The hot and sweet spray of the Polynesian islands has always encouraged desertions. In 1789, during the trial of the Bounty, Captain William Bligh described the revolt that broke out aboard his ship as an uncontrollable reaction by the crew to the enchanting beauty of Tahiti.
The story of this legendary mutiny has inspired cinema many times. In the 1962 adaptation, actor Marlon Brando played Fletcher Christian, the leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty. The shoot was epic. And like his character, the Hollywood superstar succumbed to the charms of French Polynesia…
After marrying Tarita, his on-screen partner, Brando offered himself Tetiaroa Atoll with whom he had also fallen in love. He lived there as a Robinson between 1970 and 1990, hosting his friends in makeshift bungalows. “My mind is at peace when at night I imagine myself on my South Seas island. I wish Tetiaroa will forever remain a place that reminds Tahitians of who they are and who they were. »
The desire to preserve his paradise while sharing it gave him the idea of an ecolodge that would blend in perfectly with nature. In 2004, the actor died far from his atoll. But thanks to the American promoter Richard Bailey, his visionary project was born ten years later under the name The Brando.
About fifty kilometers north of Tahiti, Tetiaroa is the end of the end of the world. Lost in the immensity of the South Pacific, on the borders of the Society Archipelago, this atoll bathed in light is crowned with thousands of feverish coconut palms which sway gently under the trade winds. Its crystalline lagoon, surrounded by twelve islets of immaculate sand (motu) is completely closed. Declining an infinite palette of blues, its beaches are among the most beautiful in Polynesia.
Queen Pomare IV of Tahiti had her habits here. The lagoon was indeed a refuge where she came to take her baths. For the great Polynesian chiefs, Tetiaroa has always been a sacred place. Fourteen stone altars called marae still bear witness to this spiritual past.
Today, the atoll is above all the kingdom of seabirds. Brown boobies, red-footed boobies, black-billed and yellow-billed terns, noddies and great frigatebirds number in the thousands on motu sanctuaries, which only the lucky guests of The Brando hotel and a few biologists have the chance to tread.
Apart from the name of the establishment, no fetishist reference to the actor interferes with the decor. This subtle alchemy between discretion, nature and luxury makes the Brando the most fantasized hotel in the Pacific. Celebrities sensitive to ecology, such as Leonardo DiCaprio or Barak Obama, have stayed there. But the chances of meeting such a famous face there are slim. Because everyone here benefits from their bubble.
The thirty-five ultra-equipped villas of the eco-estate are designed with sobriety to showcase the island and give their guests the impression of being alone in the world. Hidden under palm trees and pandanus, they all have their own swimming pool, private beach and bicycles to reach the complex’s facilities or stroll in silence through the motu Onetahi. On the shaded paths, water stations allow you to fill your water bottle to avoid the use of plastic.
A life-size laboratory
True to Marlon Brando’s vision, the establishment combines absolute comfort with scrupulous respect for the environment. This approach, unique in the world, allows it to display an almost zero carbon footprint. In Polynesia, air conditioning accounts for 80% of hotel energy consumption. The Brando has therefore invested 12 million dollars to equip itself with a revolutionary system called Sea Water Air Conditioning.
By capturing water at a depth of 933 meters at 5 degrees, the SWAC cools villas and installations without cost or pollution. Thus reduced, its energy needs are fully covered by 5,000 solar panels and a hybrid generator powered by copra oil, derived from coconuts.
Self-sufficiency is almost achieved thanks to the desalination and filtration of fresh water, abundant on the motu. An experimental vegetable garden already supplies 10% of the restaurant menu and 70 beehives produce exceptional vanilla-scented honey. As for the waste, it is treated by a purification plant, an odorless composter and a sorting center equipped in particular with a glass crusher.
Between a massage at the Varua Te Ora spa and a cocktail on the edge of the lagoon, Brando guests can set off to discover this paradisiacal atoll during outings guided by biologists from the Tetiaroa Society. The bravest can even be woken up at five in the morning to witness the release of green turtles hatched during the night.
Created in 2010 to protect Tetiaroa, the non-profit association aims to nurture the curiosity of visitors while advancing science. Its actions revolve around conservation, research and education.
