TAHITI ISLANDS GUIDE

For a list of travel packages to Tahiti, click here

For a free vacation quote, send a request to: Info@YtravelC.com

French Polynesia comprises 120 islands divided into five archipelagos. The Windward and Leeward Islands, collectively called the Society Archipelago, are mountainous with coastal plains. Tahiti, the largest of the Windward group, is dominated by Mount Orohena. Official Tahiti website

ISLAND DESCRIPTIONS:

Moorea:  A short 12-mile trip by air or ferry from Tahiti, Moorea is known for its majestic ragged volcanic peaks that rise from the Pacific. The island has a circumference of 37 miles that can be easily explored by car or bicycle. Diving isn't really necessary in Moorea with the lagoon around the island. the reef's are usually in water that is only 5 to 15 feet deep.

Bora Bora is 45 minutes from Tahiti by plane. The most famous island in Polynesia and arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth, it has a surprisingly small 20-mile circumference. Bora Bora's main island sits like a jewel in the center of its legendary multi-colored lagoon, which is surrounded by off-shore islets inside a protective area of coral Bora Bora is just an hours flights from Tahiti. Services from Tahiti to Bora Bora usually end by 6pm, so if your flight comes in later than that, you will have to overnight in Tahiti. The island itself is rather small, and can be circled by car in about an hour Nearly every type of water sport is available, but Bora Bora is famous for its snorkeling and the hand feeding of the local non-threatening sharks. Explore the island by foot, bicycle or 4WD, or just sit and enjoy your surroundings.The lagoon is 3 times the size of the land mass and offers an amazing range of hues of blue and turquoise as you navigate its crystal waters.

Raiatea and Tahaa: Raiatea is revered by Tahitians as the origin of their religion and ancient culture, the royal heart of Polynesia.Visitors can climb the sacred slopes of Mount Temehani to glimpse the rare Tiare Apetahi, a flower found nowhere else on earth. This island is the administrative and trading center of the  Leeward Islands. Several cruising companies use this sleepy port as a base, and with the large protective lagoon, this is a great place for diving. Raiatea is the perfect venue for nature lovers and hikers.
Tahaa is the sister island of Raiatea - they share a lagoon. It is also known as the Vanilla Island because of its numerous plantations of this fragrant plant, whose sweet aroma lingers in the air, and because it produces 80% of the Vanilla in French Polynesia. Life is simple and untouched by modernization.

Huahine: The Garden Isle of Huahine (actually 2 islands in one lagoon) is one of the least explored of the Society Islands and one of the last touched by tourism. It is an ideal place to experience traditional Polynesian lifestyles. It is home to many of Polynesia’s most important archaeological sites. Try surfing at Avamoa Pass - the best waves in Polynesia, horseback riding through mountain trails, visiting a vanilla plantation, banana grove or taro field, exploring the mountains or soaking in the lagoons. Take several days to explore Huahine and then take some time to explore the deep bays, tranquil lagoons or escape to a motu

TAHITI TRAVEL GUIDE:

Flight times: Situated half way between Los Angeles, USA and Sydney, Australia, Tahiti’s 118 islands are scattered across 5 far-flung archipelagoes. It is a 7-1/2 hour flight  from Los Angeles. Hawaii is a 5 hours, New Zealand is 5 1/2 hours and Sydney is 9 1/2.  The main  airport in Tahiti Papeete.

Flight schedule: Please note that when purchasing a vacation package, which includes both air and land,  your combined price will be less than if purchased separately. Flights are limited to Tahiti and to obtain the best rate, you must flight with one airline to/from Tahiti.

For international and inter-island flight schedules: Click here

Entry: You will need a valid passport valid three month beyond date of departure. An outbound ticket is also needed. No immunization certificates needed No visa is required and there is No departure tax.

Climate & when to go: Warm tropical weather year-round. Climate divided into two seasons: November - March is summer, daily temp is 86F. Rainy & Humid. Rain comes in the form of warm tropical storms that usually arrives quickly, and disappears just as fast. The months of April - October is Tahiti's winter. The daily temp is 86F/70F and is pleasantly cooler. The best time to travel is between June & October . Water temps are in the low 80's. June - August are the most popular times to travel and are busy times with flights hard to get. There is no hurricane season as these islands are outside the hurricane zones of the Pacific.

Luggage Weight Allowance: On the inter-island flights (Air Tahiti) the weight limit is 20 Kg (42Lbs) per person, not including hand luggage. Unless you have a large excess weight, they will not strictly enforce this limit.

