Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora — the overwater bungalow archetype, and considerably more varied than the brochures suggest.
Before you go
When to go
May to October is the dry season and the best window. November to April is humid.
- Dry May–Oct
- Humid Nov–Apr
- Whales Jul–Oct
- Warm year-round
How long you need
Ten days or more — the inter-island flights make short trips inefficient.
- 10+ days
- Two or three islands
- Moorea is the value pick
- Bora Bora for the lagoon
Getting around
Domestic flights between the islands, ferry between Tahiti and Moorea.
- Air Tahiti passes
- Tahiti–Moorea ferry
- Book flights with the itinerary
- Long transfers
Practicalities
French is the working language, the currency is the CFP franc, and this is the most expensive destination in the Pacific.
- CFP franc
- French spoken
- Expensive by Pacific standards
- Book well ahead
Highlights
Moorea
A short ferry from Tahiti, and the value pick — two dramatic bays, a lagoon, and pineapple plantations up the interior.
- 30 min ferry from Papeete
- Belvedere lookout
- Snorkel with rays
- Far cheaper than Bora Bora
Bora Bora
The overwater bungalow archetype, built around a lagoon that genuinely lives up to the photographs.
- Lagoon tours
- Mount Otemanu backdrop
- Most expensive in the Pacific
- Book far ahead
Tahiti and beyond
Papeete's market and black-sand beaches, plus Huahine and Taha'a for travellers wanting fewer resorts.
- Papeete market
- Black volcanic beaches
- Huahine is the quiet one
- Air Tahiti island passes
Planning notes
French Polynesia is the most expensive destination in the Pacific and the flights and inter-island hops make short trips inefficient — ten days or more is the sensible minimum. Moorea delivers most of what people picture at a fraction of Bora Bora's cost, which makes a two-island trip the value play. May to October is the dry season and the window to aim for.
Where this leads
Blog attracts, things to do informs, tours convert — in that order.
- Journal in French Polynesia
- Things to do in French Polynesia
- Tours in French Polynesia
- Talk to a Cooee travel specialist