I’ve never given much thought to Marlon Brando, but now I wish I could shake his hand.
The legendary actor purchased the French Polynesian island of Tetiʻaroa in the early 60s, while on location for the filming of “The Mutiny on The Bounty.” It comprises a stunningly beautiful collection of 14 tiny atolls forming a crescent around an impossibly blue lagoon, of which you get a stellar view on a 20-minute flight from Tahiti.
The site was formerly a getaway for Tahitian royalty, notably for pre-wedding R&R and beauty rituals and, before that, sacred rites for Polynesian tribes — which makes it perfect for traditional Tahitian weddings and honeymoons on the pristine shores.
When Brando decided to build a luxury resort on the island, being somewhat ahead of his time, he wanted an eco-first, totally sustainable development that would honor Tetiʻaroa’s heritage and preserve it in perpetuum.
The result, the Brando, launched in 2014, a decade after Brando’s death, and is now one of the most exclusive private island resorts in the world.
Should you be escaping the paparazzi, you’ll be pleased to know that discretion is huge — there’s a non disclosure regarding guests, but reportedly Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Pippa Middleton (sister of Kate), Conan O’Brien (a huge Brando fan), Kim Kardashian and the Obamas have all vacationed here.
The resort houses 35 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, plus one grand residence, all of which sit overlooking a white sand beach, and all feature a private infinity pool.
The spaces are cool and elegant, and open out to the tropical breezes.
Surrounded by the lush vegetation that graces the island, guests have total privacy and calm — you’ll fall asleep to the sound of the waves breaking on the barrier reef.
Transport around the island is by bike, perhaps for a pre-wedding beauty treatment at the gorgeous spa with its winding streams, lily-strewn ponds and birdhouse designed treatment pods.
Or head to the restaurants, including the oceanfront Beachcomber Cafe, and Les Mutinés, which is designed to look like the bow of the Bounty. Food is curated by French chef Jean Imbert using seasonal ingredients from the island’s abundant garden.
The upscale Tu Manu bar has private nooks and crannies, but it’s Bob’s Bar on the beach, the original hub of the island back in the late 60s, where you’ll want to be. Brando came here daily for cocktails, and the leather bound menu is crafted to copy his diary, complete with historic Brando photographs and quotes.
Of course, the cocktails have names like Apocalypse Now and On The Waterfront, but a standout is a dessert, invented by Brando, that he called the “real-life Mounds bar” — a half coconut filled with chocolate that’s been melted by the sun. (No wonder he weighed over 300 pounds when he died…)
In a partnership with the Brando family trust, the island is under the stewardship of the Tetiʻaroa Society, who not only manage the sustainability but also host scientific research and, as per their website, aim to “introduce resort guests to the nature and culture of the island, and to establish Tetiʻaroa as a model for island/earth sustainability.”
Much of that thinking came directly from Brando, who helped create their inventive sea water air conditioning (SWAC) system, which pumps in cold deep sea water to cool the villas.
It’s an ingenious system now also in use in Ta’aone hospital in Tahiti, saving money and the planet.
His idea to utilize electric eels for power never came to anything, needless to say, but banks of solar panels manage that, while recycling and compacting keep the carbon footprint small.
Docents from the Society lead art and culture tours — think, weaving, singing and cooking — and can take you on a boat tour around the atoll, where you’ll see huge coconut crabs and fluffy booby chicks. Take a swim at Queen’s Bath, a favorite bay for those royal bridal showers since the turquoise water and soft white sand, when rubbed into your skin, makes an excellent natural exfoliant.
Brando was notoriously dismissive of acting, calling it “a bum’s job,” but Tetiʻaroa captured his heart and soul. Appropriately, his ashes are scattered here, in the place he called “beautiful beyond my capacity to describe.”
If you’re lucky enough to be a guest here, you’ll know exactly what he meant.
Rates from $5,471 per night, all inclusive; The Brando
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