On the 10th anniversary of Marlon Brando’s death, a dream to develop his private island sanctuary in French Polynesia has come true, with the doors to his eco-friendly resort opening this week
The Brando resort at Tetiaroa in French Polynesia - Aerial View ©Tim McKenna
On the 10th anniversary of Marlon Brando’s death, a dream to develop his private island sanctuary in French Polynesia has come true, with the doors to his eco-friendly resort opening this week.
Dubbed The Brando, the luxury resort is set on the private atoll of Tetiaroa, a series of a dozen islets 48 km north of Tahiti, and was built to pay homage to Brando’s overall vision: a sustainable, self-sufficient paradisiacal hideaway that allows guests to bask in luxury – guiltlessly.
As part of its goal to go carbon neutral, half the resort is powered by solar energy, for example, while the balance of power is produced by a biofuel thermal power station fueled by coconut oil.
One of the 35 deluxe villas at The Brando resort ©Tim McKenna
Guests keep cool via seawater air conditioning, which harnesses the cold of ocean depths, pipes it to land and converts the energy into air conditioning, and they tuck into dishes made by Michelin-starred French chef Guy Martin with organic fruits and vegetables plucked from the island’s gardens.
Each of the 35 deluxe villas comes with its own private beach and plunge pool, and is designed to reflect Polynesian culture while also offering the modern conveniences of WiFi, flat screen televisions, and king-size beds.
Interior of one of the villas at The Brando resort ©Tim McKenna
Activities at the island paradise include snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, Polynesian canoeing, scuba diving, tennis, biking, and guided tours by naturalists.
A spa also offers holistic treatments inspired by ancient Polynesian traditions, private massage villas, steam baths, and a yoga shelter.
In keeping with Brando’s vision for a research and development centre exploring the preservation of tropical islands, the resort is also home to an EcoStation described as a think tank for scientists and researchers who will be available to chat about their work and local wildlife.
Rates for one-bedroom villas start at €1,800 a night for the soft opening until September 30, before rising to €3,000 a night.