MARCH 2019 globaltravelerusa.com 83
Tahitian black
pearls are
known for
their beauty,
but only a
qualified seller
can advise on
this costly
investment.worthy of his many accolades. The restaurant is the only place
in the world to find uravena on the menu, as this local fish pres-
ents a formidable challenge
to most chefs in its prepara-
tion. As if this highly rare
dish weren’t enough to
create a memorable dining
experience, the restaurant
itself sits on a dock where
glass-paneled flooring alone
stands between diners and
the black-tipped sharks that
lurk in the water beneath
the restaurant.
The St. Regis Bora
Bora also features the
largest overwater bunga-
lows in the South Pacific,
where rooms include fea-
tures like private gazebos,
glass-paneled floors, private
plunge pools and direct
access to the water below
via private ladders. The
resort’s 90 accommodations
range from garden villas with
a private beach to overwater
villas and royal overwater
villas, as well as the jaw-drop-
ping royal estate with three
bedrooms spread throughout
13,000 square feet, plus a
private chef available upon
request.
Guests of the resort split their days between
relaxing just off the beach in the resort’s private
offshore hammock and sipping drinks at the
swim-up pool bar or heading off the motu
for some Tahitian adventures. The resort can
arrange everything from full-day scuba diving
excursions to jet ski tours of the islands, putting
guests behind the controls of a state-of-the-art
water craft as they zip in and out of the motu
and lagoons. True adventure seekers can book a
half- or full-day shark and ray tour with Lagoon
Service Bora Bora. The trip begins with an
introductory snorkel through the coral gardens
followed by a stop in the shallows to wade
through a sea floor of giant manta rays before
heading out to the deeper, open waters to swim
with black-tipped reef sharks. The tour wraps up
with a locally prepared lunch on a private island where locals
demonstrate how to find, crack and enjoy a fresh coconut.
Coconuts appear throughout Polynesia in everything from
gastronomy to health remedies, but no coconut creation is
more representative of Tahitian culture than monoi oil. The
oils are delicately scented with the petals of a tiare flower and
can be found on all pages of the spa menu at Miri Miri Spa by
Clarins at The St. Regis Bora Bora. The oils have a softening
effect on both skin and hair and make for a great souvenir to
recall a time spent taking in the beauty, relaxation and little
luxuries of the Tahitian Islands.UNDERWATER
TREASURE:
Swimming along coral (top)
and Tahitian pearls (bottom)
PHOTOS: © THE ST. REGIS BORA
BORA, © JOHN SINAL / FOUR
SEASONS BORA BORA