Tahiti, French Polynesia: A Genuine Tropical Oasis
Tahiti is a tropical island paradise that sits like a gem in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It’s this location that makes it home to beautiful landscapes both above and under water, a very unique culture, and tons of adventures to embark on. Traveling to Tahiti is as easy as simply applying for a passport. And you can get there even quicker with expedited US passport renewal.
Tahiti is located in a group of islands called French Polynesia and is, in fact, the largest of this particular group. French is the main language spoken in Tahiti but many of the native residents speak in the Tahitian dialect. With plenty of nonstop flights from California and Hawaii available, getting to Tahiti is easy but if you are the owner of a lost US passport, be sure to report it immediately and get a new one as a passport is required for travel to Tahiti. There are no other visas, vaccinations or certifications required but it is imperative that you have a passport.
As you would imagine, this island paradise holds great adventure for the person who enjoys snorkeling and scuba diving. St. Etienne Drop-Off, Tetopa Grotto and Papa Whisky are three of the most popular diving locations found here. Scuba diving enthusiast travel from all over the world to enjoy the shipwrecks and caves in this underwater paradise. The beautiful black sand beaches are a result of historic volcanic activity as the main island is actually made of two volcanic mountains. Hiking in the mountains of Tahiti is a wonderful way to get a personal look at the beauty that exists in the natural landscape on this island with winding mountain paths just waiting to be explored.
Some activities that are uniquely Tahitian include shark feeding, living in cottages build over the water and going on a treasure hunt for the illusive Tahitian pearl. If you are a real adventure junkie, you may want to enjoy wading into four to seven feet of crystal blue water and assist a trainer feed the sharks that swim right by you. Staying in one of their over-water cottages provides a unique look at sea life both day and night. Many of these cottages have a glass floor through which colorful salt water fish can be clearly seen in the crystal clear water below. You may have heard of the beautiful Tahitian black pearls but the truth is there are pearls of various colors waiting to be found on the beautiful beaches and, of course, don’t forget to visit mysterious Easter Island.
Dancing is spectacular in the Tahitian culture and they are famous for their own otea dance. This dance resembles the Hawaiian hula but is much faster and focuses almost exclusively on the hip movement. Dancers wear the traditional grass skirt and astonish the audience with their rapid hip movement. Some of the crafts sought after by any knowledgeable visitor include woodwork items, woven materials and quilts. These are highly sought after and it is rare that a tourist escapes this island without buying at least one of these items.
If the thought of beautiful and rare black beaches and sun and water are an irresistible combination for you, look to the west and prepare for your visit to Tahiti. As you prepare, is you need to replace your lost US passport, locate an online expedited pasport renewal service, get that passport and then pack the sunscreen and head for a real island paradise, Tahiti.