Tahiti, Moorea & Bora Bora Travel Guide (2026)

1) Flights from Europe & the USA to French Polynesia

French Polynesia's only international gateway is Tahiti – Faa'a International Airport (PPT).

✈️ Airlines Flying to Tahiti

• Air Tahiti Nui operates Paris → Los Angeles → Tahiti routes
• Air France also flies the Paris – LAX – PPT route
• United Airlines operates direct San Francisco → Tahiti flights, becoming daily from June 29, 2026
• French Bee offers nonstop San Francisco → Papeete service
• Air Tahiti Nui also connects the region via Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo

💶 Flight Prices

Europe → Tahiti:

• 750–1,400 EUR (rare promo fares)
• 1,500–2,200 EUR (standard range)

USA → Tahiti:

• 1,200–2,800 USD (≈ 1,100–2,600 EUR / 27–65k CZK)
• Air Tahiti Nui often offers ~860 USD round trip LAX–PPT

⏱ Flight Duration

• Europe → Los Angeles: 11 hr
• LAX → Tahiti: 8 hr
• SFO → Tahiti: 8 hr 45 min
• Total travel time: 22–30 hr

🌅 IMPORTANT TIP

When flying from Tahiti to Bora Bora, sit on the left side (port side) for the unforgettable view of Mount Otemanu.

2) Tahiti – Faa'a International Airport (PPT)

A compact, tropical, easy-to-navigate airport with one terminal divided into international and domestic zones.

What You'll Find at the Airport

• Duty Free on arrival and departure (rare worldwide)
• Currency exchange & ATMs in the arrivals hall
• Local SIM from Tahiti Wifi (SIM, eSIM, hotspot)
• Food & Drinks: McDonald's, Café Maeva, Kuriri, Vini Vini
• Car rentals (Avis, Europcar, local agencies)
• Taxis & hotel shuttles
• 30‑minute free Wi‑Fi (paid thereafter)

Location

The airport is just minutes from downtown Papeete on Tahiti's west coast.

3) Currency, ATMs & Payments (XPF)

💰 Currency

French Polynesia uses the CFP Franc (XPF) — pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate:
1 EUR = 119.33 XPF

Denominations

Banknotes: 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 XPF
Coins: 1–100 XPF

Where to Exchange Money

• Airport exchange desk
• Papeete exchange offices (Tahiti Exchange Centre)
• Banks: Banque de Polynésie, Banque de Tahiti, Socredo

ATMs

Available in Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora → but may be missing on smaller islands (Tikehau, Maupiti, Fakarava).

Cards

Visa & Mastercard widely accepted.
Amex accepted less often.
Small roadside shops & food trucks = cash only.

4) Food on Tahiti – Best Places to Eat

Budget Options

• Roulottes – Place Vaiete (the iconic food truck square)
• Marché de Papeete – local food, fruit, snacks, fresh dishes

Mid‑range Restaurants

• Le Retro
• Les 3 Brasseurs
• Café Maeva (airport + town)

Bars with a View

• Blue Banana
• Hilton Tahiti bar
• Manava resort bar
• InterContinental Tahiti sunset bar

5) Where to Stay in Papeete

⭐ Best Downtown Hotels

• Boutique Hotel Kon Tiki Tahiti (top-rated + best location)
• Maitai Express Tahiti
• Polynesian Cabins by Kon Tiki

💎 Luxury Hotels

• Hilton Hotel Tahiti (newest luxury hotel on Tahiti)
• InterContinental Tahiti Resort
• Manava Suite Resort Tahiti

6) Inter‑Island Transportation (Flights & Ferries)

French Polynesia spans an area as large as Europe, so transportation between islands is essential. There are only two ways to move between islands: ferry or plane.

A) Ferries (ONLY ONE official passenger route!)

✔ Tahiti ⇄ Moorea

This is the only regular ferry route for passengers.
Aremiti and Terevau ferries operate every 30–90 minutes, with a 30–40 minute crossing.

❗ NO ferry to Bora Bora or other islands

The idea that there is a ferry to Bora Bora is a myth.
All official transportation and airport sources confirm: all outer islands are accessible only by air, not by boat.

There are no public ferries to Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora, Tuamotu, or Marquesas.

