Written by: Matahina CABRAL
Tips for visiting the beautiful islands of Polynesia
Visiting the Pacific Islands can sometimes be difficult in terms of logistics and budget, but don’t worry, these tips will help you organize your trip in the best possible way.
Plan your dream trip
To fully enjoy this beautiful trip around the sandy islands, I recommend planning well in advance, perhaps based on the major events in Tahiti that I have listed for you.
Take the time to check the weather conditions during your stay (avoiding the rainy season), carefully check the availability of your accommodation, and check transport schedules, whether by plane or boat, as they can change for several reasons: weather, breakdowns, delays, or other exceptional circumstances.
Average temperatures throughout the year
| Season | Month | Average temperatures |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | November to April | 77°F to 86°F (25°C to 30°C), hot and humid, rainy season |
| Winter | May to October | 21°C – 26°C (70°F – 79°F), drier and cooler, dry season |
Please note that the islands are sometimes very far apart, so some destinations are not accessible every day by plane or boat.
Tips:
Check the inter-island flight schedules of Air Tahiti and Air Moana
Take the ferry, which is cheaper, to Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, and Maupiti with L’Apetahi Express and Vaearai
Amuse-toi, découvre, ose l’extrême ! Toutes les activités sont possibles ici.
Faire de la plongée dans les lagons ou le large ? Du surf ? De la randonnée ? Des sauts en parachute ou en parapente ? Tu peux tout faire en Polynésie…
Pour trouver des sociétés locales qui proposent ces activités, tu peux faire des recherches sur Internet ou consulter les agences de voyages qui pourront t’organiser un programme d’activités solide pour tout tenter et profiter de chaque moment.
Pense à t’initier à la culture polynésienne en participant à des activités locales comme le Ori Tahiti (traduction : danse tahitienne), la confection de bijoux de perle, de fleurs, ou encore de nacre, créer ton monoï ou ton paréo personnalisé etc…
Conseils :
- Offre toi une formation sur la culture polynésienne en ligne avec le centre Arioi
- Découvre avec moi les institutions du pays
Participer à ces expériences te permettra d’en apprendre davantage sur les îles et la puissance de ces culture.
Have fun, explore, dare to go extreme! All activities are possible here.
Want to go diving in the lagoons or the open sea? Surfing? Hiking? Skydiving or paragliding? You can do it all in Polynesia…
To find local companies offering these activities, you can search online or consult travel agencies that can organize a solid program of activities for you to try everything and enjoy every moment.
Consider learning about Polynesian culture by participating in local activities such as Ori Tahiti (translation: Tahitian dance), making pearl, flower, or mother-of-pearl jewelry, creating your own personalized monoi oil or pareo, and more.
Tips:
Take an online course on Polynesian culture with the centre Arioi.
Discover the country’s institutions with me.
Participating in these experiences will allow you to learn more about the islands and the power of their cultures.
See the activities page.
Try everything. Culinary cultures vary depending on the inhabitants of the islands.
The locals are experts in Asian and local cuisine. Don’t hesitate to try their delicious ma’a (translation: meal).
You can sample dishes made with fish caught fresh that morning or the day before by local fishermen, and you can also try the dishes that Tahitians love: ma’a Tahiti.
Don’t miss the opportunity to try all the Polynesian dishes you come across!
Be careful with Fafaru, it can scare some people away. Will you be the warrior capable of eating it?
Essential items to pack in your suitcase for exploring Polynesia:
- Your local monoi oil: you can find it in all kinds of stores.
Your swimsuit: to match your pareo, there are many shops in Pape’ete.
Your sunscreen: let’s avoid severe sunburn and heatstroke! I recommend that you protect yourself well from the sun.
Your camera, Go Pro, phone: to capture the most beautiful sunsets and landscapes of the islands, bring back a souvenir of the blue lagoons and take pictures of your best moments with family, friends or on a solo trip. Don’t forget to bring extra batteries.
Your sarong: you can find them at the airport, in stores, or at the Papeete market.
Your mosquito repellent: to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.