French Polynesia Travel Guide

French Polynesia is 118 islands scattered across the South Pacific, most of them genuinely remote. The Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine) are the obvious draw—expensive, developed, and worth visiting if you've the budget. The real character lives in the atolls: Tuamotu and Marquesas require more planning but reward you with empty passes, untouched reefs, and locals who don't run gift shops.

This is not a budget destination. Expect to pay Western prices for everything from food to fuel. Diving and snorkelling are genuinely excellent; the lagoons hold their reputation. The weather is tropical cyclone season (Nov–Apr), so timing matters.

You'll need a flight to get here, which alone eats a week's budget for most travellers. Factor that in before you book. Once you're on an island, boat travel between archipelagos is the norm, and it's slow.

Highlights

1. Society Islands lagoons — Clear, enclosed turquoise water with fringing coral. Snorkel off the beach or take a boat tour.
2. Tuamotu atolls — Remote, sparsely populated ring islands with dramatic passes. Serious diving and emptier anchorages.
3. Tahiti peaks and valleys — Lush volcanic interior; hiking and waterfalls inland from the developed coast.
4. Marquesas Islands — Steep, dramatic terrain with French Polynesian culture less diluted by tourism. Harder to reach.
5. Reef and pass diving — World-class visibility and abundance. Passes (especially south-moving tidal flows) host sharks and big fish.
6. Inter-island boats and small planes — Getting between islands is half the adventure. Ferries, cargo boats, and charters are slow and irregular.