Experiences in Tahiti
Clustered into five archipelagos: the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas Islands and the Austral Islands, The Islands of Tahiti have in common a delightful blend of Polynesian and French cultures, and a consistently tropical climate. Experience all the various Tahiti activities while island hopping, from the Bora Bora overwater bungalows, to a true Tahiti surf experience in Moorea, or sipping Tahitian noni juice and trying local Tahitian foods at Papeete’s market on Tahiti Island.
French Polynesia’s world of oceanic islands offers vacationers an almost limitless range of vacation activities, both passive and active, in case you’d rather spend a leisurely day plating some laid-back Tahiti golf, or catching some sun.
There are many sides and activities to The Islands of Tahiti. Yet they are all connected by Mana. Mana is a life force and spirit that surrounds us. You can see it. Touch it. Taste it. Feel it. And from the moment you arrive, you will understand why we say our islands are Embraced by Mana.
Here, you’ll find it all. From paragliding to beach combing to embracing the laid-back island lifestyle, The Islands of Tahiti are packed with a mix of tropical adventure and blissful relaxation. Stay in Tahiti’s overwater bungalows to experience true island living while you’re here. Or go snorkeling to get up close and personal with the local wildlife. If you’re feeling even more daring, take a trip to swim with the Tahiti sharks! Shop for cultured pearls at Papeete’s market, take a Tahiti cruise, play a few rounds of golf, enjoy a motu picnic with the family – there’s so much to do in The Islands of Tahiti that you’ll never want to leave.
Tahiti Shopping
Bringing a few treasures back from your trip to the Islands of Tahiti is essential! Jewelry, crafts, sarongs, monoi oil, gourmet products … the list of souvenirs you can bring back from The Islands of Tahiti is endless. Our best advice? Leave lots of room for your shopping finds when you pack for your next trip. You won’t regret it.
Tahiti shopping is more than just crossing off items on a checklist – it’s about the experience of interacting with shopkeepers who live and breathe the hospitality that the Islands of Tahiti is known for. Take the time to explore the small storefronts, regular markets and resort boutiques for the keepsakes that will allow you to travel in your mind back to The Islands of Tahiti long after you’ve returned home.
The Islands of Tahiti Souvenirs
Tahitian Cultured Pearls And Jewelry
Tahiti cultured pearls from pearl farms on the Tuamotu and the Gambier Islands are the must-have souvenirs for every visitor to French Polynesia. You can buy Tahitian pearls mounted or unmounted (pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings, etc.). The prices are very wide-ranging and depend on a number of criteria (quality, luster, size and shape). Black pearls are more rare and are typically more expensive. Strict regulation guarantees the quality of our pearls. You can request a certificate of authenticity from your reseller. Polynesian creators and designers compete to combine pearls with mother of pearl and other natural materials (wood, bone, leather, fabric, etc.) to produce original pieces.
Vanilla & Other Gourmet Grocery Products from The Islands of Tahiti
One of the best The Islands of Tahiti gifts for foodies is Tahitian Vanilla. It is recognized as the best vanilla in the world by master chefs who value its taste and aroma. You can find it in several forms (beans, powder, extract, etc.) by producers on our islands, in particular Taha’a, an island renowned for its high-quality vanilla plantations and beans.
Pickled mango, pineapple or papaya, fondants and fruit pastilles, honey from fragrant exotic blossoms, special vanilla, coconut and tiare flower flavored teas also make for great Tahiti souvenirs. Polynesian gourmet grocery products are used as the basis for a number of unique recipes just waiting for you to discover when you return home. You can find all these unique products in supermarkets and self-service stores throughout The Islands of Tahiti.
Monoi Oil & Cosmetics
Monoi, a term borrowed from the ancient Tahitian word mōno’i, is made from refined coconut oil and macerated Tahitian tiare flowers and is sold in different forms. Handmade monoi is prepared by māmā (grandmothers) from the islands and sold by the producers directly (along the roadside, at craft shows, etc.) and in Papeete’s market. Commercially produced monoi, prepared by a number of local laboratories, is scented (sandalwood, ylang-ylang, jasmine, etc.) and can be found as a cosmetic item in supermarkets or in pharmacies (balm, creams and lotions for the body, shampoo, soap, etc.). Other local products and natural ingredients can be added to enhance its special properties (tāmanu oil, pressed from nuts with healing properties, or noni, an ancient remedy with anti-inflammatory and anti-infective properties).
The Tahiti Monoï Road is the global source of monoï oil, the famous beauty and skin oil used in cosmetics, creams and lotions. Visitors can now experience all facets of the monoï oil industry with a newly organized collective of experiences concentrated along the circle-island road. Choose from any of the 22 botanic workshops, coconut groves, tiare Tahiti flower growers, traditional and modern manufacturers, and spas that specialize in using monoï oil in their treatments. Information and maps for shopping in Tahiti can be provided by your Preferred Travel Professional or by your resort or cruise ship.
Carvings and Objects of Art
Marquesas islanders are experts at carving in any material (bone, wood or stone), in any size and for any use: decorative wood carvings, such as tiki carvings, statues, oars, clubs and puzzles, or utilitarian carvings, such as ‘ūmete (plates and bowls), penu (pestles), ‘ana (coconut graters), etc. Māmās in the Austral Islands excel in weaving and embroidery (purses, baskets, hats, mats and a variety of decorative items). The residents of the Tuamotus are experts at making all kinds of items from shells and mother-of-pearl (necklaces, vases, lampshades, a host of reproductions, etc.).
