Tahiti Bareboat and Yacht Charter: Top 3 Companies
by Paul Joseph | Updated September 24, 2019
Of the five main groups of islands nestled in the South Pacific that make up French Polynesia, the best known – and most popular for yachting charters – is Tahiti. Part of the Society Islands that comprise of Tahiti, Moorea, Bora-Bora (arguably the most beautiful lagoon in the world), Tahaa and Raiatea, the entire region is simply blessed with jaw-dropping natural wonders, including jagged volcanic peaks juxtaposed with lush vegetation and stunning waterfalls.
A view of the island of Moorea, just northwest of Tahiti (Photo: vgm8383 via Flickr)
Book yacht or bareboat charters in Tahiti to witness a beguiling mix of breathtaking lagoons, exotic sea-life, and traditional culture and sophisticated resorts, with plenty to explore both at sea and on land. For seasoned yachters, a private yacht charter in Tahiti also allows you to traverse cruising grounds that offer both line-of-sight navigation in the calm waters behind the reefs and also more exhilarating open-water passages.
There are a large number of companies that offer luxury yacht or bareboat charters in Tahiti and the wider region. Many of these are global agencies, while others are local companies that own and manage their own fleet of yachts. There are advantages and disadvantages of using either. To help you find the best option for you, we’ve done some research and picked out three of the best yacht rental companies that we found.
For yacht charters in Tahiti, reputable agency Boatbookings can get you on-board a total of 29 yachts, of which 18 are offered as bareboat and the rest crewed. The most abundant category is catamarans, with 21 available, leaving 4 motor yachts, and 3 sailing yachts. Among the motor yachts are supersized vessels including the 45-metre Big Fish and 63-metre Suri, both of which will set you back at least a cool quarter-of-a-million dollars per week. Rest assured, there are plenty more affordable options available. In addition to their yacht fleet, Boatbookings also have some excellent company policies, the most noteworthy of which is that they personally review every yacht they choose to list. On their website they also host a thorough and detailed reviews section of their own, which invites past clients to post testimonials about their charter experience. The website search function is also well-considered, with the option to search for yachts housing specific amenities and equipment.
Ritzy Charters come with an impressive reputation among yachting enthusiasts. For charters in Tahiti, the company offers a total of 7 yachts, including sailing yachts, motorboats and catamarans. According to our searches, the cheapest available boat currently listed for charter in Tahiti is priced at $27,000 per week, which gets you a 18.8-metre sailing yacht that sleeps six and has a crew of three. The booking process itself is excellent too – all you need to do is provide details about your trip, including number of guests, dates, favoured itinerary and special requests, then you ask for a quote and wait for the company to return a list of available vessels based on your requirements.
Several years ago, Conde Naste Traveller magazine identified Sailo as “the Airbnb of boats and yachts”, and a brief look at their website reveals why. Sailo are an international boat rental and yacht charter company that enables boat owners and renters to seek out charter companies and their vessels. Visitors can select from thousands of uncrewed and crewed yachts based on date, location, size, price, and customer reviews, and you can also create custom searches based on your particular charter preferences. When we searched for bareboat and other yacht charters in Tahiti, we found around 15 vessels in total, most of which are available bareboat. If you’re looking specifically for a catamaran charter, then Sailo also has around 6 on offer.