Island Transport: Domestic flights run by Air Tahiti (VT) connect Tahiti with neighboring islands (Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti) and remote archipelagos. By sea, daily connections exist between Papeete, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora. On the larger islands, taxi service is available, it can be expensive.  On Tahiti,  Bora Bora there is "Le Truck' available which is a public 'safari' like bus service. On Moorea it is popular to rent a scooter. Bicycles are also available.

Car rentals (scooters and bicycle): They are available everywhere...At the airports, the hotels, in the islands, etc. Boats: Inter-island boats run regular routes between all of the island groups and can be a great way to travel within the region. Huge catamarans ply between Tahiti and Moorea and the very modern Ono-Ono services the rest of the Society group

Currency: The French Pacific Franc (XPF) fluctuates occasionally against the US dollar, but remains consistently equal, XPF100 = US1.00.

Accommodations: It is important to choose the right hotel for your trip as it will most likely be the  center of your stay. While not deluxe like many US hotels, you may choose to stay on an atoll, in a thatched bungalow, in a village or town, in an air-conditioned high rise near the city of Papeete or in an overwater bungalow which is cooled naturally by breezes. Overwater bungalows are uniquely Tahitian. Many have glass coffee tables or floor panels so you can see straight into the lagoon. Some properties even provide room service by canoe. It is possible to rent a room in a family home through GIE Tahiti Tourisme

Water: The tap water is good tasting and safe to drink in hotels, restaurants etc. Bottled mineral water is readily available in food shops around the islands. One thing you must not forget is lots of sunscreen, as the sun is VERY strong and will burn you after only 1/2 hour of exposure. Wear a T-shirt when snorkeling.

Bugs: The only bugs you could encounter are mosquitoes, cockroaches and flies, or sand flies in more remote beaches. It all depends where you are on any island, and it can vary within 50 feet. Most resorts treat their grounds and you may not come in contact with any insect. There are NO snakes or poisonous spiders that can sting you

Air Conditioning: Most resorts have now installed A/C to keep-up with each other. Depending on your location, you will most likely find the trade winds cool enough and more pleasant, and probably will not use the A/C while still sleeping with a light blanket. Rarely will you find A/C in overwater bungalows, though a few offer them.  If you desire to have A/C, always request it.

Clothing: Tahiti is very informal.  Men will be conformable in shorts, slacks for dinner, sport shirts & sandals. Women may wear shorts, skirts and sundresses to dinner. Bring rubber-soled shoes for walking on the coral

Language: Tahitian & French are main languages. English is spoken widely

Activities: The sea around the South Pacific islands offers excellent scuba diving. Equipment can be hired and charter boats can take divers to the best areas. Windsurfing and water-skiing are also well provided for. To supplement the numerous sandy beaches and clear lagoons. There are pools at many hotels. Fully equipped deep-sea fishing boats are available for charter. Football is popular throughout the islands and can be seen almost anywhere. Other scheduled spectator sports include archery, cycling and canoeing. Hourly and day-long horseriding tours can be arranged.

Money & Costs
Currency: Cour de Franc Pacifique (CFP)

Average Room Prices

Average Meal Prices

Bungalows and Room types available in Tahiti

• Ocean/Lagoon View Room or Lanai Room: located in a 2 or 3 story building with a balcony or terrace, overlooking the garden and/or the water. Mostly found in Tahiti, and at the Parkroyal in Moorea.

• Garden Room: an attached room at the garden level in a low building.

• Garden Bungalow: on the property bordering the beach, but behind the Beach Bungalows. May, or may not, have a view of the water a short distance away.

• Beach or Beachfront Bungalow: at the edge of the garden, the first row of bungalows from the beach.

• Overwater Bungalow/Suite: built on stilts in the lagoon, accessed via a gangway. Often more luxuriously appointed than Beach Bungalows.

• Deep Overwater or Horizon Overwater: the farthest bungalows in the lagoon with the best view. Frequently more upscale.

There are no taxes levied on personal income, but indirect taxes and import duties are high and, given that almost anything that you can buy is imported (and subject to duties of up to 200% of the product's value!), it's understandable that nothing's going be cheap.
If you eat at the cheap snack bars, stay in bottom-end accommodation, catch the 'le truck' and fill your days with snorkeling and exploring the archaeological sites and island interiors on foot, you'll probably get by on US$80-100 a day. If, however, you want to eat in restaurants, stay in comfortable rooms, hire a car or scuba equipment, take a tour and dabble in the nightlife, you can easily multiply these numbers by three or four.

