After 3 days on Moorea we headed to a lesser traveled island called Manihi. Manihi, lost in the vastness of the South Pacific, conjures up castaway dreams of a tropical isle. It is part of the Tumotu chain of islands. The land is dry and flat but the water is gorgeous.
Far from the modern world, the crystal-clear lagoon was once filled with mother-of-pearl and is the site of Tahiti's first black pearl farm. Today, Manihi is still the leading supplier for the Tahitian cultured pearl industry.
We stayed at the Manihi Pearl Resort, the largest resort on the island. Well, it is almost the only resort on the island beside a few small bread and breakfast places. The air strip is the largest structure on the island. Most locals live across the lagoon.
Our favorite activities here were watching the sharks in the lagoon, riding our bikes on the tarmac and checking out the stars. We went out one night to the runway to star gaze with the help of Cecilia, a local. She pointed out the Southern Cross and other constellations. They can even see the Big and Little Dipper just on the horizon at about 9:00pm. Even thought it was a full moon, we could still see all the stars! No city lights to interfere.
Riding bikes on the tarmac is a cool experience. It is a great place to watch the sunset too. Planes only land once a day during the daylight too so you don’t have to worry.
The premium beach bungalows have a great unobstructed view of the lagoon. You can easily walk out and see the fish without ever putting your face in the water. All beach bungalows have open bathrooms. It is hard to explain but there is no roof over part of the bathroom. Look at the picture. Overwater bungalows are right at the lagoon edge. One side has 3 foot water and the other 20 feet. Fish are plentiful here and snorkeling is a reward.
This is the island where pearls are farmed so I always suggest a visit. It is very interesting to see how they are cultivated and grown.
This island is very different from the Society Islands. It is more dry and windy. It is flat and sandy. It has less people. If you are looking for a “deserted” island feel this is the place to go!
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