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Tahiti Travel Guide
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For most tourists, a Tahiti travel experience is about being pampered in five star resorts and enjoying some of the regions most spectacular scenery. However, get off the tourist track and you will find an incredibly peaceful island with friendly people and lots of small guesthouses.
Almost 80% of accommodation is on just three islands: Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. The Tuamotu Group is popular with scuba divers whilst The Marquesas are for avid explorers and adventurers.
The main island of French Polynesia is Tahiti Island in the Society Islands. Tahiti has fantastic tropical scenery and mountain ranges and lots of organized day tours to visit the waterfalls and rainforests of the interior and great hiking trails. A string of beach resorts line the sunny west coast although there are few good swimming beaches apart from several unusual black sand beaches which have excellent surfing. The capital Papeete, on the north west coast a few minutes drive north of the international airport is a busy town with a distinct French flavour.
Of the other Society Islands, the main destination for tourism is Moorea Island which is clearly visible from Tahiti and just a 15-minute flight or hour ferry ride. Moorea is much more laid back than Tahiti, has some nice beaches along its north and west coasts and spectacular sightseeing along its coastal road including the delightful Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay.
The other popular island to visit is glamourous Bora Bora known as the jewel of the Society Islands with spectacular panoramas, exceptional snorkelling and lots of tours to keep you busy. Bora has over 20 large beach resorts, and over 500 overwater bungalows in the lagoon; many consider the island too commercialized for a peaceful romantic holiday. More down to earth and equally spectacular is Maupiti, a smaller version of Bora Bora further west with just a few small guesthouses and lots of lovely beaches.
Huahine is the most traditional in the Society Islands with a large Polynesian population and lots of interesting archaeological sites. The rugged twin islands of Raiatea & Tahaa are exceptional sailing destinations and offer some good scuba diving sites as well as lots of gorgeous uninhabited coral islands in the lagoon to visit on a day tour.
The Tuamotu Islands to the east of Tahiti and the Society Islands is a large expanse of tiny coral islands with palm fringed beaches, great snorkelling and scuba diving and some of the largest lagoons in the world. These islands are ideal for those looking for absolute rest and relaxation in secluded environments.
For those who like off the beaten track exploring, both the Marquesas Islands in the far north of French Polynesia and the Austral Islands in the far south are stunning wild islands with amazing coastlines and rich in history. These islands have little accommodation and few tourists, and remain the best islands in Tahiti to experience traditional Polynesian life.
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Travel Guide
Fiji Travel Guide
Samoa Travel Guide
Tonga Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Guide
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