Tahiti (French Polynesia)

Travel guide of Tahiti (French Polynesia)

Tahiti and Her Islands or officially French Polynesia is a world known popular tourist destination with famous islands like Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. The islands welcome those seeking white sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons, Tahiti is a destination with plenty of activities available on land and in the waters of Pacific Ocean. A cultural experience is provided by local Polynesians who still preserve their traditions and arts. There is a wide choice of islands to discover, a total of 118 islands divided into 5 archipelagoes, each being somewhat unique, covering an ocean area comparable to the size of Europe. The waters of Tahiti are rich in ocean life and attract divers from around the world. Romantic couples can get married here or just renew their vows in a traditional Tahitian wedding ceremony. Welcome to a Pacific destination with French flair and enjoy the sincere hospitality of local people.

Useful information

Land, geography

• total 118 islands of different sizes, the largest one being Tahiti
• almost in the middle of South Pacific, approx. 5.700 km / 3.500 mi from Australia and 7.500 km / 4.600 mi from Chile, 6.200 km / 3.800 mi from California and 17.100 km / 10.000 mi from France...
• the islands cover ocean surface of some 4 million square kilometres / 2.5 million square miles (size of Europe) while the land area is comparable to the size of Rhode Island
• French Polynesia is made up of 5 groups of archipelagoes :
• Society Islands - Tahiti, its sister island Moorea and surrounding islands and atolls to the west including Bora Bora, Tetiaroa, Raiatea, Maupiti, Huahine, Taha'a and Tupai
• check the map of Society Islands and map of Papeete, the capital of Tahiti in PDF
• Tuamotu group - 'between sky and sea' as the Polynesians say; low islands and atolls east of Tahiti island; each island is surrounded with a lagoon and a ring of coral, fascinating underwater world with rich life and wide variety of fish and coral; rare rains make it perfect place for pearl farming.
• the most visited atolls of Tuamotu group: Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava
• check the map of Tuamotu Islands in PDF
• The Marquesas - called also 'EnuaEnana' or 'Land of Men', northeast of Tahiti island, approx 1.400 km / 870 mi far; a group of high islands near the equator; steep mountains inhabited by wild horses, goats and pigs
• well known islands of the Marquesas: Nuku Hiva, HivaOa, UaPou, UaHuka
• check the map of Marquesas Islands in PDF
• the Austral Archipelago or the Austral Islands lie some 630 km / 390 mi south of Tahiti island; the last inhabited islands of the South Pacific, ancient volcanoes with fertile land, used to grow vegetables for all Tahiti islands
• check the map of Austral Islands in PDF
• Gambier Archipelago - far east end of French Polynesia, some 1.600 km / 1.000 mi from Tahiti island; high Mangareva island and its fringe of smaller islands; remains of a gigantic volcanic crater; rarely visited by tourists
• check the map of Gambier Islands in PDF

Climate & Weather

• tropical but moderate climate
• average yearly air and water temperature is 26°C / 80°F
• summer season from November to April, slightly warmer and more humid
• winter season from May to October, slightly cooler temperatures
• the Austral and Gambier Islands have cooler temperatures compared to the Society and Marquesas Islands which are closer to equator

Travel season

• year-round sunny destination
• dry season from March to November, temperatures between 21-27°C / 71-80°F
• rainy season from December to February, temperatures between 25-35°C / 77-95°F with some tropical showers, which rarely last longer than 30 minutes

Government

• the capital is Pape'ete, located on the northwest coast of Tahiti island
• French Polynesia is an overseas collectivity of France with self-governing powers including own assembly and president

Time zone

• UTC/GMT -10
• same time zone as Hawaii
• not using Daylight Saving Time
• 2 hours behind Pacific Standard Time (which means 3 hours behind during the Daylight Saving Time from April to October)
• Marquesas - half an hour ahead of the rest of the islands

Currency, payments

• French Pacific Franc (XPF / CFP)
• 1 USD = approx 100 CFP; 1 EUR = approx 120 CFP (2020)
• CFP is the currency of 3 French overseas territories / collectivities: French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna
• credit cards and traveler checks widely accepted
• banks at Faaa Airport and on most bigger islands, ATM machines available
• hotels exchange major currencies and traveler checks, US dollar is widely accepted as direct payment in hotels, restaurants and large shops

Fly to Tahiti, airlines

• Fa'a'a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete on Tahiti island
• less than 8 hours flight from Los Angeles, 20 hours flight from Paris
• direct flights operated by Air New Zealand, Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, LAN (2019)
• Air Tahiti operating domestic flights
• chartered flights operated on request by Air Tahiti, Air Archipels, SARL Pol'Air

