Fresh off the French bee flight from San Francisco, which lands in Tahiti at 4:40 a.m., we headed straight to the Papeete marina, where the friendly crew of Poe Charter Tahiti’s Ohana was waiting for us.
On the agenda: Tetiaroa, one of the most mythical and protected atolls in French Polynesia. A former royal Tahitian retreat, made world-famous by Marlon Brando, who turned it into his private refuge in the 1960s, Tetiaroa remains a world apart — largely protected and intentionally preserved from mass tourism. Overnight stays are only possible at the very exclusive Brando Resort, making a day trip the best way to explore the island.
Mokai Vaka: a new generation of more responsible catamarans
Among the boats operated by Poe Charter is the brand-new Mokai Vaka, which perfectly reflects this commitment to a more responsible approach to nautical tourism in French Polynesia.
This large modern catamaran features solar panels that help power part of the onboard equipment and reduce energy consumption. More spacious, more stable, and designed for longer navigation, it offers passengers a particularly comfortable experience without feeling crowded. The boat also operates sunset cruises and dance parties, and can welcome up to 150 guests.
For day excursions, the number of passengers on board is limited — an ideal format to fully enjoy the experience.
Polynesian breakfast at sunrise
As the sun slowly rose over the Pacific, the crew welcomed us with a lovely breakfast: pains au chocolat, pastries, coffee, juice, and fresh tropical fruit. The atmosphere immediately set the tone for the day: relaxed, friendly, and far from overly formatted tourist excursions. During the 2.5-hour crossing, with a magnificent rainbow over Moorea, the deep blue of the ocean gradually gave way to the motu of Tetiaroa and its unreal lagoon.
Tetiaroa, a highly protected island
Once on site, we boarded a small tender to reach the island and set off for an approximately two-hour walk across the motu. Remember to bring water shoes.
This is where Tetiaroa reveals its full uniqueness. The atoll is now the focus of numerous environmental initiatives: protection of nesting seabirds, limited tourist access, ecosystem restoration, and preservation of coral and local biodiversity.
The famous “bird island” is particularly impressive for the number of species that can be observed there. Here, there are no jet skis, no concrete resorts, and very few visible constructions: nature remains largely dominant.
This approach is also in line with the philosophy of the very exclusive The Brando, located on another motu of the atoll and considered one of the most eco-responsible resorts in the world.
Polynesian lunch and snorkeling in an exceptional lagoon
Back on the boat, we enjoyed an excellent traditional Polynesian lunch, including poisson cru with coconut milk, fresh salads, and several local specialties.
The afternoon continued with a snorkeling break in Tetiaroa’s lagoon.
All the equipment is provided on board and is in excellent condition. Masks, fins, and snorkels make it easy to explore the atoll’s translucent waters, home to tropical fish and coral.
The catamaran format also makes the experience very comfortable: spacious enough to find a quiet corner between swims, while still maintaining a warm and convivial atmosphere.
At a time when French Polynesia is increasingly thinking about more sustainable and better-controlled tourism, this excursion with Poe Charter is probably one of the smartest and most enjoyable ways to discover Tetiaroa without leaving an excessive footprint.
Unless, of course, you would rather check in for a few nights at the very exclusive Brando Resort…
Poe Charter Tahiti – Tetiaroa Excursion
Departure: Papeete Marina, Tahiti
Full-day catamaran excursion to Tetiaroa
Information and reservations: www.poecharter.pf
– sponsored article –
