Today had two true treats, both unexpected: a visit to a real Tahitian pearl farm, and a swim in a coral garden that was chock full of the most glorious fish imaginable. But first things first. Continue reading
Getting to Tahiti is not as far as you might think. While, yes, it is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, it is a smooth, 7-hour flight from Los Angeles. Closer than flying to Europe! Our Air Tahiti Nui Flight left LAX at 5:15 and arrived at around 11 PM at the main Airport on Tahiti Island.
After going through customs (everyone had to take a COVID Antigen test in the Airport), where a band was playing welcoming Tahitian Music, we simply walked across the street to the Tahiti Airport Motel and slept for a few hours before returning to the airport for our short, beautiful flight to Huahine, where our charter was to begin.
No need to arrive for flights 2 hours in advance in Tahiti, an hour or so will do! Our flight to Huahine took about an hour.
We arrived at Huahine at around 8 in the morning – too early to board the charter. So Boatbookings arranged that we would taxi to the south island (Huahine-Iti), and swim and have lunch at the pretty Hotel Le Mahana. Our Boat, DIVA, arrived promptly at 1 pm, and we were whisked by tender to our boat, and of course, given leis as soon as we boarded the boat!
We had our obligatory Captain’s Safety Briefing and off we went to our first anchorage, close to the town of Fare, but pristine with amazingly clear water.
Drinks on the flydeck, then dinner – fresh meka (from the swordfish family) with a French sauce – amazing!
Learn more about Tahiti Yacht Charters.
Tomorrow – sail to Raiatea
Our family of 5 recently enjoyed a 7-day Tahiti Yacht Charter on a 56-foot Lagoon 560 crewed catamaran. The entire trip was idyllic! In this series of blog posts, we will take you through the arrival, departure, itinerary, cuisine, crew, and lots of other observations to give you a clear picture of what it’s like to charter in Tahiti and the brilliance of being on a crewed catamaran.
Note, you can see this entire 7-day Tahiti Crewed Catamaran Itinerary here.
We chartered a Lagoon 560 crewed catamaran through Boatbookings. Lagoons are fantastic catamarans – they offer great open spaces both inside and out, and the cabins are roomy and comfortable. The 560 has a very large flydeck with seating for 8, where we spent a lot of time, especially at sunset, because you get a 360-degree view of the incredibly beautiful surroundings. We ate most of our meals on the spacious and comfortable aft deck, because it is never windy and offers easy access to the galley.
The crew had their own quarters so that each of our children could have their own cabin and bathroom, what a luxury! See the layout below.
The main salon is large, well lit and comfortable, although we honestly never spent one minute in it – there was too much to do outside!
The boat had 2 paddleboards, 2 kayaks, and plenty of snorkeling gear. We used them every day!
We had a fantastic crew who took care of all of our needs, set the daily itinerary, and produced world-class cuisine (a mixture of french and Tahitian cooking) three meals a day.
Jerome was our captain – he is French and has lived in the Tahitian Islands for 20 years. He knows where the best snorkeling spots are and always moored the boat in quiet, beautiful anchorages so that we had amazing views and sunsets!
Clara served three fantastic meals a day, plus sundowner drinks and hors d’oeurvres so we could fully enjoy the sunsets. She cooked meals to meet our dietary specifications – Tahitian food is, of course, centered around amazing fresh fish, but one of our party didn’t eat fish so she always had a great substitute.
See more in our Tahiti Yacht Charter Guide.
Tomorrow: Travel to and arrival in Tahiti
Top 5 bareboat itineraries to escape the crowds and get back in touch with nature. Feel the wind in your hair, and breath in that healing sea breeze onboard your bareboat charter!
You want to sail in Greece, but you down want the crowds – where should you go? Simple answer – the Ionian! Secluded anchorages, fair winds, and fantastic tavernas makes the Ionian one of the best places to sail in Greece!
Thinking about celebrating Christmas a little bit differently this year? Have your summer holiday plans been canceled and you’re looking for the next celebration? Then a BVI bareboat charter should be for you! With Scuba itineraries, and island hopping adventures – could this be the next tick on your to-do list?
Thinking about a sailing trip in the southern hemisphere far away from any local continent? How about New Caledonia?! A few hundred miles of the coast of mainland Australia lays the New Caledonian archipelago! Enjoy the peace and quiet of what these islands have to offer. An incredible mix of French and Polynesian cultures!
Do you have an Atlantic crossing on your bucket list? Do you need an area to test your sailing skills? Do you need a mile builder itinerary? Then the Azores is for you! An incredible mix of Atlantic and Portuguese culture with the backdrop like something from Jurassic Park. Explore the Volcanos and lava fields on your bareboat charter.
Longing for that summer holiday? Fed up of being cooped up indoors and just want to focus on something fun for the future? Have your plans been put on hold for your dream summer sailing holiday this year? Looking to splash out for Christmas? Well, its always summer somewhere – but where? Belize!
Enjoy white sand beaches, turquoise water and exceptional sailing conditions in one of the most underrated chartering areas in the world.
A Belize yacht charter offers endless opportunities to enjoy amazing snorkelling and diving off the world’s second-largest barrier reef. Belize is an archipelago with over 200 untouched rainforest islands and atolls, charming towns, friendly locals and an Aztec influence.
See our BELIZE BAREBOATS HERE!
Embark in Belize City and benefit from two fantastic Belize yacht charter itineraries. Sail to the popular northern island hotspots of San Pedro Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, as well as the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Alternatively, head to the less frequented southern island hotspots of Man-o-War Caye, Tobacco Caye and Placencia.
Want to find out more? Speak to one of our brokers today who will walk you through what’s possible on your Christmas sailing charter!
