French Polynesia

This beautiful legendary set of islands in the eastern south pacific encapsulates all the wonderful experiences of Polynesia, from the inviting hospitality of the Polynesian people, the warm gentle breezes, the alluring aroma of tropical plants and flowers, to the fierce amber sunsets and the breathtaking scenery. French Polynesia is broken down into five great archipelagoes - Society and Marquesas Islands, whose soaring volcanic outcrops rise sharply from the ocean to create the familiar postcard pictures we imagine of tropical paradise, Tahiti and Bora Bora being the two most famous and defining islands in this cluster. The Austral islands feature more moderate hills at around 400m, while the low lying coral atolls of Tuamotus offers exciting snorkel rides, shark feeding, dolphin encounters and manta ray sightings. In addition to all the natural wonders, French Polynesia has a rich cultural history. Go to Papeete’s colourful morning market to interact with the locals, or visit the many old Polynesian maraes (temples). From historical monuments to white sand beaches, cascading waterfalls to well manicured gardens, there are many memorable moments waiting for discovery.

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Atoll Rangiroa, French Polynesia
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Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
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Tahiti, French Polynesia
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Atoll Fakarava, French Polynesia
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Papao, French Polynesia
Travel Tips From Our Members
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Tahaa, French Polynesia
Tahaa, est à mon avis l'ile la plus "sauvage" de polynésie. Cette ile est magnifique, la verdure y est omniprésente, les plages sont éloigné les unes des autres, petites, calmes et désertiques... Une ile paradiasiaque encore bien préservé du Tourisme.
Papeete, French Polynesia
Moorea is one os the mos beautiful Island of the "iles de la société"...
Huahine, French Polynesia
Is one of the most beautiful places in French Polynesia with nice surf spots and relaxed people but beware of bike thieves... Lol. Rent a car. 
Huahine, French Polynesia
great place but the most expensive bottle of water I ever bought!
Moorea, French Polynesia
The playground for Tahitians. A little stress on the reef system though, too many tourists walking on the reef! Buy black pearls at a bargain here.
Atoll Rangiroa, French Polynesia
The secret is out. The most pristine aquatic ecology I have ever seen. An amazing place to be stranded for a week.
Papeete, French Polynesia
Papeete - town center ... local government, businesses, and commerce. Visitors come through the Papeete airport and make their way to Bora Bora or Moorea. People should stop by, explore the town, maybe stay a night and then move on ... why not visit the real Tahiti while you're in the neighorhood?
Raiatea, French Polynesia
I almost don't want to say this; Raiatea has pristine coral reefs, visit this place if you love aquatic life over Bora Bora's stressed reef system.
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
Be prepared to travel by boat between resorts. Fork out the extra dough for the over the water bungalow, it's a uniqeu experience.
Papeete, French Polynesia
Papeete, capital of French Polynesia, meaning waterbasket in Tahitian (pape=water, ete=basket, recipient), is a bustling little city lost in the Pacific. Entry point to French Polynesia, most tourist head on to other islands and don't "waste" much of their time in Papeete. Paradise or city like any other? I would rather opt for city like any other set in Paradise. You can find a number of bars and restaurants, above all the famous roulottes on the main square as well as the big covered market of Papeete (Mapuru a Paraita), worth a visit, boasting local handicraft, flowers and food of any kind. A good place to have a chat with locals. Ia ora na ( Hello in Tahitian)
Faaa, French Polynesia
Faaa, yes there are 3 a and is pronounced Fa'aa, is where the Intl. Airport of Tahiti is located. About 10-15 min from downtown¨Papeete, depending on the traffic situation which can at times be very chaotic. Faaa is also the place where you find the big resorts of Tahiti, like Le Meridien, Sofitel, Beachcomber and the like
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
The best clear water in the world!
Iles Marquises, French Polynesia
faire la tournée des marquises est tout simplement génial. je l'ai fait sur l'aranui 2. la croisiere et l'ambiance sur le bateau sont superbe. magnifique paysage mais attention au "nono" ( petit moustique vorace). par contre il parait que l'arnui 3 est moins convivial que le 2 car plus grand.
Tahiti, French Polynesia
If staying in a resort, always try and replenish the bar drinks by buying them in the town, as they are 3 times cheaper than the resort. Also, put any foods (dry or not) in the fridge, as by morning bugs will arrive.
Moorea, French Polynesia
Le centre de plongee "Fun Dive" est de bonne qualite et les moniteurs tres sympas et competants.
Atoll Ahe, French Polynesia
Tres bel atoll et encore tres peu developpe pour le tourisme. La pension "Raita" est vraiment geniale et les tenanciers sont super sympas!
Tahiti, French Polynesia
If you are merely visit in transit, do what you can to push to the front of the queue checking in at "customs". Basically, once you get out of the plane onto the tarmac, run for it. "sorry elderly american tourist with fanny packs galore, gangway." There are few seats in this open air airport which are directly below a fan. stake your claim early. make a buddy. get at least 2 or 3 bottles of water. helps to change into shorts before you land (even at night).
Moorea, French Polynesia
Alfredo's a typical tourist trap in Polynesia is actually quite entertaining if you go on a Thursday evening.  Ron, an American expat living in Moorea for a few decades entertains guests playing his ukulele and singing...he takes requests and does a great Je ne regrette rien by Edith Piaf.On the whole food is ok, not true authentic Italian cuisine but good enough.  Their drink menu is excellent, there is a large variety and each one we tried was delicious!
Huahine, French Polynesia
Paradise on earth. Non-turistic...
Papeete, French Polynesia
Hire a jeep and drive around this island. You can do it in a hour, but the best thing is to take your time, drive to the top for the view. Great photo op, and you can also grab a crepe while you're there, awesome!
Papeete, French Polynesia
Beautiful on the outer islands although Papaeete itself is not that great. Shopping/living is expensive here so would advise buying souvenirs from some other part of the world. Not a huge amount of english spoken amongst the locals so either learn french or make sure you are good at playing charades!
Raiatea, French Polynesia
Hieva festival rocks!
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
Stay at Le Meridien take one sea cabin, go on a shark feeding boat trip, rent a 'very easy very noisy' automobile in mainland and make the tour of the island (20 to 30 minutes), try having your body tatooed in mainland studios (if you dare!), shop local products at the open market in mainland.
Maupiti, French Polynesia
Maupiti, une magnifique petite ile... dès la dessente du Maupiti express, on vous propose des vélos à louer pour 1000 CFP (8€ : pas chère pour la polynésie) et les vélos on peut les garder toute la journée, seul consigne : les déposer à l'endroit ou on nous les à donner (il y a souvent personne pour les récuperer).
Raiatea, French Polynesia
Raiatea, L'ile "habité" la plus proche de Bora... il y a meme un marquage au sol sur les routes, des ronds-points, un feu tricolore... l'ile est grande pour faire le tour de l'ile, Le mieu est de louer une voiture (voire avec le garage en centre ville, les voitures sont mieu que celles qui sont dans le garage à l'exterieur la ville). Le faire en vélo comme à Bora Bora ou Maupiti est faisable, mais si on reste une seule journée à Raiatea, c'est fortement déconseillé... le maupiti express part trop tot, et on ne profite presque pas de l'ile. Pour manger, je deconseille le restaurant en face du quai pour les gros bateau et à l'angle de la rue... enfin, si vous y allé, n'allais surtout pas au toilettes hahaha... enfin, meme apres plus de 6 mois en Polynésie... ça fait "un Choc", je croyais que ça n'existait que dans les restaurants Parisien de TF1 pour le 13h. Raiatea... une ile a voir... puis il y a aussi les cascades, ça change de se baigner dans l'eau douce...
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
Tout les dimanches apres-midi, Championnat de Foot Salle sur le terrain de Hand en face de Chin Lee. ALLEZ SUPORTER L'EQUIPE DE NARA. (l'équipe: Thierry, Fanau, Natana, Viritua... et Miu).
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
We stayed at Le Meridien Bora Bora in November 2004, which was a privately owned, licensee of the hotel chain. It is on a motu, which is one of the small sandbar like-islands that make up the ring that forms Bora Bora's famous lagoon (it also generally keeps the Sharks out.) I highly recommend the Meridien as some of the other hotels are on the main island and are also a little bit old. We stayed in an over-water bungalow that has spiral staircases that walk you right into the lagoon. We also got the canoe delivered Polynesian breakfast, and had a glass bottomed floor so my wife and I could wave at each other from underneath the bungalow. No pictures or words do the place justice. The hotel had the best creme brulee I have ever had (must be the vanilla) and a variety of things to do at the resort. The boat ride from the airport itself was an adventure, too. Also, take the sail-canoe tour at Sunset with Franck.

