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Papeete Travel Guide
Tahiti Island
French Polynesia
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tahiti pictures map
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Papeete Town lies on the north-west coast of Tahiti on a small harbour backed by rolling hills. Papeete is a rather congested town with a population of over 100,000 people. The town has a distinct French flavour, there are exciting nightclubs, lovely cafes and the delightful nightly les roulettes takes over the waterfront car park overlooking the harbour where all types are food are cooked from temporary vans and laid out on make shift plastic tables.
There is little tourist interest in Papeete except for the huge market which has a good selection of handicrafts from around the islands, perfumes, oils, flowers, island style clothes as well a few small restaurants upstairs serving fresh raw tuna. Of the more picturesque buildings, the Catholic Cathedral in the heart of town and Paofai Church on the waterfront east of the town centre are the most appealing. Other interesting things to do include a unique Pearl Museum and a stroll along the harbour. The pick of the town's hotels is Le Mandarin, situated in the heart of downtown close to the market with lovely views over the hills and Town Hall. A cheaper option is Hotel Prince Hinoi a little closer to the harbour and on the corner of a rather noisy street with rowdy bars and nightclubs. On the south side of town, about a 20-minute walk to downtown is the Sheraton Hotel but there is no beach here.
The large beach resorts are found 8km south of Papeete Town just beyond the airport where there are several small beaches, but nothing resembling the tourist brochures. There are however excellent views overlooking Moorea Island in the distance which is perfectly silhouetted by the setting sun. The most beautiful of these is the imposing Intercontinental Hotel set in large landscaped grounds. There are two swimming pools here, one which forms a sand island from which protrudes overwater bungalows. The hotel puts on the best Tahitian dance show and feast twice a week. On the adjacent bay is the rather less impressive but more affordable Sofitel Maeva with its bland 4 story block of rooms. The beach here has good swimming although at times the bay can be stagnated with seaweed. A few kilometres north of downtown Papeete set in large landscaped grounds alongside a black sand beach is the rather dated but excellent value Royal Tahitien Hotel.
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Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Guide
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