Swim and suddenly exchange a glance with a whale. At least 15 meters of giant of the sea that observes you and scrutinizes you before ritualing in the depths of the ocean where the hundreds of islands of the French Polynesia They have floated for centuries and centuries. A dream for many. Indeed, the dream of many. What, “perhaps, only once in life”. And “only with great sacrifices”. Or, “more likely ever”. Because, in this sultry July, just go to Booking and type Rome-Coll Bora (French Polynesia) and many enthusiasms fall in front of the minimum 20 hours of flight (but can also reach 50 depending on the sections) and a figure, in economy, starting from 2,000 euros. And because Polynesia, a bit like the Maldives, immediately recalls luxury resorts and exclusive beaches, generally unapproachable for most. But that’s not always the case.
Low Cost Polynesia
But it is not said that this is always the case. Perhaps there is also a more accessible way to visit this paradise that evokes old films, women with long black hair that welcomes you with wreaths of flowers like a necklace, postcard landscapes and long wooden pirogues pushed by rows in transparent waters. «Absolutely yes. It is possible – he explains to us Francesca Lanna who has lived in for five years to Moorea Where she arrived after London and Indonesia following Louise, a naturalist friend-friend who introduced her to the wonders of the Polynesian underwater world. – I met many people, especially young people on a honeymoon, convinced that French Polynesia was just a mirage for almost everyone. But it is a false myth. And for this I started studying possible alternatives to luxury resorts and unreachable travel ».
Swim with whales
Bari, but now full -time Polynesian (“even if I go back to Italy every year for four months”) Francesca began to immerse yourself with whales In 2020. The first time is never forgotten, it is appropriate to say. «It was in November, a few days after my birthday. I remember having suddenly seen a whale under me and then, just as suddenly, the mother arrived. The whale eye is enormous. But it has an incredible depth and look. And it is true that he manages to look in his eyes ». The rest came quickly: the work in a resort, the meeting with the commander of a boat that needed staff to accompany tourists in diving. A six -week training course to learn notions of marine biology, the relationship with the public and also the one with animals.
The rules for diving
«French Polynesia is a sanctuary for cetaceans And there are laws to respect when you are in the water, even if it remains one of the very few places in the world where you can swim with whales and not just sight them at a distance. Among the rules, the most important is the distancing: the boat must remain at least 100 meters away while the tourist, once he went down to the water, cannot approach beyond 15 meters. In any case, even if for any reason he arrived in contact with the whale, he will never have to touch it in order not to cause them to the skin problems ». For this, swimming with the megattees that arrive in these waters, before leaving towards Antarctica, can be tiring and, perhaps, not for everyone. «A good physical shape is advisable, descending into the water from the boat you can have to swim even for more than a hundred meters to approach. Then there are the currents. In short, in some cases it may be preferable to devote yourself to observation from the boat ».
Build a trip at low costs
Today Francesca works mainly with Corallina Tourswhich organizes excursions in the Laguna di Moorea for the observation of turtles, leopard cloaks, corals and tropical fish, or Whale Watching in the open sea for groups of up to 12 people. But the project to which Francesca has been working for time is his Te Terera – Low Cost Polynesiathat is, the possibility of creating a trip to these magnificent lands at low costs and above all affordable a little for everyone. «There are two types of low cost – explains Francesca. – The low cost very low, above all intended for the youngest who prefer to adapt and are therefore available with less comfort: for example a house with bathroom and kitchen shared with other guests. Then there is a slightly higher low cost cost with houses for rent on the beach, or in the immediate vicinity, for groups of friends. You can find houses with these characteristics for 200 euros per night for four people, or houses or pensions even for € 100/150 for two people ».
The goal that can be achieved is Between ten and fifteen days to 2,500/3,000 euros, who become 4,000/4,500 by also adding the plane. «We are talking about personalized trips, practically tailor -made. The organized, group trips, instead certainly cost less. Obviously it affects the season, because July and August are good months from a weather point of view, but prices take from the second half of August onwards. Between September/October the climate becomes drier and more pleasant and, to sight the whales, this can be the best season: the period in which they are passing through to mate and give birth goes from 20 July to 20 November ».
Excursions: not just whales
Obviously the package of a happy holiday in Polynesia cannot fail to keep in mind excursionsto whom Francesca holds a lot because they represent direct contact with the islands and their inhabitants. «Clearly the privileged ones are the sighting excursions at sea. We start from 180 euros for a boat excursion in the Bay of Opunohu And through Moorea’s lagoon, observing the rostrated dolphins and megatte in their natural habitat and the possibility of snorkeling between these splendid creatures that reach up to 15 meters in length ». Less expensive (85 euros) instead the same excursions to the lagoon where it snorkeling is limited to black fin sharks and breeds. «But in addition to the excursions to the sea, excursions to the ground are also highly recommended to participate in trekking in the middle of naturebeautiful dance shows And culinary experiences To try typical food and local cuisine ». A way to get in touch with the population that inhabits the islands and have a more real perception of life in Polynesia.
Where to sleep? How to choose the right island
Last chapter, but no less important in the travel economy, is the choice of the island or islands to stay. Tahitithe largest island of French Polynesia, with black sandy beaches, lagoons, waterfalls and two extinct volcanoes, explored by captain James Cook in the eighteenth century and for all the island that we discovered thanks to the colors of Paul Gauguin? Or Moorea, Piccolina, surrounded by the coral reef and with two deep bays like fjords? Or Bora Borasurrounded by small sandy islets and a lagoon of turquoise waters, protected by the coral reef, famous for underwater diving and for luxury resorts, with the paradisiacchec water villas built on stilts suspended on the water?
«Bora Bora is certainly the most expensive – concludes Francesca. – But even there you can find comfortable accommodation at affordable prices. To get there in a cheaper way, you can prefer the 8 -hour trip to ferry (80 euros) to the very fast plane that reaches it in 45 minutes, but costs 150 euros. Life is simple on all Polynesian islands and night entertainment in scarce even if obviously in these three islands are more widespread clubs and restaurants. In the atolls, on the other hand, the speech changes: after seven you dinner and go to sleep ».
The archipelagos for the most adventurous
The atolls of the archipelagos represent an alternative to the large islands: «TUAMOUTU He is an archipelago in the north east of Moorea. It is the classic postcard with pink sand, the palm trees on the shore and the coral reef, it has a very rich fauna and is a very popular destination for naturalists and photographers. Besides obviously that for diving. The beds are very few because the islets that make it up reach 10 kilometers in all. The Marquis Instead they are the wildest, there is no coral reef and they are perfect for those who want a holiday all adventure. There is only one hotel: for the rest you have to rely on family pensions ». The important thing, therefore, is to customize: for a very distant but within reach of (almost) all the pockets.
Source: Vanity Fair
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