Papeete Private Tour 'On Paul Gauguin's Footsteps'

This private tour will lead you on a path followed by Paul Gauguin, the famous artist who opened the way to modern painting. Relish in the opportunity to visit the Gauguin Museum and memorial. The life and works of this famous painter are on display.

Today begins on the west coast of the island, stopping at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands. Opened in 1978, this establishment is an excellent introduction to Tahiti. Exhibits cover the gamut, from flora and fauna to Polynesian culture (precontact homes, costumes, religion, dances, musical instruments and ornaments) and history (the exploratory and missionary period including figures illustrating captains James Cook, Louis-Antoine de Bougainville and Samuel Wallis, the Pomare dynasty, the missionary era and the history of the Chinese population).

Next you will stop at MARAE ARAHURAHU, a rectangular pyramid about the size of a tennis court and has a flat top with a wooden platform where animal and human offering were left for the gods. The marae is used occasionally during the Tiurai festival in July as a stage for re-enactment of ancient rituals such as the "Crowning of a King" ceremony or similar events.

Paul Gauguin arrived at Papeete in June 1891 at age 43 in search of the roots of "primitive" art. The MUSEUM GAUGUIN tells the painter's tormented life story and shows the present locations of his works throughout the world. 25 of his paintings are exhibited in the museum. The two meterish, two ton stone tiki on the museum grounds is said to be imbued with a sacred tapu spell. Tahitians believe this tiki, carved on the island of Raivavae hundreds of years ago, still lives. A curse is still said to befall all who touch the tiki.

At the MARAA GROTTO, the grotto at first appears small but it is quite deep and some Tahitians believe varua inside (evil spirits) lurk in the shadowy depths. Others say that if you follow an underground river back from the grotto you'll emerge at a wonderful valley in the spirit world. Paul Gauguin wrote of a swim he took across the small lake in the cave.

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