Currency Exchange: The banks are pretty mean when changing currency or travelers' checks and generally you can expect to loose about 5% with each transaction, although exchange rates and fees vary from bank to bank. There are plenty of automatic teller machines on Tahiti, and other touristy islands will have at least one or two. Your Visa or MasterCard will get you around most of the heavily tourist parts of French Polynesia, but once you go to the smaller motus or out-of-the-way places it's strictly cash.

This 'n That
*  There is a 'No tipping policy' in Tahiti
*  Electric: most hotels have 110V outlets. For others, a converter/adapter kit will be needed. Hotels may have either 110v or 220v systems.  It's wise to inquire.
*  Most credit cards are widely accepted and banks will give you a cash advance.
*  Safety is not an issue, and carrying cash around is not a problem. Just don't be careless, and leave your valuables in the hotel safety box (most of them have one)
*  There are ATM machines on all the islands.
*  Offices and shops are usually open from 8 am to 12 noon and from 1.30 p.m. to 5 or 5.30 p.m. In the suburbs, smaller family corner stores may not close until 10 p.m. Shops close at 11 am on Saturdays. *  The telephone system in Tahiti is excellent and hi-tech.
*  Meals in Tahiti are comparable to those at better restaurants in other resort destinations such as Kauai, Maui or even Newport Beach, California. Most restaurants have a la carte menus so that you won't have to order a complete meal if all you want is a small salad. Meal plans can be purchased prior to departure for your trip.
* Calling home - Calls from Tahiti to the U.S/Canada are very expensive.  Best option is to have your friends/family call you in Tahiti; calls from the U.S/Canada are far less.*
* Film: Pack lots of film since film is more expensive in Tahiti. You are allowed to bring 10 rolls through customs*
* On Moorea, from noon to 2pm most shops/markets close. Some will not reopen until the next day.
* Meal Plans - It appears that this year (2000) the prepaid Meal Plans will cost you MORE than the meals at the hotels or the restaurants in all the islands!!.. So, -- unless the meals are included as part of a ready-made all inclusive package -- the meal plans are NOT a better value, and will restrict you to the resorts only
* If your flight arrives early, Like most hotels in the world, check-in time is 2 to 3 p.m. and you may have to wait by the pool or on the beach for your room to be ready. Hotels will make you conformable and offer refreshments. If you wish to go into your room upon early arrival you will need to prepay the night before.
* Please note, Hawaii is not on the way, and not a practical stopover.

FYI:  Many hotels charge high rates for international phone calls from your room. Its said that some rates can be as high as $10 plus per minute. Instead consider using a public phone or a prepaid phone card that can be purchased in Tahiti.

Holidays: The Northern Hemisphere holiday periods - Christmas to the beginning of January, late February/early March, Easter, early May and the long northern-summer holiday are also busy times to travel.

Do's and Don't
Do maroon yourself for an afternoon on one of the motus scattered throughout the lagoons of French Polynesia. Motus are the tiny, uninhabited spits of land that just break the surface of the lagoons. Some resorts will ferry you out to a motu, where you can play Robinson Crusoe on your own deserted island in the South Seas (just be sure to land on one with shade)...Do pick up a fish identification guide so you'll know what you're looking at when you're snorkeling or diving...Do be aware that although the lush hills in French Polynesia offer marvelous opportunities for hiking, it's usually best to go with a guide-you can get lost amid all the vegetation, and sudden rainstorms can turn tiny streams into dangerous torrents...Don't be surprised to see local women in Papeete wearing the latest Parisian fashions-and others sporting elaborate traditional tattoos...Do take along everything you need (from film to sun block) if you want to escape higher prices...Don't go swimming at just any beach you come across. Because of rip tides and pollution, travelers should only swim at beaches where others are swimming...Don't expect room, hotel and restaurant service to meet high standards. They reflect the relaxed way of life of the islands...Don't be frightened if you find a gecko lizard in your room. It's harmless unless you're a mosquito...Do speak French if you know any at all. It'll make things go more smoothly...Don't go to French Polynesia if you're not a romantic. For some, the inconvenience, expense and uneven service can block even the beauty of the islands. If you're in the right frame of mind, however, it's a wonderful escape where such worries as mortgages, income taxes and deadlines seem unknown...Do book flights to French Polynesia early, as they're often full weeks in advance...Do be on your best behavior if you're staying.