, with music performed by the Royal Barbados Police Force Band. Christmas dinner is another cherished tradition, and centerpieces of this meal are great cake, jug-jug and clove-studded ham. Jug-jug is a traditional dish inspired by the Scottish dish known as haggis. The Barbados version is made with pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs and salted meat. Great cake is a seasonal favorite made with dried fruits and generous quantities of liquor. Visitors can sample this traditional fare on the Christmas day luncheon at The Crane. This landmark hotel embraces the spirit of the season with lights, nightly caroling and special holiday menus.

Barbados Christmas

The Barbados Royal Police Band ushers in the Christmas season with traditional Christmas tunes during the annual Caroling on the Green concert in St. James, Barbados. Photo: Andrew Browne/Barbados Tourism

Key West

The town of Key West lights up for the Christmas season—literally. There is the lighted boat parade, the lighted bicycle parade, the City Lights tour aboard the Old Town Trolley, and the Harbor Walk of Lights, featuring whimsical Christmas trees created from lobster traps, fishing floats and other nautical paraphernalia. Organized walking tours of the historic district visit festively lit inns and take in private homes decked out for the season. And not all the events are visual, as there are also performances of Christmas music, The Nutcracker Ballet, Handel’s Messiah, and more. And as expected from a town that loves its parties, Christmas celebrations meld into the island’s legendary New Year’s pageants and parades. Most festivities take place in the downtown district centered around Duval Street. The best place to stay for a Key West Christmas is the Pier House. Here, guests can enjoy a private swath of beach and spectacular sunsets yet are just a few blocks away from the action.

Key West Holidays Dewey House

Like many of Key West’s downtown inns and guesthouses, the Dewey House Bed & Breakfast celebrates the holiday spirit with Christmas decorations and lights. Photo: Florida Keys News Bureau

Bora Bora Conrad
Islands, Oceania, Stay, Tahiti, Trip Ideas

Bora Bora’s Top Snorkeling Resorts

Leave a comment

 

The sparkling waters of Bora Bora’s lagoon are a paradise for swimmers and snorkelers. Entering this aquatic paradise is as easy as wading in from a beachfront room, or dropping in from the deck of an overwater bungalow. But some locations are better than others, and we’ve found three resorts that offer the best underwater scenery and fish life, along with the easiest access to the water.

Conrad Bora Bora Nui

A stay at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui begins with a boat ride, because the resort is located on Motu To’opua, an unspoiled islet off the west coast of Bora Bora. This 114-room resort, formerly known as the Hilton Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation before reopening in March of 2017. Much more than deco update, this renewal includes room enlargements, new decks, the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows and new bathrooms with oversized soak tubs. The over-water bungalows are among the largest and most luxurious in the Islands of Tahiti, and range up to a two-story presidential suite with 3,000 square feet of living space. The property now includes a full-service spa, kids club, mini-golf course, fitness center and several dining options.

Conrad Bora Bora Overwater Bungalow

Many of the recently renovated overwater bungalows at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui now include private plunge pools and catamaran decks suspended over the lagoon. Photo: Adam Bruzzone/Conrad Bora Bora

Unlike some over-water properties, which perch over stark sand bottoms, many of the bungalow rooms at Bora Bora Nui follow the contours of a reef line that provides shelter for a range of marine life. Guests can get a preview of what awaits below through glass floor panels, then enter right from their private deck. Insiders say the best snorkeling is from bungalows in the 300 wing. There are more reefs awaiting discover at points all around the resort’s private island, along with regular excursions to nearby sites where snorkelers can swim with stingrays and turtles, or participate in a shark encounter. Families with younger children may want to schedule a trip to the Bora Bora Lagoonarium, which is a private snorkeling park where marine life encounters take place in a controlled environment.

Conrad Bora Bora

The Conrad Bora Bora Nui is located on a small island to the west of Bora Bora, where guests can enjoy a private white sand beach, or follow trails into the island’s wooded hillsides. Photo: Adam Bruzzone/Conrad Bora Bora

Le Méridien Bora Bora

Water is a key element of this landmark resort, which straddles a barrier island between the blue Pacific Ocean and Bora Bora’s turquoise lagoon. The property can only be reached by boat, and rooms perch over the water, or overlook a white sand beach, with sunset views of iconic Mount Otemanu. The setting is that of a traditional Polynesian village, with plenty of thatched roofs and native woods, but the amenities are fully modern. The resort’s signature Le Tipanie restaurant sits on the banks of a sheltered interior lagoon, while the Le Te Ava restaurant allows guests to dine with their feet in the sand. The water sport center’s range of water sports includes kayaks, wave runners, parasailing, waterskiing, deep-sea fishing and excursions in traditional outrigger canoes. An on-site spa and wellness center offers a range of relaxing and therapeutic treatments.

