Tahiti-French Polynesia
The overwater bungalow is their flag. And their lagoons with 50 shades of blue their passport for a romantic holiday, like Bora Bora, the iconic atoll. Spread over five archipelagos, the 118 islands of French Polynesia decline postcard landscapes and nature to great spectacle against the backdrop of fragrances of tiare flowers. A paradise to explore also under water between manta rays and dolphins!
The French Polynesian Islands
Spread across five archipelagos, the 118 islands of French Polynesia feature postcard-perfect landscapes and spectacular natural beauty, all set against the backdrop of the fragrant scent of tiare flowers. Overwater bungalows are their signature, and their lagoons, with 50 shades of blue, are a passport to romantic vacations, as epitomized by the iconic atoll of Bora Bora. The islands of Polynesia are a paradise to explore, both above and below the water, with manta rays and dolphins!
Must-Sees for Your Tahiti Vacation
In French Polynesia, you not only choose your island but also the color of the sand! In Tahiti, the largest and most populated of the French Polynesian islands, the sands are typically black, as seen on the beautiful beach at Pointe Vénus.
In Maupiti, a small island in the Society Archipelago, the sand is white, just like in Bora Bora, where the necklace of motu seems to float on the infinite shades of blue in a lagoon where manta rays glide. In the Tuamotu Archipelago, the beaches take on a pink hue, such as on the atolls of Fakarava or Tikehau, with its natural pool inhabited by eagle rays, barracudas, gray sharks, and dolphins.
In Rangiroa, the island of reefs, you’ll find the world's second-largest atoll! The passes of this Tuamotu atoll, with its sand belt just above the lagoon waters, are among the world's most renowned for diving. Here, you can encounter many species of fish, including the most impressive: manta rays or leopard rays, various sharks, barracudas, and dolphins...
The Tuamotu Archipelago is also the birthplace of Tahitian pearl farming, which can be explored during a visit to the pearl farms in the Manihi lagoon.
To spot humpback whales, head to the Rurutu caves in the Austral Islands. These ancient burial sites provide an ideal vantage point when marine mammals come close to shore to give birth between August and October. In the Marquesas, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2024, to appreciate the wild beauty of this archipelago immortalized by Paul Gauguin, explore the island of Nuku Hiva, where towering peaks reveal fertile valleys like Taipivai, with its waterfalls and some of the island's most beautiful stone tikis.
In the Gambier Islands, you can trace the roots of the conversion of French Polynesia to Catholicism: more than 1,600 kilometers southeast of Tahiti, the archipelago boasts an incredible number of churches and convents, including the Saint-Michel Cathedral in Rikitea, the oldest religious monument in the archipelago (1848).
Indulge in the Flavors of French Polynesian Cuisine
With such rich fishing waters, it's no wonder the national dish is "Tahitian-style" raw fish, prepared with lemon and coconut milk, two ingredients also found in other recipes like chicken fafa (made with the leaves of a tuber variety).
Fish can also be enjoyed as fafaru, after marinating in a broth of seawater and freshwater shrimp heads. Chinese influences can be found in chao mein, a mix of shrimp, pork, chicken, and noodles, and chao pao, a steamed bun filled with meat and vegetables. Punupua'atoro is a corned beef dish typically cooked with onions. Among tubers, taro is served as chips, and cassava is turned into the dessert poe’banane. For breakfast, be sure to try coconut bread, made with coconut oil and water.
Awakening the Senses in Tahiti
In this earthly paradise, perfumed with the scent of tiare or jasmine flowers, all the senses are awakened! The aromas of Tahitian cuisine and the sweet notes of vanilla delight the nose and palate. The fragrance of monoï, a beauty oil made from coconut oil, recalls the scent of tiare, while its softness caresses the skin. The eye marvels at the beauty of Polynesian tattoos, a mysterious link between heaven and earth. The delicate tinkling of black pearls strung into necklaces evokes the gentle lapping of lagoon waters against the stilts.
