It’s hard to hear the word “Tahiti” without letting your mind wander toward thoughts of palm trees and white-sand beaches (go ahead, try us). This South Pacific destination is the main island of French Polynesia, a 118-island system that includes other tropical gems like Bora Bora and Mo’orea. But while tourists tend to flock to Tahiti’s sister islands, there are plenty of reasons to stay put in Tahiti.
The volcanic nature of these islands lends itself to beautifully rugged and rainforest-capped peaks that set the scene for a Tahitian escape. You can shop for Tahiti’s famed black pearls or dine on fresh poisson cru, the de facto national dish. Raw fish is marinated in coconut milk and lime juice for a sweetly refreshing meal. After a day of dining, shopping or lounging by the beach, you can take in the sights and sounds of traditional Polynesian dancing before hitting the lively nightlife scene in the capital of Papeete. And in the morning, you can do it all over again — after all, you’re on island time now.
Enjoy a taste of this tropical paradise with this photo tour of Tahiti.
(Main image: veroyama)
