Eden - Private Island - Taha'a

“Island paradise”

We had a blissful three days here enjoying the peace and beauty of a tropical lagoon. We are an older couple and not confident swimmers so we found the best way of exploring was by kayak. Other guests ventured out further for snorkelling, but around the island it is a bit shallow. There are all so… more

We had a blissful three days here enjoying the peace and beauty of a tropical lagoon. We are an older couple and not confident swimmers so we found the best way of exploring was by kayak. Other guests ventured out further for snorkelling, but around the island it is a bit shallow. There are all sorts of trips you can take but having found a piece of paradise we saw no need to go anywhere! We did find a nice swimming/wallowing depth area around the umbrella point. The beauty of the resort is that it is not a hotel as described in detail by Kelly a month ago. Endorse everything she said. We found ceiling fans and the tropical breeze quite adequate. Food is delicious and dinner depends on what Max has caught from the lagoon that day. Dorianne is a delight and her homemade breakfast jams delicious. Zizi(?) the other cook also gives a great massage. Scrupulous attention is paid to guests health and welfare. I have dietary needs and I got prompt and helpful replies by email in advance of arrival. For us 3 days was about right ( it is a very small island, but that is the attraction)

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“An amalgamation of Zen, Serenity and Tranquility”

First, let me get this un-fun part out of the way before I get to the actual details of Eden Taha'a.  In several reviews I saw Eden Taha'a referred to as a "hotel."  If anything, Eden Taha'a is the "anti-hotel."  Eden Taha'a  is also not an all-inclusive resort where excursions, transportation, foo… more