This last part is particularly important in the eyes of Tihoni Maire who organizes the educational outings. “For young Polynesians, Tetiaroa is the most beautiful classroom. The school groups, who spend periods of five days here in contact with nature, find their spiritual roots here. Scientists, meanwhile, are supported by the association to study reef ecology and ocean acidification.
By fighting against certain invasive animal and plant species, the Tetiaroa Society has succeeded in restoring the natural balance of the atoll. Eradicating the rats with a targeted poison not only allowed the return of birds, such as the rainbow lorikeet, but also that of the coconut crabs which played an unexpected role as gravediggers for the remains of the rodents.
“The results obtained here will benefit the whole world,” says Tihoni. The proliferation of mosquitoes is indeed a health nuisance that the atoll has managed to eliminate by releasing thousands of male carriers of a sterilizing bacterium. Unlike insecticides, this biological approach is harmless to the environment. Tetiaroa has thus become the only place in Polynesia where you can strut around at any time, in the simplest way, without fear of being bitten. Marlon Brando wanted to make his island the most beautiful place on earth. His successors realized his dream.
Go
Any journey to paradise presupposes a passage through purgatory. Fortunately, the 21 hours of flight necessary to reach French Polynesia from the Metropolis remain a pleasant test in the planes of the company. Air Tahiti Nui.
The change of scenery begins as soon as you board, where the 100% Polynesian staff welcomes passengers with a tiare flower, in an atmosphere in the colors of the lagoon. During the flight, everything is thought out to evoke the destination: the exotic touches of the meal trays, the announcements in Tahitian, the musical atmosphere and the many documentaries in the video library. For an even more comfortable experience, the intermediate class Moana Premium offers more legroom, comfort accessories and a priority check-in counter.
This summer, Air Tahiti Nui is strengthening its service to French Polynesia by offering up to seven flights per week, at “all-inclusive” fares starting at €1,181 in Moana Economy class and €2,525 in Moana Premium with the “Leave Tahiti”.
With its own terminal at Faaa International Airport, the company Air Tetiaroa transports guests from the Brando in 20 minutes to the motu Onetahi where their dream vacation begins to the sound of ukuleles.
Housing
Often ranked “Best hotel in the world”, The Brando is one of the few establishments to earn five stars in different standards, including those of the very demanding Forbes Travel Guide. Its infrastructure is LEED Plantinium certified, the highest level in the LEED sustainability rating system.
Open to the ocean, the 35 villas of the eco-estate display discreet luxury, in harmony with their environment. Several configurations exist, from one to three bedrooms, from 96 to 246 m², to which is added a new Residence. All are associated with a garden with swimming pool and open-air bathtub, designed for outdoor living in complete privacy.
To eat, guests have the choice between the Beachcomber Café and its beach terrace, the gourmet restaurant Les Mutinés and its structure in the shape of a boat hull, or the Nami, for a discovery of Japanese flavors with chef Kaito Nakamura.
A range of activities is naturally available to satisfy all desires, from exploring the ecosystem to kayaking, through fly fishing or Tahitian dance lessons. Romantic at will, the lagoon setting is also ideal for newlyweds or lovers who wish to renew their vows in the Polynesian tradition. For them, a picnic on the beach, a massage, a champagne dinner and sunset on a catamaran are also on the program.
Welfare
It is a magical place in the heart of a magical island. the Varua Te Ora Spa invites Brando customers to reconnect with the spirit of the place, the mana dear to Polynesians. Designed by the Tahitian architect Pierre-Jean Picart on a 2,000 m² space that can be discovered at the end of a tropical path, its facilities, perfectly integrated into nature, are real cocoons for treatments combining holistic rituals and techniques. oriental.
Available in 100-minute journeys, the relaxing or energizing rituals all begin with a bath in local plants and end with a detox herbal tea with dried fruit. Based on the Polynesian tradition of considering man as a tree, these journeys meet four needs: to take root, to strengthen, to rise and to harmonize. The enchanting setting of a pond populated by water lilies, the soundscape and specific fragrances help to awaken the senses and reconnect body and mind.
On the island of Marlon Brando, a dream hotel at the forefront of ecology