Barack Obama Visits Marlon Brando's Private Polynesian Resort at Tetiaroa
By Karen Brill. Photos: From left: Courtesy The Brando, Bruce Glikas; Getty.
Though Barack Obama is thoroughly sun-kissed three months into life as a private citizen, the former president hasn't had his fill of waterfront locales and breezy vibes just yet. This week finds Obama spending the current leg of his retirement tour in beautiful French Polynesia. Obama reportedly landed in Tahiti, before traveling from the island to an even more exclusive locale: Marlo Brando's private resort at the Tetiaroa atoll. Brando purchased the resort property back in the 1960s while filming Mutiny on the Bounty, renaming the small private island The Brando. The top Readers' Choice Awards pick for resorts in Australia and the South Pacific is difficult to access, requiring a 20-minute flight on a private plane from nearby Tahiti.
Obama reportedly arrived on the island alone and will stay a month, and it's unknown whether he'll be joined by the rest of the former First Family. Malia is working on a film internship in New York City, while Sasha remains in high school, though she is said to have her spring break starting March 24. No details have been released as to the former president's plans—probable kitesurfing aside—but the man does have a book to get writing...and what better way to beat out the writer's block than sunny isolation? In recent months, the past president has traipsed through the Caribbean, spending time in the British Virgin Islands on Richard Branson's Necker Island.
The atoll of Tetiaroa is famous for celebrity guests, who are attracted to The Brando's coral gardens, rare orchids, and freshwater pools. (The area opened as a resort in 2014, complete with two restaurants, a spa, and 35 quiet villas.) The resort also has a renowned reputation as an eco-friendly spot. Indeed, from Brando's purchase of the island through today, ecologists call the island home, and dedicate themselves to protecting the atoll and its marine life.
This story originally appeared on Conde Nast Traveler.
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