This past summer our family of six vacationed for two weeks at the Villa Corallina; an exotic motu set like a pearl in the aquamarine waters of a South Pacific lagoon. Each morning when I awoke, I peeked through tilting palms at the lagoon and asked myself, am I really here?
We rented the impressive main villa, the gorgeous master bedroom cottage ( a few metres away), and the quaint third cottage which lies along a short pathway. All three cottages have beautiful natural interiors that make them feel 'at one' with the motu. We ate our meals on the deck overlooking our private beach, breathing the scent of gardenias and hibiscus. The sun sets by 6pm in this part of the world, so we enjoyed our dinners by candlelight and a fire flickering in the stone BBQ. After dinner we lazed on the beach, wine glasses in hand, and took in the stars. The surrounding sky was so dark (no light pollution here) that the milky way and the southern cross blazed.
The hosts of Villa Corallina are a fascinating couple named Marco and Tatiana, both of whom speak excellent English. During the two weeks of our stay they took exceptional care of us. Marco arranged our excursions on Moorea, attending to every detail, even to the point of telephoning a marine biologist to find out if the whales had arrived in the waters around Moorea. Marco, it seems, knows everyone on Moorea, and only refers his guests to the best. His advice was impeccable; his willingness to ferry us in his aluminium boat (named Ramco), unfailing. He is a kind, philosophical man, with a true instinct for hospitality.
Tatiana is a women of special touches, bringing a spark of magic to the Villa Corallina. While we were off on excursions, she tidied up, hanging our beach towels to dry, lining up our soggy water-shoes in the sun, prettying our cottages with fresh flowers. She drove us into town to order a birthday cake, then drove back a few days later day to retrieve it for us. Once, she even arranged fresh palm leaves in a bathroom shower, making us feel as if we were showering in the jungle!
And then there was the lagoon, the best swimming water I've ever experienced; “like an aquarium,” as Marco was fond of saying: warm, shallow, white sandy bottom, and undersea castles of coral teeming with fantastically coloured fish. Needless to say, the snorkelling was exceptional.
Obviously, I highly recommend Villa Corallina; it is authentic, private, exotic. We found a soul-soothing beauty there, an unpretentious ambience, and a sense of seclusion that seduced us - the true spirit of a south pacific island. I only hope we'll be able to return.