B) Domestic Flights (Air Tahiti & Air Moana)

✈ Air Tahiti

The main domestic carrier connecting 48 islands across all archipelagos.

Covers:

• Society Islands (Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa)
• Tuamotu (Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau…)
• Marquesas
• Austral Islands

✈ Air Moana

A newer airline serving the most popular destinations such as:
Moorea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Huahine, Rangiroa

C) Air Tahiti Multi‑Island PASS Programs

Air Tahiti offers several island‑hopping passes, allowing travelers to visit multiple islands for a fixed discounted price.

Popular passes include:

• Bora Bora Pass
• Society Islands Pass
• Tuamotu Lagoon Pass (Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau)
• Marquesas Pass
• Australes Pass

Perfect for itineraries covering 3–6 islands.

D) Practical Tips

• Bora Bora is flight‑only — no ferry exists.
• Smaller islands have flights only a few times per week.
• Air Tahiti flights are often delayed → keep schedules flexible.

7) Electricity & Plugs

French Polynesia uses the same electrical standard as mainland France.

✔ Plug Type: C & E (European style)

✔ Voltage: 230 V

✔ Frequency: 50 Hz

European travelers do NOT need an adapter.

Exceptions:
Remote islands may rely on generators (short outages possible).

8) Healthcare, Hospitals, Dentists & Pharmacies

French Polynesia has high‑quality healthcare, especially on Tahiti.
Even small islands have at least a dispensary, nurse station, or doctor's office.

A) Major Hospitals

1) CHPF – Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française (Tahiti – Pirae)

The largest and most advanced hospital in French Polynesia.
It also has the only decompression chamber for scuba divers.

2) Clinique Cardella (Papeete)

Private clinic with specialists.

3) Clinique Paofai (Papeete)

Private clinic focused on surgery and diagnostics.

4) Regional Hospitals

• Moorea
• Raiatea (Uturoa)
• Bora Bora

B) Pharmacies

Papeete has several pharmacies:
Pharmacie du Port, Prince Hinoi, Vaima, Lafayette.

Almost every island has at least a pharmacy or dispensary.

C) Common Medications (Local Names)

Pain & Fever

• Doliprane, Efferalgan, Dafalgan (paracetamol)

Inflammation (toothache, joints)

• Nurofen, Spedifen (ibuprofen)

Diarrhea

• Smecta
• Imodium

Sore Throat

• Strepsils, Humex Gorge, Lysopaïne

D) Emergency Numbers

• Ambulance: 15
• SOS Médecins Tahiti: +689 40 42 34 56

9) Recommended Vaccinations for French Polynesia

✔ NO mandatory vaccines

French Polynesia requires no vaccinations unless arriving from a yellow‑fever‑risk country.

Recommended (general travel guidelines)

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Tetanus / Diphtheria / Pertussis
• MMR (measles)
• Influenza
• COVID‑19 booster

Mosquito‑borne illnesses

• Dengue
• Chikungunya
• Zika

➡ No malaria anywhere in French Polynesia.

10) Stray Dogs & Cats + Rabies Risk

Stray Animals

Stray dogs and cats are common in Tahiti and Moorea, particularly near food trucks and markets.
Reasons include tropical climate, traditionally free‑roaming dogs, and lower sterilization rates.

Rabies

French Polynesia is rabies‑free.
Rabies vaccination is not needed.

Safety Tips

• Do not pet or feed stray animals
• Avoid areas with groups of stray dogs
• If bitten → wash well + seek medical care

11) Dangerous Animals – Especially Stonefish

French Polynesia is generally very safe in terms of wildlife — there are no snakes, no terrestrial predators, and no dangerous land animals.
Most risks come from marine life, and medical information highlights marine injuries (especially stonefish) as among the most common reasons travelers seek care.

A) Stonefish – The Most Venomous Fish in the World

The stonefish is perfectly camouflaged, looking like a rock or coral. It remains motionless on the lagoon floor and causes injuries when stepped on.

It is commonly found:

• in shallow lagoons
• in coral rubble
• in seagrass beds
• around Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, and the Tuamotu atolls

Medical sources confirm stonefish injuries as one of the most serious marine envenomations treated in Tahiti hospitals.

