French Polynesia Travel Tips

Bora Bora, Tahiti, and Rangiroa are far away destinations that bring forth images of the classic tropical paradise. Indeed, they have beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, palm trees and friendly local resident. All these islands are in perfect harmony, and make French Polynesia a dream destination.

French Polynesia has long been held as a remote destination with a rich culture that attracts those looking for something special. While tourism is very important to the economy of the region, it has not gone mass market and overdeveloped. You can find accommodations that offer a range of services, however, small and personal is the method of delivery. Also, cultural attractions and water activities such as the beaches and scuba diving are the main draws.

 

 

In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to French Polynesia:

Where to stay?

French Polynesia or the Islands of Tahiti have over 118 islands spread over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 mi). However, most of these islands are uninhabited or have only small primitive villages. The capital city Papeete, located on the island of Tahiti, has about 70% of the countries population. About 15 islands have accommodations for tourist. Many are very simple, but there are also a number of luxury even exclusive resorts. Here are some of the top tourist destinations:

• Tahiti: This is the largest island in French Polynesia and has the majority of the population. There are many small villages and towns along the coast that offer tourism activities. However, many visitors head off to other islands after landing at the international airport here.

• Bora Bora: This one of the more popular destinations and is very popular with honeymooners. It is about 280 kilometers / 180 miles from Tahiti.

• Rangiroa: this island has one of the largest lagoons in the world. The island’s nickname is the “infinite lagoon”. If you are scuba diving in French Polynesia, this is one of the main attractions you should get to!

• Moorea: This island is also very popular as a honeymoon destination. One benefit over Bora Bora is that it does not require a connecting flight. It is just 30 minutes away from Tahiti by boat.

Activities and excursions in French Polynesia

Tourism in the French Polynesia islands is all about culture and nature. The beautiful beaches, clear waters, coral reefs and mountainous jungles are the attractions. Laying on the beach or hammock, Scuba diving, snorkeling, and hiking are popular. A few resorts have motorized water sports or ATV rides into the mountains but not many.

There are cultural shows that show visitors the traditions of the islands. However, in many of the smaller islands, visitors can experience Tahitian culture by observing the villages and villagers around them.

Best time to visit French Polynesia

Tahiti’s ‘peak’ season runs from May to October, with the three busiest months being June, July and August.

April and November are shoulder months generally with still good weather and cheaper prices. The off season has rain as shown in the charts. Still if you are scuba diving it is still a good time to go.

Health and Safety

Medical treatment is generally good on the major islands, but is limited in more remote or less populated areas. In less populated areas, if there are no hospitals, medical assistance can be found at a Dispensaire, a French government-run clinic. Patients with emergencies or serious illnesses are often referred to facilities on Tahiti for treatment. Scuba divers should be aware that only the hospital in Tahiti can treat DCI/DCS.

Regarding the security matter, the good news is that crime is very low in French Polynesia. Still, normal safety precautions should be exercised, as for whenever you travel.

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to French Polynesia, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Where is French Polynesia located in the world?

Located in the South Pacific, French Polynesia is an overseas department of France. The so-called “country” is divided into five groups of islands: the Society Islands archipelago, composed of the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands; the Tuamotu Archipelago; the Gambier Islands; the Marquesas Islands; and the Austral Islands. Among its 118 islands and atolls, 67 are inhabited.

The best-known island in French Polynesia is Tahiti, which is located within the Society Islands. Tahiti is a figure 8 shaped island and has the largest population. The capital of French Polynesia is Papeete. Which is located on Tahiti. Sometimes you will see French Polynesia also called the Islands of Tahiti. Plus, the country’s international airport is located just outside of the capital city.

 

How to get to French Polynesia?

Airfare to Tahiti is high and you will seldom find any significant discounts. However, while the flights are long, Tahiti is still relatively easy to get to.

Air Tahiti Nui offers flights to destinations in 9 countries:​

• Tahiti

• France: Paris and French towns and cities, plus Brussels (Codeshare partner SNCF)
+ Air France has flight from Europe connecting in Los Angeles and on to Tahiti. It also has a code share flight with Air Tahiti Nui.

• United-States: Los Angeles and other American cities(Codeshare partner American Airlines) Plus, Hawaiian Airlines offers a direct flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti, with a stop over in Honolulu. Other Hawaiian airlines flight can connect with the flight in Honolulu.

• Japan: Tokyo and other Asian countries(Codeshare partner Japan Airlines)

• New Zealand: Auckland and other New Zealand cities (Codeshare partner Air New-Zealand) Also, Air New Zealand has flights from Auckland, New Zealand, it also has code share flight with Air Tahiti Nui.

• Australia: Sydney (Codeshare partner Qantas)

• The New Caledonia: Noumea (Codeshare partner Aircalin)

• South Korea:Seoul (Codeshare partner Korean Air)

Do I need a visa for French Polynesia?

Since French Polynesia is a part of France all the laws of that country applies including visa requirements. Thus, citizens of the countries below are allow to freely enter France and French Polynesia with only a passport:

• EU members (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden);
• Visitors holding a residence permit granted by one of the EU country members or within the Schengen area;
• European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway);
• Andorra; Monaco; San Marino; Vatican; Switzerland;

Citizens of some other countries are also allowed to enter as short term visitors without a visa, however they must have an outbound ticket. Depending on the country of citizenship stays between 30 to 90 days are allowed. These rules apply to citizens of a number of countries which list you can find here : Tahiti Visa Requirements 

Getting Around

How you get around between island depends on where you are going. Destinations like Moorea are close to Tahiti and are reached by boat. Destinations further out requires a flight and if the island does not have an airport a boat from the closest airport.

Also, as to get around on the islands themselves, Tahiti has mass transportation while most of the other islands are small enough so everyone walks.

The Islands of Tahiti, or French Polynesia, as you may call it, is a dream destination. Whether for a romantic getaway of a dream scuba trip, it does not get better than this

French Polynesia Photos

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Scuba diving

You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: French Polynesia Diving