Sarongs (Pareos), Clothing & Accessories
The sarong, or pareo, a word derived from the Tahitian word, pāreu, is a piece of cloth that is usually either painted or printed with flower patterns, often dried in the sun and found in every wardrobe. Both men and women wear the pareo on any occasion, whether at home, on the beach, at parties and during traditional ceremonies and cultural events. The pareo can be knotted in several different ways and serves as more than a garment. Local artists strive to outdo each other in creativity with colors, patterns and techniques. Polynesian designers have translated pareo patterns into original ready-to-wear fashion and accessory lines such as purses, belts and shoes.
A tifaifai quilt is a sheet of fabric that has been sewn with one or several patchworks. The whole quilt symbolizes love, affection, respect and consideration and is usually handcrafted by other family members and given to a couple at their wedding. Tifaifai quilts are a terrific Tahiti souvenir for newlyweds. Tifaifai quilts, along with bulk cloth and other woven textiles can be found at craft fairs or at the Municipal Market in Papeete.
Tattoos/TĀTAU
Why not bring back an indelible souvenir to remember an unforgettable trip? Polynesian tattoo artists are known for their art and creativity. Should you decide to get one, strict hygiene requirements are enforced on all the islands.
Other Tahitian Souvenirs
You can find postcards, posters, handsome photography books, calendars, keychains and other small objects for sale in souvenir and stationery stores. Postage stamps and other philatelic products are sold at Post Office branch, at the Mahina Philately Centre and online at www.tahitiphilatelie.com
The Best Places to Buy Tahiti Gifts
The simple answer is everywhere. On Tahiti and the main islands frequented by tourists, you can find art galleries, souvenirs shops, bric-à-brac, crafts and artwork (carvings, paintings, etc.) from all the islands as well as typical Polynesian products. The Papeete municipal market is the ideal place to shop at the end of your stay to take home sarongs (pareos), baskets, works of traditional Polynesian art and a load of souvenirs. The two-story Vaima shopping center in the center of Papeete has a wide range of souvenirs, shops and galleries.
Hotel shops also have a large selection of souvenirs from The Islands of Tahiti. Local food products and cosmetics can be found in supermarkets, shops or, if you’re looking for beauty products, in pharmacies. You can also buy crafts directly from producers and craftspeople during your stay.
On other islands, like Rangiroa or Bora Bora, shopping means exploring a handful of specialty shops in the main towns. You’ll find in these quaint shops island-specific arts, crafts, jewelry, homewares and other locally made specialties that can only be found in The Islands of Tahiti.
Shopping on The Islands of Tahiti
Souvenirs, local food products, cosmetics, and more can be found just about anywhere on the island; you just have to know where to look. Hotel shops offer a large selection of Polynesian collectables and the Papeete market is the ideal place to start your search for art and jewelry.
Traditional Tahitian Food
French Polynesia benefits from fantastic weather all year round. It’s a virtual South Pacific Garden of Eden, where exuberance and abundance go hand in hand. In this sunny country, farmers grow a wide variety of fruits, spices and vegetables which are transformed into aromatic and exotic dishes to delight the senses.
French Polynesian Food and Ingredients
The legendary breadfruit plant or ‘uru, the coconut, the dozens of varieties of bananas including the incomparable orange plantain banana or fe’i, the various root vegetables such as the taro, the tarua, the ufi, and the ‘umara make up the basis of island cuisine. Sweet potatoes and taro leaves are often used in soups and stews or served as a side dish.
Fish from the lagoon or from the ocean, ranging from perch, mahi mahi and parrot fish are also on the menu for typical Polynesian dishes. Raw fish, sometimes marinated in lime juice and coconut milk as in the famous recipe for ‘poisson cru à la Tahitienne’.
Papayas, mangos, pineapples, watermelon, grapefruit, coconut water, limes, and the iconic Tahitian vanilla pod are used to prepare tasty desserts that showcase the influence of French cuisine when dining in The Islands of Tahiti.
The Islands of Tahiti Food Specialties
All these Tahitian foods are typically cooked in traditional Polynesian underground ovens, ahima’a. Fruits, vegetables, suckling pigs, Tahitian chicken fāfā (local spinach) and other delicacies such as po’e or local fruit pastilles cook underneath red hot coals. A drizzle of fresh coconut oil on these traditional Tahitian dishes helps them turn out deliciously creamy.
There are even specialized tours that let you discover the flavors of The Islands of Tahiti on picnics organized on beaches or on a motu (islet). These tours are an opportunity to taste freshly caught fish, such as the tasty ume, the Long Nose Emperor fish of the lagoons and the little jacks.
Tahitian Food Classes in The Islands of Tahiti
Tahitian cooking is a blend of French and Asian flavors combined with fresh island ingredients to create something truly exotic. Serves six.
Master Chefs subtly combine fish, local produce and other local products with spices and ingredients from elsewhere. Why not try your hand in the kitchen and learn the culinary arts of The Islands of Tahiti? In some of the large hotels, the chef even organizes culinary workshops.
