Moorea has always been the choice of painters and writers, soaring out of the ocean in an explosion of green velvet pinnacles. A wide, shallow lagoon surrounds the mountains where threads of waterfalls tumble down fern-softened cliffs. Moorea is circled with simple pastel-painted villages, surrounded by hibiscus gardens and exotic birds. Eco-tours are a popular way to take in natural wonders such as these, and other pursuits like whale watching and hiking the legendary Opunohu and Cook Bays. For those less adventurous, Moorea's white sand beaches and golf course are nice, laid-back alternatives.
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 Fun Fact: The great impressionist painter Paul Gauguin lived and worked in Tahiti during the 1890's. The unspoiled surroundings of Tahiti and its gracious inhabitants were the subjects of, and the inspiration for, his paintings.
* Image courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme |
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