Transport

• by air:
• domestic carrier - Air Tahiti
• regular flights between 47 islands and atolls
• 10-minute shuttle service between Tahiti and Moorea
• maximum luggage allowance is 10 kg /person (both child and adult, no baggage for babies) except for passengers connected to an international flight within 7 days, then 20 kg baggage allowance is granted for free in Y class and 50 kg in Z class (updates will be provided with the offer)
• divers can enjoy supplementary free baggage allowance of 5 kg on local flights, supporting documents are needed
• by the sea:
• catamarans and ferry boats between Tahiti and Moorea operate daily
• schooners and cargo boats serve all the inhabited islands from Papeete
• frequency of boat connection between the islands as of 2019, to have an idea: 3x weekly to Society Islands, 5x weekly to Tuamotu, once in 15 days to Marquesas and Austral Islands, once monthly to Mangareva
• land transport:
• public bus system
• 2 types of buses on Tahiti: open air trucks 'Le Truck' and RTC large white coaches
• both types operating frequently in Papeete and around Tahiti island, Le Truck also on most other larger islands
• taxis, car rentals for drivers above 21 years with valid driver's licence

Entry requirements

• French nationals need only a National Identity Card
• biometric passport is necessary for transit through the United States, 6+ months passport validity adviced
• 3 month stay without visas within a 6-month period is granted for most tourists including those of European Union, most states of the American continent, Asia-Pacific areas etc.
• we will inform you about updated entry requirements for visitors from your country together with our offer

Travelling since 2020

• Travel world changed in 2020 with the worldwide lockdown. Travel conditions are still being updated, airlines releasing new schedules, hotels and destinations applying new arrangements where necessary. As it is hardly possible to keep all relevant information on our websites up to date, we will inform you about current situation at the time of your request and of your journey.
• If the destination you choose is not yet accessible for travellers from your country, we will recommend a similar available option.

Duty Free

• all items brought in by travelers for their personal use are duty-free, provided they are non-prohibited items and are re-exported out of French Polynesia within six months, including:
• 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars; 2 liters of alcohol, champagne or wine

Electricity

• hotels use either 110 or 220 volts, depending on location
• North American sockets, but converters / adapters recommended

Internet, signal coverage

• larger hotels and several internet cafes provide internet access
• some cell phones may not work in Tahiti, depending on the type of phone and service provider
• mobile phone network coverage is expanding throughout Tahiti, it is also possible to buy a rechargable prepaid card from 2 local network providers - Vini and Vodafone
• phone cards are available, international dialing lines are at disposal in most hotels

Useful contacts

• 15 - Urgent Medical Assistance Service (SAMU)
• 18 - Fire department
• 17 - Police
• 16 - Rescue at sea

Population

• friendly and hospitable people
• 75% of the population is Polynesian, but with strong French influence
• approx 280.000 inhabitants

Language

• official language is French, Tahitian is widely spoken and tought at schools
• English is spoken and understood in tourist areas
• learning tahitian greetings is appreciated

Religion

• Christianity - various churches around the islands
• local Polynesian traditional practices

Health

• excellent medical and dental services, pharmacies, private clinics
• large government hospital in Tahiti, smaller hospitals or medical facilities on the other islands
• high health standard
• tap water is drinkable in Papeete and Bora Bora, ask in the other places
• vaccination against yellow fever is obligatory for visitors from endemic countries

Tipping

• tipping is not customary in Polynesian culture, but you are welcome to appreciate an exemplary service

Dress

• light summer wear, casual and comfortable clothing recommended
• swimsuits and pareus during day on the beach and in resorts, for excursions and trips pack some shirts and shorts
• casual slacks and sport shirts recommended for men to wear at dinner, dresses being most appropriate for women

Nature

• white sandy beaches and turquoise lagoons around the islands attract visitors
• bigger islands are covered in tropical rainforests
• tropical flowers all over the islands, the famous tiare (Gardenia Tahitensis) is found in every Polynesian garden - flowers are used for daily ornamentation, worn above the ear or are woven into head crowns for celebrations
• visitors can enjoy amazing botanical experiences on the Marquesas
• whales are meeting in the warm shallow waters of Austral Archipelago from June to October

Culture & Traditions

• Tahiti and Her Island officially called French Polynesia is a country with strong French influence (see History), but the islanders preserve their heritage and traditions of their Polynesian ancestors - Tahitian language is taught in schools, traditional sports are encouraged, arts and crafts like tatooing and handcrafts are practiced
• traditional dance and music are strong part of Tahitian culture. Dances are linked to all aspects of life, accompanied by traditional musical instruments - drums, conch shells, nasal flutes
• learn more about Tahitian culture in museums, through visits to ancient maraes and different cultural experiences which are offered by local guides
• mysterious Austral Islands posses great choice of marae, majestic centuries-old stone tiki
• maraes are open-air ancient sacred grounds of Polynesian people, large stone structures, once the centre of power, a place to worship gods, negotiate peace treaties, celebrate war success or launch voyages to settle other parts of the South Pacific. Nowadays they are still used to host important events.
• Mana or Te Mana is the spirit or the soul, life force flowing through all things, celebrated by traditional Tahitian culture
• cultural events like Heiva i Tahiti in June, July and August is a gathering of all Tahitians in Papeete to present crafts, compete in traditional sports and revive the culture in traditional dance performances

