French Polynesia, how to organize your stay?

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

Culturally, Polynesia is rich and vibrant, thanks to its people and their joy of living, but also to its traditions, songs, and dances that amaze visitors. The diverse landscapes are sure to impress: atolls, high islands, mountains, beaches, coral reefs... each archipelago holds its share of surprises and, above all, wonder!

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

Go diving among the best sites in the world

Rangiroa

Rangiroa is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu-Gambier archipelago. Marine life is extremely dense here, with dolphins and many sharks such as hammerheads and tigers. The strong current in some places will allow you to admire the underwater scenery as if you were on a conveyor belt! The best dive spots include: the shark cave, the canyons, the crossing, the windmill, the corner, the Blue, the Tiputa reef, and the Myripristis reef.

Fakarava

Visitors to this atoll enjoy warm water and excellent visibility all year round for diving, most of which is accessible to beginners. You can admire many species of sharks, dolphins, rays, moray eels... Between June and July, groupers gather here for mating season!

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

Discover the islands

Tahaa

Accessible only by boat, this little paradise has eight villages and has managed to keep its charm, reflecting a soothing calm. Called “the vanilla island,” Tahaa provides almost ¾ of Polynesia’s vanilla production. 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, as it is 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 well worth admiring. Here, you can paddle a canoe or kayak on the Faaroa River, go diving, and also admire the only shipwreck in all of Polynesia: the Nordby, a Danish three-masted ship that has lain here since the early 1900s.

Rurutu

Here, ecotourism is the rule! The mountainous island allows for beautiful hikes and visits to limestone caves, the most famous of which is the Mitterrand cave where the rocks look like ghosts... The island is also perfect for horseback riding.

From August to October, Rurutu is ideal for observing humpback whales: excursions are available to admire this wonderful spectacle.

Moorea

Also called "the Butterfly Island" because of its shape, Moorea’s bays are a must-see: Cook and Opunohu bays are majestic, with sparkling 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 12 km2 island is a true haven of peace. Here, tourists are rare, and there are no shops or hotels. Only a few guesthouses allow you to stay on site, in complete authenticity. You can thus enjoy local life and the island’s preserved nature. You’ll find the Haranae petroglyphs and many marae. Boat excursions on the lagoon also allow you to observe manta rays.

On many islands, you can find overwater accommodations, so you can fully enjoy your stay by the ocean!

See the legendary Teahupoo wave with your own eyes

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

Another of its features is that it curls into a tube shape, which requires great skill from surfers. They must perform a “take-off,” quickly standing up on their board, then getting into the tube. This legendary spot will also host surfing events during the 2024 Olympic Games.

Admire the Tiare Apetahi on the Temehani plateau

Recognizable by its five branches, this flower grows in only one place in French Polynesia. It is found on Mount Temehani in Ra’iātea. In addition to being beautiful, it is also particularly fragrant. A trip to the island is therefore an opportunity for travelers to discover this floral heritage. Unfortunately, it has been threatened with extinction for several years due to excessive flower picking.

According to legend, a young woman, “Apetahi,” went up to Mount Temehani to commit suicide after discovering her husband was cheating on her. By cutting her hand to bleed herself, the flower was born.

Attend the great cultural festival Heiva i Tahiti in Papeete

A must-see event on the Polynesian cultural calendar in July, this festival lasts three weeks, during which more than a thousand artists invite participants to discover Polynesian legends and the history of its peoples. Grand shows are organized with several dance and singing groups. You will then have the opportunity to discover spectacular ancestral traditions such as fire walking.