Lying like a pearl within its shell in the South Pacific, New Caledonia is not just a mishmash of lagoons and mountains.
There’s no better place to experience the Pacific with a taste of France than New Caledonia (Nouvélle Caledonie), where Melanesian tradition blends with French sophistication. This mix of the chic yet casual, très French but ultimately Pacific comes together with peerless élan in Noumea, the cosmopolitan capital.
This country is among the five richest in the world when it comes to maritime and terrestrial biodiversity with more than 1000 species of fish and 6,500 species of unique marine invertebrates- canyons and caves, exquisite coral, the smallest of tropical fish, turtles, sea snakes and sharks. Dolphin and whale spotting are other delights in store, or simply the luxury of total relaxation on the soft, warm sand of a deserted isle.
Travelers can delve into the island by hiking its ancient forests or diving into the world’s largest lagoon (A World Heritage Site) and the New Caledonia Barrier Reef. On the Main Island’s east coast, the Loyalty Islands (Ouvéa, Maré, Lifou) and the Isle of Pines, life is organized around the tribes and the customs of the Kanak culture are still very much alive.