Arts and crafts

• artistic skills are sacred for Tahitians and are passed on through generations by 'mamas', the guardians of tradition, the matriarchs and through traditional craftsmanship
• Tahiti inspired and influenced artists and writers like Paul Gaugin, Robert Stevenson, James Mitchener and Jacque Brel

Architecture

• colonial style and modern structures
• traditional houses, which tend to dissapear nowadays are the original fare (houses); fare were mostly open outdoors, with plant walls built on piles, roofs covered with pandanus or coconut palm leaves (niau)
• wood and natural material is used in interior decorations - mahogany, yaka, tamanu, litchi, coconut and teak wood; bamboo, seashells, mother-of-pearl, kere (bark from the coconut tree), stones, etc.

History

• the islands were first settled by Polynesians from Tonga and Samoa between 300 and 800 AD
• Tahiti and her Islands were first spotted by Spanish sailors in 1606, but they were officially discovered for Europeans by English sea captain Samuel Wallis in 1767, followed by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville in 1768, French explorer who made Tahiti famous in Europe
• promotion of Tahiti continued when Captain James Cook returned to Europe with thousands of illustrations of Tahitian nature, fauna and flora
• 1800s changed the life of Tahiti islands with the arrival of whalers, British missionaries and French military expeditions; a French - British rivalry over the islands began
• Tahiti's Queen Pomare ruled Tahiti until 1847 when she accepted French protection of Tahiti and Moorea islands
• in 1880 King Pomare V was forced to give up Tahitian sovereignity and become French dependency
• in 1957 all the islands of Tahiti were reconstituted as the overseas French territory called French Polynesia
• in 1984 an autonomy of French Polynesia was implemented
• in 1998 French Polynesia became an overseas country with greater self-governing powers including own assembly and president

Excursions / must see

Must see and experience

• join a cultural village tour, visit some of the small villages and get to know local people
• visit Le Marche, public market in the heart of Papeete on Tahiti
• take a ride on Le Truck, an open-air bus used by locals as well
• stop by at Roulottes, catering trucks gathering in Papeete downtown each evening
• feed rayas or sharks
• enjoy a beach barbecue on motu, small island
• stay in an over-water bungalow and have your breakfast delivered by canoe
• visit the Pearl Museum, the only museum dedicated to pearls and learn about Tahiti's unique Black Pearls
• enjoy the tropical greenery of the islands on a guided hike, mountain trek, 4x4 safari or take a horseback ride - the best hikes are in Tahiti and Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas

Sports, activities

• a wide range of sports and activities is available for visitors
• Tahiti is a popular snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing destination
• visitors are invited to try canoeing, spear and deep sea fishing, swimming, jet skiing, windsurfing, waterskiing, parasailing or shark and ray feeding
• enjoy yachts or ships sailing among the islands or joina cruise
• land activities include cycling, horseback riding, 4WD jeep safaris, tennis or helicopter rides

Diving

• French Polynesia is a world-known diving destination
• divers can find hundreds of dive sites, drift dives, oceanic drop-offs, wrecks of ships or enjoy lagoon dives in Tahiti
• the territory offers a wide variety of sea beds
• diving clubs can be found around the major islands - Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and Tahaa and also on Tuamotu islands, Marquesas and the Austral Islands
• admire spectacular coral formations, red sponges, multicolored polyps, gorgonian and gardens of anemone
• the ocen waters around Tahiti islands dispose of rich tropical underwater fauna - angel and butterfly fish, parrot fish, clown fish, blue tang fish, triggerfish, morays, eagle rays and mantas, dolphins, turtles and even barracudas, you can also meet humpback whales
• diving with sharks is the top attraction
• the most spectacular diving sites are in the passages of the Tuamotu Islands, Rangiroa (also Fakarava and Tikehau) in particular, also called the Mecca of deep sea diving