Everybody goes to Bloody Mary's which is the famous restaurant on the island. Seafood and all else was awesome. The dining room is like a bunch of tables set up in an indoor beach.

Be wary of sunburn, you would think because of the purity of Polynesian environment that the Sun wouldn't burn you...my dark skin literally can not burn in Hawaii...but it sure did in Bora Bora and made for a slightly uncomfortable trip that would have been perfect otherwise. Also, the best advice I ever received and didn't follow, was to cut my trip short on Tahiti, to extend on Bora Bora. Don't make the same mistake I did. You only need one or two days max on Tahiti for Pearl Shopping etc.
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
Hotel Bora Bora, Amanresorts http://www.amanresorts.com
Papeete, French Polynesia
good interations with locals and great water sports to do
Maupiti, French Polynesia
When on Mauptit, ask a local to indicate you the way to the top of the old vulcano. The view up there is amazing, and takes you through undangerous lush jungle.
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
Not much to say about restaurants and nightlife, but if you see a postcard and say it's paradise, wait till you see it in real. It's beyond that. It is real paradise, better than the pictures. Sorry, no tip for hotels or restos, I've sailed all the north islands... Can't wait to go back.
Bora-Bora, French Polynesia
Bora Bora is as beautiful as the treasure islands you see on film
Moorea, French Polynesia
a partir de tahiti, a 21 km environ, trajet rapide en bateau, une île formidable et paradisiaque à conserver le plus possible telle quelle
Tahiti, French Polynesia
yeah brad, trop power tahiti pei!