First, let me get this un-fun part out of the way before I get to the actual details of Eden Taha'a.  In several reviews I saw Eden Taha'a referred to as a "hotel."  If anything, Eden Taha'a is the "anti-hotel."  Eden Taha'a  is also not an all-inclusive resort where excursions, transportation, food and drinks are included.  To be clear, you will be paying for any excursion you choose to participate in -- and there are many.  Research this beforehand so you will know what's available on the "excursion menu."  If requested, Eden will provide what is offered in this regard.  I feel compelled to address some of these comments I read in various reviews. Unbelievably, one reviewer complained that there was "nothing to do" and that to combat boredom, a gym should be built.  Swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling? Really?? One complained that there should be air conditioning and an espresso machine installed in each room (SMH). Another complained that there was no WIFI in the bungalows but only in the main building which is categorically untrue. Yet another reviewer was outraged that the islet of Eden had ants and geckos that sometimes wandered into the bungalows. Not shocking given that it consists of bungalows designed to complement the primitive nature of the motu, not negatively impact it. Another complained because there was minimal contact from staff.  (Yes, this is as it should be and I appreciated this.) These reviewers left low star ratings for all of these ridiculous, asinine reasons and I wanted to highlight the idiocy of their expectations vacationing on an isolated motu in its mostly pristine condition; however, what I experienced while I was actually at Eden Taha'a caused me to write much more than I had originally intended. In short, the head of a family of five was verbally abusing staff because of his own lack of planning and research pertaining to what he was financially responsible for and what Eden wasn't.  This man's incorrect expectations cannot be laid at the feet of the staff of Eden. The lesson here is regardless of whether you use a travel agent and he or she doesn't explain this to you, it is incumbent* upon you, the guest, to understand that you are financially responsible for the ferry from Raiatea, your food/drinks and ALL excursions.  More importantly, it is absolutely inexcusable that Eden's staff should be treated in this manner.  Had it been me, I wouldn't have hesitated to have this man and his family immediately escorted off the motu, but the staff showed extraordinary patience and professionalism in dealing with this rude jackass.  It's up to you to manage your expectations before you arrive, not Eden Taha'a after your arrival.  I challenge you to find a crew of people more eager to assist you and make sure your visit is the very best possible.  These are extremely kind people and this man's mistreatment of them really pissed me off.As far as transportation to Eden, your flight has to arrive before 3:30 unless a private water taxi is arranged by yourself.  After 3:30, it starts to get dangerous due to imminent darkness, the condition of the water, etc.  Again, there is absolutely no scenario wherein the guest will not be paying for this transportation.  The easiest and least expensive mode is arranging this through Eden itself.  Be sure to email Eden with your flight information so they can work with you on the transport situation.  The cost is for each way, not round trip.  A self-arranged water taxi service will easily cost three to five times more.  I also noticed this transportation issue addressed in many reviews and there was clearly confusion about this process. Reviewers then incorporated their own lack of understanding unfairly into low star ratings. Again, this is the responsibility of the guest/travel agent to have a firm grasp on how this works. I know Eden works hard to make sure there is no misunderstanding regarding this, yet unbelievably, there still is.  If you have questions about anything you're concerned about or don't understand, ask them. Simply email Eden with questions should you have any; you will receive a response within hours.  Believe me, in the history of Eden's existence, I might have the record for questions asked and every single one was met with a very friendly answer despite the fact I probably asked the same question several times just to make sure I completely understood.  Just a tip:  I flew in a day early so that the ferry transportation would be a non-issue for me as far as making the transport time window.  I took the time to leisurely take the boat to Vaitupu to have a relaxed, unhurried shopping excursion. Chin Lee's is the local market that sells freshly baked French bread and other grocery items.  There are also shops selling black pearls, pareos, shirts and things of that sort.  Know that there is literally nothing available on Eden's motu, nor anywhere close by to get anything of this sort.  Eden has only five bungalows.  I stayed in one of the four "Sunset" bungalows that has a view of Bora Bora.  The larger "Sunrise" bungalow has a view of Huahine island and accommodates a large-ish family.  This one also has a little private beach; the others have private, direct access to the lagoon via a four-step staircase that ends directly in the water.  The electricity is mostly solar.  Also guests are requested to not take inordinately long showers due to the heating of water, for example.  I wish I could explain exactly the water system, but I never experienced an issue with either electricity nor hot water.  Yes, it gets hot. Yes, it can get humid.  This should be obvious since it's a motu in a tropical setting.  There are wonderful breezes, however, and then that beautiful lagoon to cool off in.  We made our own "watch party" for each night's sunset on our private deck complete with a happy hour and Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Bach as the sunset show's soundtrack.  It was glorious.  (You can bring your own alcohol for your stay and there is a very small fridge in the room with the usual small selection of alcohol that will be charged to your room should you use them.)Even with four years of French in high school and two in college, I'm nowhere close to being able to communicate effectively.  If you're in the same position, there are apps that translate French to English or whatever your first language is.  This was helpful for me since this is a mostly French-speaking environment.  There are varying degrees of English fluency there, but French is the first language of most of the staff.  Max was fluent in both French and English, but I used my phone app otherwise with no problem.  I've even seen a translation tool that looks like an earbud that simultaneously translates language.  I'll either learn more conversational French or cheat and buy one of these for next time although the translation app worked just fine.  The water is not deep: I'm 5'3" and it came up to my mid-thigh at its highest.  Make sure to bring a rash guard and water shoes for all water activities.  The coral is beautiful (see attached pics) but it can scrape your skin if you're not careful.  Snorkeling equipment, kayaks and paddleboards are available free of charge at Eden Taha'a.  I found that a full-face snorkel mask was best for viewing the breathtaking coral and marine life.  These are available online -- believe it or not, Temu even has them as well as flippers -- and commonly at larger stores with sporting goods departments.  I brought an underwater camera (again, Temu) and I can emphatically say that it was in the top three best things I brought along.  The coral and fish just steps outside of your bungalow will make your head explode. FOOD:  I'm a pescatarian and was extremely worried about what the food situation looked like for me having read some of the reviews.  I was reassured that fish was abundant if I preferred to have that for each lunch and dinner rather than meat, in addition to the vegetables that would also be served.  Remember that everything has to be brought in from Raiatea so don't be critical if there isn't an endless supply of fresh vegetables but I was perfectly content with what was provided.  Fun fact: Max, the ferry pilots and some of the other staff catch a majority of the fish served to the guests.  Various methods are used but I was fascinated to learn that spearfishing is one of the main methods.  Breakfast is traditionally French with cheese, fresh fruit and juice, coffee.  In addition, Doriane creates her very own papaya jam and coconut jam served alongside a very generous offering of French bread, still warm, freshly baked croissants and French butter, pain au chocolat and more. Breakfast is the same everyday but I never got tired of it; I thought it was delicious.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered but not included. It's best to email Eden any questions regarding meals as I can't offer much more useful information in this regard.  Bottom line is that you'll absolutely love Eden Taha'a if you're seeking a zen-like, quiet, restorative experience and not an all-inclusive "peoply" resort adventure.  Do your research and know what you're signing on to because Eden Taha'a is unique and most likely unlike anything you've experienced.

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“Immaculate Eden”

The island is beautiful and immaculate. The few bungalows are sufficiently spread out that it feels secluded and private. The lagoon is beautiful. The staff is friendly and welcoming. They arranged a nice boat trip for us and were able to switch to a car tour of the island at the last minute becaus… more

The island is beautiful and immaculate. The few bungalows are sufficiently spread out that it feels secluded and private. The lagoon is beautiful. The staff is friendly and welcoming. They arranged a nice boat trip for us and were able to switch to a car tour of the island at the last minute because the conditions were very windy. Hard to ask for more.

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“A Beautiful Experience You Will Never Forget ”

If you want a perfect, unforgettable French Polynesian experience, you must stay at La Pirogue Api!! We snorkeled around the motu (little island), kayaked over beautiful coral, ate delicious dinners, took an unbelievable full-day tour of Taha'a (arranged by the lovely staff), and made memories here… more

If you want a perfect, unforgettable French Polynesian experience, you must stay at La Pirogue Api!! We snorkeled around the motu (little island), kayaked over beautiful coral, ate delicious dinners, took an unbelievable full-day tour of Taha'a (arranged by the lovely staff), and made memories here to last us a lifetime. If you want to detach from reality and live in paradise for a while, book a bungalow here. You will not be disappointed.

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