Travelling in French Polynesia: tourist information sources

To plan a stay in French Polynesia, the key sources are the official Tahiti Tourisme website, the ANOE and Info Tahiti guides, the carriers Air Tahiti and Aremiti and the news from Tahiti Infos, in French and English, generally free to access.

Tahiti Tourisme, the destination's tourist board

Tahiti Tourisme promotes the 118 islands spread across five archipelagos. Its website, in French, English and other languages, presents accommodation, activities and brochures, while a recent version targets residents who holiday in the islands themselves.

Online guides and travel blogs

The bilingual ANOE guide gathers good addresses and articles on Polynesian culture. Info Tahiti details transport, budgets and ferries between Papeete and Moorea. Fenua Travel lists the tourist and in-flight magazines worth browsing before departure.

When to go and for which event?

The dry season, from May to October, draws the most visitors. July is marked by the Heiva i Tahiti, a festival of dance, song and traditional sports in Papeete, whose official website publishes the programme and opens ticket sales.

Flying to Tahiti

Air Tahiti Nui links Papeete with Paris, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Auckland, and its in-flight magazine Reva Tahiti showcases the destination. Tahiti-Faa'a airport publishes the day's arrivals and departures, also detailed on our airport timetable page.

Getting around between the islands

Air Tahiti serves islands in all five archipelagos and offers multi-island passes combining Bora-Bora, Rangiroa or the Marquesas. To Moorea, Aremiti runs ferry and fast-boat crossings from the Papeete ferry terminal in about thirty minutes.

Tourism business news

Hotel occupancy, new air routes and cruise ship calls are covered regularly by Tahiti Infos and TNTV News. The Statistical Institute of French Polynesia publishes official figures, which are better consulted than the estimates repeated elsewhere.

Cruises, guesthouses and hotels

Options range from the large hotels of Bora-Bora to family guesthouses in the Tuamotu and Austral Islands, which are often cheaper. Cruises, including the Aranui mixed cargo ship to the Marquesas, are reported by the local press when itineraries or schedules change.

How the overseas media see it

Outremers360 and the Outre-mer La 1ère portal cover Polynesian tourism from a national perspective, comparing it with the French Caribbean or Réunion. For an overview of the overseas media, see the French overseas press.

Useful languages for visitors

French is the language of the administration and of most media, but English is widely spoken in hotels and agencies. A few words of reo tahiti, such as ia ora na to say hello and māuruuru to say thank you, are always appreciated.

Entry rules and health: check the source

French Polynesia is not part of the Schengen area and applies its own entry rules according to nationality. Consult the High Commission of the Republic or the relevant consulate rather than a forum, and follow dengue health advisories published locally.

Outings, culture and local listings

Concerts, exhibitions at the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands, craft markets and evenings out in Papeete are announced by local media and community portals. Our page on going out in Tahiti brings these listings sources together.

Online reviews and sponsored content

Many articles about Bora-Bora or Moorea are written in partnership with hotels or airlines. Look for partnership disclosures, compare with the Tahiti Tourisme website and read recent reviews rather than old rankings that may no longer reflect reality.

Planning and following your trip to French Polynesia

1. Start with the official Tahiti Tourisme website to choose which archipelagos and islands to visit.
2. Add an independent guide such as ANOE or Info Tahiti for budget and transport details.
3. Check Air Tahiti, Air Tahiti Nui and Aremiti timetables directly on their official websites.
4. Read the business section of Tahiti Infos to learn about strikes, roadworks or new routes before leaving.
5. Confirm entry requirements with the relevant authorities several weeks before departure.
6. Once there, follow the weather and local media to adapt your sea or mountain excursions.

Tourist information sources: access and prices

Reference points for travellers

• Tourist board: Tahiti Tourisme
• International airport: Tahiti-Faa'a, on the island of Tahiti
• Domestic airline: Air Tahiti; international airline: Air Tahiti Nui
• Tahiti-Moorea sea link: Aremiti and other operators
• Currency: CFP franc (XPF), fixed parity with the euro
• Time zone: UTC-10 in the Society Islands, UTC-9:30 in the Marquesas
• Major cultural festival: Heiva i Tahiti, in July

Common traps in travel information

• Booking on a fake site imitating a ferry company or a well-known hotel, with suspiciously low prices.
• Relying on an old blog post for ferry timetables or fares, which change regularly.
• Taking content sponsored by a Bora-Bora hotel or an airline for an independent traveller's review.
• Assuming that mainland France or Schengen entry rules automatically apply in French Polynesia.
• Ignoring swell or heavy rain warnings published locally before a boat trip or a hike.

Tourism in French Polynesia: your questions