Traveling to Tahiti With the Family

Tahaa: the Vanilla Island

Tahaa was the final stop on our family trip to French Polynesia, a sparsely populated island trapped in the same lagoon with its larger neighbor, Raiatea. Tahaa is known for black pearl production and vanilla, regarded as the finest in the world. It’s also home to one of the premier resorts in the South Pacific. 

I stayed in Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa on my first visit to Tahaa in 2016, so it was quite easy to convince the folks to splash out for a luxury stay to end the trip. The resort is located on Motu Tautau, a small islet perfectly positioned between Bora Bora and Tahaa’s main island. 

Tahaa Island Tour

When you stay at a luxury resort like Le Tahaa, it’s hard to get out of your overwater bungalow or beach villa. But Tahaa is so beautiful and small that it would be a sin not to taxi boat to the main island and see what’s happening on the other side. So, once again, we rented a small car to tour the island. 

We were blessed with a sunny day that accentuated the island’s infinite shades of blue and green. On Tahaa, no matter how simple a home may be, locals tend to their garden as if it were part of a palace. Things were very calm on this sunny Sunday morning, but I’m not sure anything changes come Monday. It’s so peaceful in this corner of the world that why go beyond third gear? Take it slow and enjoy the sights, sounds, and aromas. 

Speaking of aromas, we paid a visit to La vallée de la Vanille just in time to join a guided tour of the vanilla farm. We learned about the lengthy and challenging journey local farmers must take to produce the second most sought-after spice after saffron. From the vanilla farm, we cruised into Teva village, just in time to catch the tail end of Sunday service. We’ll never forget the genuine friendship displayed on the faces of the local congregation, their beautiful attire, and the harmonious singing throughout the service, all of which brought tears to our eyes.

What’s Next?

It’s been a few weeks since we returned home from French Polynesia, and its effects are still felt. We find ourselves greeting strangers hello, smiling more often, never honking the horn, and more aware of nature’s small gifts. But above all, we have a better perspective on life. When a challenge arises in our hectic schedules, we briefly look back and reflect on the beauty etched in our memories. 

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