When Guy Laliberté – the visionary behind Cirque du Soleil – decided to look for a piece of paradise to call his own, he went straight to the Pacific. Scouring the vast expanse of French Polynesia, home to hundreds of islands, for an entire decade; the search for an unspoiled, untamed place finally led to Nukutepipi – a pristine haven and the blueprint of private island escapism, complete with rare birds, a primary forest laced with powder-white sand, and quite possibly the bluest lagoon imaginable protected by a thriving coral reef.
Island life on Nukutepipi
Late last year we were invited to experience “Nuku” in all its glory and took the chance to grill Guy on his travel hit list:
Name: Guy Laliberté
Your home base: Montréal, Canada
Aside from a passport, the three items you always travel with: Music and a small speaker, a selection of hats and a selection of sunglasses 😎
Your perfect meal on the road – what and where: Always Japanese food!
The best thing you’ve read in the last six months: The Prophet by Khalil Gibran. I’ve read this book once a year since I was 14 years old!
Your travel soundtrack: I’m always travelling with my 80,000 songs library, so I can’t name only one soundtrack.
The one place you’ve been that you think everyone should visit, and why: Besides Nukutepipi in French Polynesia, I would say that I was touched and amazed by the authentic and communal spirit of the island of Taquile, Peru.
The one place you’ll always return to, no matter how many times: The Big Island, Hawaii. This peaceful place inspires me. This is where I first thought about creating Cirque du Soleil and Lune Rouge.
The one Never-Have-I-Ever destination that you hope to visit, and why:
I would love to do a trek and observe the gorillas in Rwanda.
The one thing that most surprised you on your last trip: I had the pleasure to encounter a whale shark in Nukutepipi a few weeks ago. It’s the first time one of them showed up and it stayed with us, around the boat, for about 70 minutes. It was incredible.
How would you describe a typical day? There is no such thing as a typical day in my life ;) Every day is unique!
As an avid traveller where in the world inspires you most? There is always something to get inspired from if you keep your eyes wide open, which I did all my life.
Finally, where have you set your sights on next? I’ll be going to Silver Bank in the Dominican Republic to swim with the whales. This place is amazing and so pure. It’s probably one of the most impressive marine life encounters that I have ever lived and I’m excited to go back!
