Travel guide – tahiti and french polynesia
tahiti and french polynesia
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Overview
Captivating Tahiti and her 118 attendant islands and atolls, all radiating with iridescent green and turquoise, make up the country of French Polynesia, a French overseas territory that is spread across an area of the South Pacific that is as big as western Europe.
The earliest explorers thought they had found paradise on earth when they came across these picture-perfect islands, and today's travellers are no less entranced by the volcanic mountain peaks clothed in lush tropical vegetation and exotic flowering plants, the coral reefs, warm waters, white sand beaches and stunning turquoise lagoons. Add to this the warm hospitality offered by the friendly locals, a collection of world-class resorts, spas, fine restaurants, nightclubs, vibrant markets and enticing boutiques and one would imagine the islands would be over-run with exuberant vacationers. It is surprising then, to discover that there are more hotel rooms in a typical Las Vegas hotel than on all the islands of French Polynesia, and that Hawaii receives more visitors in 10 days than Tahiti does in a year. This means it is possible to tuck a tiare (Tahiti's national fragrant white flower) behind your ear, pack your pareu (sarong) and swimsuit, and head off to find your own idyllic piece of Polynesian paradise, which will doubtless have a melodic ancient name meaning something like 'island of the long sky' or 'place of the double rainbow'.
Regions and cities within Tahiti and French Polynesia...
Tahiti
Bora Bora
Moorea
Rangiroa
Climate
French Polynesia enjoys tropical, warm and humid weather all year round, averaging eight hours of sunshine per day over a year. The islands experience a rainy season, generally between late October and early March, when cloudy skies and brief heavy rain showers can occur. The rest of the year rain is rare and temperatures constantly high, tempered sometimes by refreshing breezes. The water temperature ranges from 79°F to 84°F (26°C to 29°C) making for extremely pleasant bathing all year round.
Health
No vaccinations are required for entry to French Polynesia, but immunisation against Hepatitis A is recommended, and the territory is subject to occasional outbreaks of dengue fever. Tap water in hotels is safe to drink, but bottled water is also freely available throughout the islands. Tahiti has good health facilities with pharmacies and a large government hospital. There are a few private doctors and clinics in the outer islands. The only decompression chamber is at Papeete. Medical insurance is recommended for travellers.
The basics
Time
GMT 10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the rest of French Polynesia).
Electricity
The electric current in most hotels is 110 or 220 volts.
Language
French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is widely spoken.
Tipping
Tipping in Tahiti and the islands is not required - nor expected. All prices quoted are all-inclusive.
Safety
Visits to French Polynesia are usually trouble-free. The crime rate is low, but sensible precautions should be taken with valuables.
Communications
The country code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code is 00. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides limited coverage on Tahiti. United States cell phones will not operate on the islands. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and resorts and the main tourist islands all have Internet cafes.
Duty Free
Travellers arriving in Tahiti may bring the following goods without paying customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 200g tobacco; 1 litre of spirits with more than 22% alcohol volume or 2 litres spirits with less than 22%, or 2 litres of still wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and items valued up to CFP5,000 for gifts or personal use. Passengers may not import any foodstuffs, weapons or drugs.
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