Le Meridien Bora Bora Resort

At Le Méridien Bora Bora, the Le Tipanie restaurant sits on the banks of the resort’s private lagoon, which is a natural body of water that is home to a wide variety of fish and marine life. Photo: Ben Thouard/Le Méridien

Le Méridien has a reputation as one of the best resorts for snorkelers in Bora Bora. As expected, there are things to see right below the over-water bungalows, but that’s just the beginning. The property’s sheltered lagoon is filled with colorful tropical fish, and home to a turtle sanctuary and coral nursery. Guests are able to explore these calm and sheltered waters with mask and snorkel, which is an especially good option for novices and children. Highlights include a school of resident eagle rays and several colonies that house colorful clownfish. More experienced snorkelers can venture to a more exposed reef line on the ocean side of the resort, and the truly adventurous can ask directions to an area known as shark hole, which is a nursery where black tip reef sharks give birth.

Sea Turtle Le Meridien Bora Bora

Sea turtles are a common sight in the waters around the overwater bungalows at Le Méridien Bora Bora. The resort has created an on-site sanctuary where rescued and injured turtles can recover. Photo: Le Méridien

Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort

It’s not surprising that the setting has a cinematic quality, because this beachfront resort was originally built by filmmaker Dino de Laurentiis as a set for his film Hurricane. Today, the property includes 37 traditional French Polynesian bungalows with pandanus leaf thatched roofs, each tucked into a lush tropical garden fronting a stunning white-sand beach. Another 13 bungalows sit on pilings in the lagoon, and a ferry connects guests to a nearby private island that holds an additional 20 overwater rooms. Rich woods and bright colors set the tones in the overwater bungalows, where glass panels in the floor reveal tropical fish swimming below. Each offers a king size bed, luxurious bathroom and a private terrace, where breakfast can be delivered by outrigger canoe.

Sofitel Bora Bora

The overwater bungalows at the Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort are just a short swim away from a colorful reef, where snorkelers can see angelfish, butterfly fish, eagle rays and turtles. Photo: Sofitel

Marara Beach is located within a sheltering cove on Bora Bora’s southeast coast. This location ensures calm waters for snorkeling on scattered coral heads that begin less than 100 feet from shore. Guests staying in garden bungalows can wade in directly from the beach or enter from the resort’s dock. Access is even easier from over-water bungalows, which include entry ladders on waterfront decks. The greatest numbers of tropical fish are found on the more defined reefs at the eastern end of the beach, and in the area between the resort and Sofitel’s private island. For more snorkeling adventures, guests can paddle a canoe or kayak to the reefs surrounding a nearby deserted island.

Sofitel Bora Bora

Wood tones and warm accents provide a counterpoint to views of turquoise waters in the bedroom of an overwater bungalow at the Sofitel Bora Bora Marara Beach Resort. Photo: Sofitel

St. Lucia Sugar Beach
Bahamas-Out Islands, British Virgin Islands, Cancun, Caribbean, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Islands, Maui, Mexico, Oceania, Play, Playa del Carmen, St. Lucia, Tahiti, Trip Ideas, Turks & Caicos

Supermodels and Sand: 10 Top Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Locations

Leave a comment

 

Sports Illustrated invented the swimsuit issue more than 50 years ago, tempting readers with images of bathing beauties vamping in some of the most scenic locations on earth. The supermodels may take center stage, but the resorts and beaches that provide the backdrop also draw oohs and aahs from readers and viewers. Here are some of the featured locations where you can indulge in an amazing beach vacation and maybe convince your mate to help recreate a few iconic poses from spots like the Pitons on St. Lucia. Photo: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

Tahiti Mooriea Hiking
Islands, Oceania, Play, Tahiti

Tahiti’s Best Hikes

 

Truth is, no one comes to Tahiti just to hike. They come for white sand beaches, sparkling lagoons and kaleidoscopic reefs. But there are still good reasons to pack the walking shoes along with the flip-flops, and those who take to the trails are rewarded with lush landscapes and magnificent views. Some routes are easy, well maintained and marked. Others not so much. Fortunately, guides are available at reasonable rates, and many are fonts of wisdom on island flora, fauna and history. Here are some of our favorite hikes on the three major islands of the Tahiti group.

