French Polynesia, how to organize your stay?

Although French Polynesia consists of 118 islands in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, most travelers are familiar mainly with Bora Bora and Tahiti. Yet, the other islands are just as beautiful and worth exploring!

Culturally, Polynesia is rich and vibrant, thanks to its inhabitants and their joie de vivre, as well as its traditions, songs, and dances that captivate visitors. The diverse landscapes cannot fail to impress: atolls, high islands, mountains, beaches, coral reefs... each archipelago holds its own surprises and wonders!

So let's discover together the best places and activities in French Polynesia!

Scuba diving among the world's best sites

Rangiroa

Rangiroa is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu-Gambier archipelago. The marine life here is extremely dense, featuring dolphins and numerous sharks like the hammerhead and tiger shark. The strong currents in some areas allow you to admire the underwater scenery as if you were on a conveyor belt! The best diving spots include: the shark cave, canyons, the crossing, the wind turbine, the angle, the Blue, Tiputa reef, and Myripristis reef.

Fakarava

Visitors enjoy warm waters and excellent visibility year-round for diving in this atoll, with most spots being accessible to beginners. You can admire numerous species of sharks, dolphins, rays, and moray eels... Between June and July, groupers gather here for mating season!

The best spots are: Ohotu, Passe de Garuae, Maiuru, and Pufana.

Discovering the islands

Tahaa

Accessible only by boat, this small paradise consisting of eight villages has retained its charm and exudes a soothing calm. Called the "vanilla island," Tahaa supplies almost three-quarters of Polynesian vanilla production, so don't hesitate to visit a vanilla plantation and of course buy some to take home!

Raiatea

This island is considered the cradle of Polynesian culture because it was here that the first inhabitants of Polynesia settled. The royal marae of Taputapuatea, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a grand archaeological site that testifies to the island's cultural richness and is worth admiring. Here, you can navigate by canoe or kayak on the Faaroa River, go diving, or admire the only wreck in all of Polynesia: the Nordby, a Danish three-master that has lain here since the early 1900s.

Rurutu

Ecotourism is key here! The mountainous island offers magnificent hikes and visits to limestone caves, the most famous being Mitterrand Cave where rocks form ghostly shapes... The island is also perfect for horseback riding.

From August to October, Rurutu is ideal for humpback whale watching: excursions are available to witness this wonderful spectacle.

Moorea

Also called "Butterfly Island" due to its shape, Moorea's bays are a must-see: Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay are majestic with shimmering waters. There are many water activities: paddleboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking or simply swimming; travelers will surely find an activity to suit their desires. From July to October, humpback whales can even be spotted here!

Maupiti

The small island of 12 km² is a true haven of peace. Tourists are rare here, with no shops or hotels. Only a few guesthouses offer authentic accommodation on site. You can thus appreciate local life as well as the preserved nature of the island. Haranae petroglyphs and numerous maraes can be found here. Boat excursions on the lagoon also allow for manta ray observation.

On many islands, you can find overwater accommodations for enjoying your stay by the ocean to the fullest!

Witnessing the legendary Teahupoo wave

South of Tahiti lies one of the most beautiful but also one of the most dangerous waves in the world: Teahupoo. Almost as wide as it is tall, it reaches between 5 and 10 meters high and 4 meters in diameter.

Another feature is its tubular shape that requires great skill from surfers who must perform a "take-off." They must quickly stand on their board then lift themselves into the tube. This mythical spot will host surfing events during the 2024 Olympic Games.

Admiring Tiare Apetahi on Temehani Plateau

Recognizable by its five branches, this flower grows only in one place in French Polynesia. It can be found on Mount Temehani in Ra'iātea. Besides being beautiful, it’s also particularly fragrant. A trip to this island offers travelers a chance to discover this floral heritage. Unfortunately, it has been threatened with extinction for several years due to excessive flower harvesting.

According to legend, a young woman named "Apetahi" climbed up Mount Temehani intending to commit suicide after discovering her husband was cheating on her. It’s said that by cutting off her hand to bleed out her life force created this flower.

Attending the grand cultural festival Heiva i Tahiti in Papeete

An essential event on Polynesian cultural calendar in July; this festival lasts three weeks during which over a thousand artists invite participants to discover Polynesian legends and history through grand performances featuring several dance and music groups. You'll have an opportunity to witness spectacular ancient traditions such as firewalking.