Hiking

• the mountainous islands are welcoming for hikes or wheel-driven excursions
• the entrance to natural parks is generally easy, with wide and sufficiently developed paths; hikes in a more challenging terrain require better physical condition and service of a local guide is recommended
• Easier hiking trails on Tahiti include:
• Mount Marau - accessible by car for beautiful walks to the summit including vertiginous crests
• the Belvedere - panoramic viewpoint of Tahiti Iti peninsula
• the 3 waterfalls
• the Spring Gardens of Vaipahi and its crestline path
• Challenging hiking trails on Tahiti include:
• the Fautaua Waterfall
• crossing of Tahiti Iti peninsula by the interior or by TePari cliffs - minimum 2 hiking days
• the ascent of Mount Aorai (2.066 m / 6.714 ft) - 2 hiking days
• the Faraura Waterfalls, an athletic and aquatic hike
• Diadem pass
• Easier hiking trails on Moorea include:
• Afareaitu Waterfalls
• the pathway of the ancestors joining with the pineapple route
• the educational circuits of the Professional High School of Agriculture
• the 3 coconut trees pass from the Belvedere
• the winding paths in the Opunohu Valley
• Challenging hiking trails on Moorea include:
• the ascent of Mount Rotui (900 m / 2952 ft), crestline
• the ascent of the pierced mountain Mou'aPuta (830 m / 2723 ft)
• the ascent of Mount Tohiea
• crossing of the island East-South Vaiare-Vaianae (Haapiti)

Shopping, souvenirs

• top shopping place in Tahiti is LeMarche, the indoor public market in the centre of Papeete - one floor is reserved to food, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as fish freshly caught from the lagoon; the other floor is dedicated to arts and crafts including the largest selection of colorful pareus (sarong) - a must buy souvenir from Tahiti
• bargaining prices is not customary in Tahiti
• handcraft works include intricate carvings of stone, wooden drums, bowls, patterns, sculptures carved from precious wood
• popular hats, purses and mats are woven from pandanus or coconut leaves
• homemade quilts called tifaifai are designed and crafted by 'mamas', the island matriarchs
• Monoi oils are used in natural skin products, they are created from the oils of tree fruits and fragrances that are extracted from the Tiare flower
• Black pearls - a great variety of pearls different in sizes, shapes and colors ranging from dark black to shades of green, blue, bronze or pink are a famous Tahitian product; it takes 18 months to cultivate a black pearl

Food, cuisine

• exquisite French Polynesian cuisine
• an original way to taste different local foods is to go downtown in Papeete in the evening and choose from the offer of catering trucks - Roulottes; try curries, stir fries, roasted pig or flaming crepes
• Tahitian cuisine uses fresh fish, exotic tropical fruits and vegetables
• poisson cru - Tahiti style fresh fish marinated with lime and coconut, mixed with vegetables
• parrot fish, ahi, mahi-mahi and other fresh fish are being served in a tasty light sauce from vanilla beans and coconut milk
• tamaaraa is a traditional Tahitian feast with Polynesian singing, dancing and native foods of fish, roasted pork and chicken prepared in ahimaa, traditional underground oven; the event finishes with a show of dancing in exotic costumes
• Tahiti's natural cuisine with exotic flavors is being influenced by the vistors comming to Tahiti islands from Asia and Europe
• try popular chevrettes - local frewshwater prawns
• in Tahiti also Chinese food is popular including ma'a tinito, mix of pork, kidney beans, pota and macaroni

Special tourism

Accessible Tourism

• for visitors facing any challenges or disabilities we are ready to provide the best available options of transport, accommodation and services following their individual requirements
• let us know your special needs, we are happy to assist in creating a great holiday package fit for you

Wedding and Honeymoon

• romantic natural settings of Tahiti and Her Islands are popular place for honeymooners
• Tahiti is the second leading destination in Weddings and Honeymoons' market in the Pacific, the first being Fiji and the third being the Cook Islands; the most popular place for a honeymoon in Tahiti is Bora Bora island with postcard sceneries of the overwater-bungalows; a less expensive alternative is the Moorea island
• traditional Tahitian wedding is a legally non-binding ceremony for couples who wish to get married or renew their vows:
• couples are decorated in colorful pareu (local sarong), flowers and shells
• the groom is taken to the wedding site on a canoe and the bride is carried on a rattan throne
• Tahitian priest performs the rites and gives the couple a Tahitian name
• music and dancers accompany the event
• it is also possible to get married in Tahiti officially - feel free to ask about the required documents that need to be presented prior to the actual wedding ceremony; the process takes a bit longer time, documents have to be provided 30 days prior to the wedding, translated into French

Events

• Heiva i Tahiti is one of the most important cultural celebrations in Tahiti, gathering of peoples from around its islands in Papeete to present crafts, compete in traditional sports and revive the culture in traditional dance performances; the event takes place in June, July and August
• Hawaiki Nui is an international Outrigger Canoe Race from the island of Huahine to Raiatea, Tahaa and Bora Bora; over 100 teams from around the world compete in the race

Accommodation

• Tahiti is the first destination in the region to have introduced the over-water bungalows for accommodation
• French Polynesia offers high accommodation standards and is a well developed tourist destination
• there are more than 3.000 rooms in 47 hotels throughout Tahiti and Her Islands
• find a wide range of categories from budget family pensions and private homes to luxury 5* resorts
• affordable packages are also available, we are happy to assist you in creating one for you