Banyan Trees Tahiti

A grove of banyan trees provides shade on a footpath through Moorea’s Opunohu Valley. This popular hiking route leads to an elevated overlook known as Three Coconut Trees Pass. Photo: Xavier Lancry/Tahiti Tourisme

Tahiti

One of the best ways to discover Tahiti’s interior beauty is on the Fautaua Valley trail. The walk starts at Papeete Town Hall, and follows a marked route along a jungle stream framed by lush groves where mango, guava, and banana trees grow wild. Three miles later, you will reach the base of 450- foot-high Fautaua Falls. Stop and enjoy or continue on for a steep half-hour climb to the top of the cascade.

More adventurous hikers can hire a guide for a trip through the Hitiaa Lava Tubes. A two-mile walk leads to a series of giant tunnels formed by cooling lava. A river runs through these passages, which are up to 900 feet long. Exploring the tubes will require some wading and scrambles down small waterfalls and across boulders, so plan on getting wet. Tahiti’s most challenging hike is an ascent of the island’s second highest peak, 6,88-foot Mt. Aorai. This demanding 12-mile round trip is an all day adventure that passes by some steep cliffs, and is best done with a guide, and during the dry season.

Bora Bora

A must-do hike on the island of Bora Bora is a visit to the Valley of the Kings. An easy three-hour walk into a lush interior basis that holds the recently- discovered remains of ancient Polynesian homes and temples, and a huge banyan tree that is a living mausoleum. Along the way, guides share stories of island geology, ancestral plants, medicine, Polynesian legends and sacred trees. They may also share wild island fruits and coconuts plucked straight from the trees.

Other walks in the valley include the Ancestors Road and the Track of the Past, which delve deeper into the historic secrets of the valley. More ambitious hikers can make the uphill trek to the sacred Cave of Anau, or make a six-hour round trip climb to the 2,100-foot summit of Mt. Pahia for 360-degree views of the island.

Moorea

For an easy and rewarding walk, follow a trail from the village of Afareaitu through a green landscape of mango trees, past coffee plants, wild orchids and vanilla. An easy half-hour ramble brings you to a pair of waterfalls that tumble 200 feet into pools that are ideal for a cooling swim. Moorea’s most popular hike is the loop through the Opunohu Valley, which follows a well- maintained trail as it climbs some 500 feet to the high point known as Three Coconut Trees Pass. From this elevated saddle hikers can enjoy open vistas of the north and south coasts of the island, plus up-close views of Mt. Mouaroa and Mt. Tohiea.

A slightly more strenuous route is the two-hour walk from the village of Vaiare to Pao Pao on Cook’s Bay. The route ascends to a ridge that delivers grand views of 7,300-foot Mt. Orohena, as well as the whole interior of Moorea. The island’s most challenging trek is a climb to the summit of Mt. Rotui, which holds a special place in Polynesian mythology, and provides a glimpse into the interior of an extinct volcanic crater.

InterContinental Bora Bora
Islands, Oceania, Stay, Tahiti

Bora Bora’s Best Over-the-Water Bungalows

 

It’s the ultimate tropical island fantasy. You are ensconced in a thatch- roofed bungalow perched above turquoise waters. Colorful tropical fish flit among the pilings, while across the lagoon an emerald peak is lit by the setting sun. Over-water accommodations are a signature offering in the islands of Tahiti, and no place on earth can equal the magnificent collection that graces the lagoons of Bora Bora. For the ultimate island escape, these prime properties have no equal.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

The bungalows at the Four Seasons Resort epitomize the over-water experience. Glass floor panels provide provocative peaks at what lies below, verandas and gazebos command unobstructed views of iconic Mount Otemanu, and infinity edge plunge pools and soak tubs blur the boundaries between water and sky. Mornings begin with breakfasts delivered by ceremonial Polynesian canoe; 24-7 butler service provides for every need throughout the day; and intimate personally catered sunset dinners can be enjoyed on private decks or on a remote beach.

