Tetiaroa private island
The Brando offers carefree luxury in the midst of pristine natureDestination: Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
Vacation: Island paradise
Seeking: Sustainable luxury
Highlight: Stunning natural beauty
There are many reasons to stay at The Brando, a unique luxury resort on French Polynesia’s breathtakingly beautiful private island of Tetiaroa, each seemingly more compelling than the last.
Private plane access, 35 luxury villas nestled on white-sand beaches frequented by sea turtles, manta rays and exotic birds, the fact the legendary Marlon Brando, the Godfather himself, made this natural wonderland his home, the island’s vibrant enduring culture, the resort’s mission for sustainability, and its innovation to preserve and enhance.
Each reason stand-alone makes the journey to this beautiful atoll composed of a dozen small islands surrounding a sparkling lagoon 30 miles northeast of Tahiti more than worthwhile. Combined, The Brando is simply unmissable.
Marlon Brando first came to Tetiaroa while filming Mutiny on the Bounty and was immediately enchanted by the island’s rare beauty and the sense it gave him of being closer to paradise. Enthralled by the Polynesian way of life – and the leading lady Tarita, the love of his life – he resolved to find a way to own this piece of paradise and succeeded in his goal in 1967.
Brando was passionate about preserving Tetiaroa’s natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural richness and was determined to find a way in which it could be a center for research and education, and a model of sustainability. He was convinced that this small atoll could bring good to the entire world.
In 1999 he asked Richard Bailey, a long-time resident of Tahiti who shared Brando’s passion for the environment and who had created some of the region’s finest resorts, to help him conceive a plan that would help Brando achieve his dream. Together, Brando and Bailey pursued a vision of creating the world’s first and foremost post-carbon resort—an island where innovative new technologies would enable a self-sustaining luxury environment for hotel guests, residents and scientific research. The Brando resort is the legacy of that shared vision.
Today the resort’s mission is to provide one of the most luxurious, authentic and enriching travel experiences available anywhere in the world in an environmentally sensitive, sustainable and culturally rich manner.
Photographs compliments of The Brando resort.
- Island paradise 100%
- Wellness 100%
- Sustainability 100%
- Natural beauty 100%
“My mind is always soothed when I imagine myself sitting on my South Sea island at night. If I have my way, Tetiaroa will remain forever a place that reminds Tahitians of what they are and what they were centuries ago.” Marlon Brando
Best food & drink
1. Beachcomber Café
Beachcomber Café restaurant offers exceptional lagoon and ocean views, whether you decide to dine indoors or on the beach. Dishes include a varied menu of Polynesian-inspired dishes alongside classic French cuisine.
2. Les Mutinés
This intimate venue features elegant décor in beautiful tones of tropical light and sand and a moat that surrounds the restaurant provides the sensation of floating on a lagoon. The restaurant also includes a world-class wine cellar in a carefully climate-controlled glass enclosure.
3. Nami teppanyaki
Chef Nakamura will be happy to take you on a journey to Japan’s most subtle flavors in the elegant and intimate setting of the Nami teppanyaki restaurant. With two menus designed around specialties of the land and sea, the meals are prepared in front of guests and cooked on a teppanyaki iron griddle. The Nami restaurant also features a selection of sake wines, Japanese beers and a large selection of worldwide wines.
Home
From your villa’s gracious gardens and exquisite scenery to the timbered walls of your home away from home, you’ll always feel close to nature at The Brando Tetiaroa — without sacrificing comfort. The 22 villas along Turtle Beach and 13 villas along Mermaid Bay have been designed to reflect Polynesian lifestyle and traditions.
Every villa is on a white sand beach, has its own outdoor eating and private beach area, its own plunge pool, soft, cozy furnishings, large windows that let you savor the views, and modern conveniences such as a media room, wifi and a wide selection of movies. And while enjoying the villa you will have the satisfaction of knowing that everything that surrounds you has been designed around clean, renewable energy sources.
The Brando is one of the best luxury French Polynesia resorts there is and a truly unique place to stay.
Explore
At The Brando, you will find an abundance of activities from bicycling, snorkeling and bird watching to diving and paddle boarding.
On Tetiaroa island you are not just observing nature; you are in it. Put on a snorkeling mask and witness underwater life at a coral garden firsthand, encountering such marine life as sea turtles, rays, reef sharks and a dazzling array of tropical fish. Or you can explore the spectacular lagoon or other motus by Polynesian outrigger canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. Or simply swim at Mermaid Bay or relax on the beach or by the pool.
You’re also invited to visit The Brando Library and Explorer Center, where you can read books about French Polynesia and attend lectures and demonstrations about Polynesian culture, history, and lifestyle. And the onsite research scientists will also be delighted to talk about their research and the amazing birds and marine life found on the atoll.
Relax
Varua Te Ora Polynesian Spa is a unique haven of tranquillity nestled on a restful pond in the heart of the atoll of Tetiaroa. Varua, meaning “the Soul”, perpetuates the tradition established by the Royal family who used to retreat here to relax and indulge in beauty rituals.
Blending into the lush vegetation, it is a hidden oasis at the end of a path through the tropical undergrowth. The Spa is in harmony with its surroundings of plant life, water and wood. Aware of the need to preserve its pure and unspoilt habitat, it offers unrivalled holistic treatments inspired by international and ancestral Polynesian techniques in a truly exceptional setting.
The Spa suites offer amazing views over 2000 sqm of natural landscape on an islet covered in abundant vegetation. And high above in the trees sits Fare Manu, an exceptional suite nesting like a cocoon between heaven and earth. The Spa also has quiet spaces for relaxation including a steam bath, a waterfall, a tea lounge and the Fare Mana, an area sets aside for gentle energies.
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