Sleeping Overwater: The Polynesian Dream!

Life sometimes surprises us in beautiful ways, and sometimes we take it upon ourselves to treat ourselves. It's a beautiful combination of both that led us at the beginning of 2018 to fulfill one of our dreams: to sleep in an overwater bungalow! You know, those little wooden houses perched above turquoise water, with the only horizon being the blue of the sea meeting the sky, illuminated by a generous sun. A dream come true for us in Moorea.

This trip to Tahiti is such an incredible opportunity that even before we arrived, we were already starry-eyed. And then there was that little voice. You know, the one that's never reasonable, the one that whispers sweet words and gives a nod to the child in us? That little voice, while we were preparing for this trip, came to whisper to us: >. Lost in images of paradise, we hesitate, but only for a second. For we enjoy allowing that little voice to speak, especially when it comes to travel! This is actually a promise we made to ourselves while writing our Bucket List:

A creed that has accompanied us for over 10 years and has taken us to get our diving certifications in the Galapagos, to fly paragliding in Bolivia and in Peru, to relive a second honeymoon in Yucatan, to go to Japan over and over... And which has led us here, to the doorstep of the Sofitel in Moorea to realize the first dream of 2018, to sleep in an overwater bungalow. A year that is starting off well!

We open the door to our home for the next two days and instantly feel at ease. Fresh tropical flower scents fill our room. Golden reflections of the sea dance on the walls. A large bed takes center stage, and a cozy nook of cushions invites reading by the windows. A beautiful terrace beckons us to enjoy the view before climbing down the ladder to test the water's temperature. Perfect, of course!

With smiles on our lips, we look at each other, speechless with happiness.

I let my eyes adjust to the scenery from our terrace. To the right, the sandy beach lined with palm trees and a few bungalows. In front of me, other overwater homes. To the left, the lagoon stretches out with a catamaran anchored a bit further away. The horizon is only interrupted by the waves created by the coral reef surrounding the island, creating a contrast between the crystal-clear water on one side and the deep, tumultuous water on the other.

We've only been in our new home for a few minutes, and we already know we're going to love it, and it will find its place in the small list of those locations that have left a mark on us through our travels. Those places we love to call home and which, just thinking about them, transport us through time and space and reconnect us to pure feelings of joy.

What water, but what water! Our very first snorkeling experience, we had it right here, and one can say we started strong! So many fish were waiting for us! And they were not shy at all; some came right up to us, getting close to our little camera, then playing with the movement of our fins. There were tiny fish in bright colors, electric blue or bright yellow, and others, larger, striped in black and white. Some, a bit bigger, displayed multicolored patterns. I even found Nemo, snug in his anemone home!

A spectacle every time we ventured out, a delight for the eyes and the heart.

From our overwater house, these are the first impressions I wish to anchor in my memory more than anything. This smile, this flower necklace, this view, these scents, and the sound of the water lapping as I looked at the fish right from my terrace.

But this experience was an opportunity for other beautiful moments. Fruity breakfasts with a sea view. Delicious romantic dinners (special mention for the vegan menu). Strolls along Temae beach, one of the most beautiful on the island of Moorea. A Polynesian evening to the sounds of ukuleles and the rhythm of dancers' movements. The storm on the last night, with its rumbling thunder and blinding flashes of lightning that were absolutely magnificent. Naps on the terrace and hours spent reading, swimming, and reading again...

The dolce vita, Moorea style!

Among the pleasant extras at the hotel, I really appreciated, of course, the warm welcome and kindness of all the staff members. I also loved the style of the hotel, its design, and its decor in traditional Polynesian style, with lots of wood, flowers, and beautiful colors. Another positive point: the loan of masks, snorkels, and fins to explore the lagoon at one's leisure.

I wanted to mention some commendable efforts here, as I like to do when I appreciate hotel philosophies, particularly through their ecological commitments. And that is indeed the case here in more ways than one. I have already mentioned the attention given to vegetarian and vegan cuisine.

The second effort concerns the hotel's very environment, located in a protected marine area. The Sofitel has implemented a preservation program to protect biodiversity, with a particular focus on fostering the growth and survival of coral. They conduct rescue operations for broken corals, offering them a recovery period in nurseries. They also utilize coral fragmentation to take small coral pieces and cultivate them before using them to repopulate damaged areas of the lagoon.

If you're interested, feel free to ask more questions on-site, as some workshops are open to guests to lend a hand.

We spent two nights in our overwater home. Two nights, in our opinion, is the minimum to feel settled in a place and savor the ambiance. Two nights that allowed us to experience two beautiful days where sun and rain alternated and where smiles stayed on our lips the entire time. One thing is for sure, this gem deserves to be on the list of our most beautiful hotel experiences around the world!

A dream realized... and one we will not hesitate to repeat when given the chance!

I have already spoken about Moorea in the logbook of our cruise in Polynesia... And in a future article, I will talk about Moorea again, with more practical information about the island and how to get there.

In partnership with the Sofitel Moorea Ia Ora Beach Resort.