Bora Bora Four Seasons OVerwater Bungalows

The over-water bungalows at the Four Seasons Bora Bora include private infinity edge plunge pools and soak tubs, plus direct access to the waters of the lagoon. Photo: Moevea de Rosemont/Four Seasons

A stroll down a connecting boardwalk leads to Four Season’s private 54-acre island, where four restaurants and beach bars offer a range of cuisines and unsurpassed views of lagoon and reef. Equally stunning is the view from the relaxation spaces of the signature spa, which features a number of treatments that incorporate traditional Polynesian ingredients. Guests have exclusive access to an over-water yoga platform and the Ruahatu Lagoon Sanctuary, where snorkel excursions are supervised by the resort’s in-house marine biologist. At night, bedrooms can be opened to the lagoon to invite sea breezes and the gentle sound of lapping waves.

Bora Bora Four Seasons Launch

A complementary shuttle boat brings guests from the airport to the Four Season’s private 54-acre island. Snorkelers enjoy exclusive access to the Ruahatu Lagoon Sanctuary. Photo: Barbara Kraft/Four Seasons

InterContinental Bora Bora Resort

Tucked between an aquamarine lagoon and the sapphire blue water of the Pacific Ocean, Motu Piti Aau deserves its nickname: the islet of two hearts. This small strip of land is home to the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort, where water lovers will indeed have much to take to heart. Here, bungalows don’t just sit over the water; they embrace the aquatic realm in every way possible. Floor to ceiling glass walls bring panoramic views of the lagoon into every room. Glass topped coffee tables give unique views of tropical fish, and even the bathtub offers a picture perfect view of the water.

Bora Bora InterContinental Bungalow Overhead

An aerial view of an over-water bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora. Steps lead from the shaded verandah to a sun deck where guests can plunge into the sparkling lagoon. Photo: Tim Mckenna/InterContinental

The décor is a blend of sleek contemporary and traditional Polynesian design touches, leading seamlessly from inside to waterfront verandahs that offer both shaded porches and warm sundecks. The property includes an array of casually elegant restaurants and bars, and the Deep Ocean Spa – is the first seawater therapy spa in French Polynesia. In over-water treatment rooms fitted with glass floors, guests can experience thalassotherapy, which blends modern wellness techniques with ancient Polynesian healing rituals, making use of essential elements exacted from cool, nutrient rich waters pumped from ocean depths of 3,000 feet.

InterContinental Bora Bora Lagoon At Night

Spectacular sunset views of the lagoon and Mount Otemanu come standard with every over-water bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora. The resort’s spa also faces the water. Photo: InterContinental

St. Regis Resort Bora Bora

The views may draw your attention outward, but at the St. Regis, inner spaces are equally spectacular. Sprawling over four private islands defined by white sand beaches, lagoons and tidal channels, this resort offers the most spacious and luxurious overwater accommodations in the South Pacific. One-bedroom units offer up to 2,000 square feet of private living space, while the premier two-bedroom Royal Overwater Villa is one of the largest overwater hotel rooms in the world. Waterfront decks and private gazebos flank plunge pools where cantilevered lights hang over the bright waters of the lagoon. Sun beds and heated whirlpools provide additional opportunities for relaxation, while interiors are adorned with custom Polynesian sculptures and scenic paintings by local artists.

St Regis Bora Bora Private Whirlpool Villa

Over-water villas at the St. Regis Bora Bora include shaded gazebos and heated whirlpools. Interiors are adorned with Polynesian sculptures and original works by local artists. Photo: Eric Pinel/St. Regis

Though expansive, the immaculate landscaped resort grounds maintain an intimate feel, and include all the amenities and luxuries associated with the St. Regis brand, including their legendary butler service and a signature over-water restaurant by star chef Jean-Georges. Sitting on its own island is the Clarins spa, which features luxurious Polynesian, Asian and proprietary Clarins Touch treatments.

Bora Bora St Regis

The over-water villas at the St. Regis Bora Bora are the largest and most luxurious of any resort in Polynesia. The property stretches across four immaculately landscaped private islands. Photo: Eric Pinel/St. Regis

Mt Otemanu Bora Bora
Islands, Oceania, Plan, Tahiti

Island Snapshots: Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora

 

The jagged spire of Mount Otemanu rises more than 2,000 above the blue waters of Bora Bora’s turquoise lagoon. This jagged remnant of an ancient volcano dominates the view from all corners of the island and its surrounding ring of coral reefs and motus—the local name for small barrier islands.

The upscale resorts that surround the lagoon place their iconic over-water bungalows to face the mountain, providing guests with panoramic views of water, forest and rock that change color throughout the day as the sun moves from east to west. Hikers can ascend to the halfway point, but not the summit.