Why travel to French Polynesia in 2018

Traveling to French Polynesia, a French overseas territory at the other end of the world, is a dream for many travelers.
A hundred islands in the middle of the Pacific that stretch over more than 2,000 km. Since spring 2018, the dream is a bit closer thanks to the arrival of a new airline French Bee offering flights from Paris to Papeete via San Francisco. The Pacific is now more accessible. So, ready for a trip to French Polynesia?

When to travel to Polynesia?

You often hear that in paradise, the weather is nice every day. Indeed, the climate is rather exceptional in this part of the Pacific, with an average temperature of 25°C year-round... it's quite pleasant as a temperature. However, like any tropical region, there is a rainy season. The rainy period extends from November to March and also with cyclone risks in Polynesia from December to April.

The ideal period to travel to Polynesia is therefore from May to November, it's the dry season in Polynesia and temperatures hover around 24°C. To perfect this idyllic weather, the trade winds blow from July to September.

Another important element in choosing your stay in Polynesia is the whale season. Indeed, the territory is also known for whale watching. The best period to observe whales generally spans from July to November throughout Polynesia.

Tahiti, is the beginning of every journey here?

The island of Tahiti is necessarily your starting point for any stay in French Polynesia because this is where all international flights arrive. Located in the Society Archipelago, the Windward Islands include Tahiti and Moorea. Many travelers do not linger here, wrongly, preferring to move on to other archipelagos. Yet a trip to Tahiti deserves the visit all by itself.

An immersion in authentic Polynesia

The Papeete market is the historical and cultural center of the city. It is open from 6 am to 6 pm and from 3 am to 9 am on Sundays.
Go there to find authenticity and Polynesian gastronomy. You will taste or .

The beaches of Tahiti

In Tahiti, there are only a few beaches and they are mainly black sand beaches on the East coast, like Taanoe and Papenoo. But the paradisiacal effect is still there with palm trees, surfers, and water at 26°C. On the West coast, there are white sand beaches.

The most mythical surf spot

All the way south of Tahiti, about sixty kilometers from Papeete, you will find the wave of Teahupoo, which has even been dubbed "the most dangerous wave in the world." In August, the Billabong Pro Tahiti takes place here, where the best surfers from around the world come to compete.

Teahupo’o and @matehau.tetopata 😊 #teahupoo #tahiti #lovetahiti

A publication shared by Teahupoo Tahiti Surfari (@teahupoo) on July 26, 2018 at 10:37 PDT

Hiking at the summit

Climb Mount Aorai which rises over 2,000 meters high. The summit of Aorai is easily accessible via a well-maintained trail starting from Le Belvédère restaurant at an altitude of 600 meters in the commune of Pirae.

A surprisingly unique landscape

The Taravao plateau will transport you into an atmosphere more reminiscent of Norman bocages or Swiss plateaus with farms and dairy cows!

Traveling to Polynesia means discovering Bora Bora and the Leeward Islands

Moorea – Windward IslandsBora Bora, the most famous island, no longer needs introducing as it is synonymous with paradise.
Its exuberant tropical flora, exceptionally blue lagoon, and volcanic peaks have earned it the nickname "Pearl of the Pacific."

Landing from the plane will be by catamaran….

Go watch the sunset on Pointe Matira beach

Bora Bora – Leeward IslandsThis magnificent beach owes its name to a whaler that ran aground nearby, Matilda or Mahira. The Polynesians had difficulty pronouncing this name and it was quickly transformed into Matira. A very beautiful white coral sand beach with crystal clear and shallow water. You can walk to the reef and swim with rays or even turtles that come to roam in the lagoon.

If time allows you, let yourself be carried away for a week on a catamaran visiting the Leeward Islands (Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora). This experience will remain unforgettable in your travel life.

The Marquesas Islands: an isolated and authentic archipelago

Another world yet again in the Marquesas Islands or the archipelago of superlatives: northernmost, most isolated, wildest charm, and harshest beauty. Over 1,600 km from Tahiti, the Marquesas never disappoint.

I leave to be peaceful, to be rid of civilization's influence.

These are Paul Gauguin's words when he left Tahiti for the Marquesas Islands. The Marquesas are lands most distant from any continent. The vegetation is lush and majestic landscapes dive into the ocean. Discovering the Marquesas on a cruise is ideal.

Discover one of the most beautiful bays in the world: Fatu Hiva

It is the most remote of the Marquesas Islands with barely 600 inhabitants. But its wild beauty is spectacular and its craftsmanship well-known beyond just the Marquesas.

Hike through Nuku Hiva valleys

The Hakaui waterfall, 350 m high, is located at the end of an ancient royal valley. The path leading there is lined with decorated with tikis. Stop by Taipivai village where writer Herman Melville once stayed.

Hiva Oa: land chosen by Gauguin and Brel

Lush valleys and towering peaks will take you on a journey tracing these genius artists' paths; Gauguin didn’t wait for air transport's arrival before traveling to Polynesia... but also onto some of Polynesia's most beautiful archaeological sites. At Ipona you can admire some of French Polynesia's largest Tikis.