B) Symptoms After Stepping on a Stonefish

• Immediate, extreme pain
• Swelling of the entire foot or leg
• Redness
• Possible tremors or weakness
• Difficulty walking or putting weight on the foot

C) First Aid — Based on Tahiti Medical Guidelines

1) HOT WATER (40–45°C / 104–113°F)

This is the single most important treatment.
Soak the injured area in hot water for 30–90 minutes — heat neutralizes the protein-based toxin.

Never use ice.

2) Clean the wound & remove spines

Spines often break off — removal must be done by a doctor.

3) Pain management

Local pharmacies provide:
Doliprane, Efferalgan, Nurofen, Spedifen.

4) Seek medical care

CHPF on Tahiti has full facilities, including imaging and marine envenomation protocols.

D) Prevention

• Always wear reef shoes
• Avoid stepping on rocks or coral
• Avoid areas with low visibility (turbid water, seagrass)
• Do not walk barefoot in shallow lagoons at night

12) Sharks – Safety, Species, Incidents

French Polynesia is one of the world's largest shark sanctuaries, and reef sharks are a natural, everyday part of the ecosystem.
Tourism and health sources emphasize that shark incidents are extremely rare and that most marine injuries involve non-shark causes.

A) Sharks You Will Commonly Encounter

In Lagoons (friendly, non-aggressive species)

• Blacktip reef sharks
• Whitetip reef sharks
• Lemon sharks

These are the sharks people swim with during lagoon tours.

In the Open Ocean

• Grey reef sharks
• Silvertip sharks
• Hammerheads (Rangiroa, seasonal)

B) Risk of Shark Attacks

Medical and government health guidance shows:

• Shark incidents are extremely rare.
• Lagoon sharks are not aggressive unless provoked.
• Most shark-related injuries come from feeding practices, not natural behavior.

C) Known Moorea Incident

Yes — a well‑known severe incident occurred near Moorea involving a tiger shark and a French tourist who lost an arm.
Important context:

• Occurred in an area with shark feeding
• Tiger sharks are pelagic predators, rarely near swimmers
• Feeding alters natural behavior and increases risk

Local regulations now strictly control shark feeding.

D) Safety Advice

• Don't feed sharks or fish
• Avoid entering the ocean with open wounds
• Don't swim at dusk or night in open ocean
• Stay with certified guides during ocean snorkel/dive tours

13) Whales – Watching & Swimming

French Polynesia is one of the best whale watching destinations globally.
The entire territory has been a whale sanctuary since 2013.

Every year, humpback whales migrate to the warm waters to give birth and nurse calves.

A) Whale Season

• July to November
• Best months: August–October

Moorea is world-famous for swimming with whales.

B) Strict Regulations & Ethical Code

Regulations exist to protect mother–calf pairs and ensure safety.

Key rules:

• Boats must stay 100 m from whales
• If there is a calf → 300 m
• No more than 2 boats in a whale interaction zone
• NO chasing, blocking, nor cutting their path
• Swimming allowed only under supervision of licensed guides
• Whales decide the interaction — humans never approach aggressively

C) Best Places to See Whales

1. Moorea – top for swimming
2. Tahiti (south coast)
3. Rurutu (Austral Islands) – world-class encounters

14) Moorea – Full Island Guide

Moorea is often described as the most beautiful island in the world, combining volcanic peaks, deep bays, and crystal lagoons.

A) Island Overview

• 134 km²
• 60 km ring road
• Heart‑shaped island
• Two iconic bays: Cook's Bay & Opunohu Bay

B) Best Hotels on Moorea

Luxury Resorts

• Sofitel Kia Ora Moorea Beach Resort
• Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa
• Manava Beach Resort & Spa Moorea

Boutique & Mid‑range

• Fenua Mata'i'oa
• Hotel Kaveka
• Hibiscus Hotel

Budget

• Linareva Moorea
• Niu Beach Hotel Moorea
• Painapaopao Backpackers

C) What to See & Do

Moorea is an adventure paradise.

Must‑See Spots

• Belvedere Lookout – Moorea's signature viewpoint
• Temae Beach – most beautiful white‑sand beach
• Lagoonarium Moorea – top snorkeling site
• Magic Mountain – panoramic photo spot
• Afareaitu Waterfalls – jungle hike

Activities

• Whale watching
• 4x4 safaris
• ATV tours
• Sharks & rays lagoon tours
• Paddleboarding
• Hiking in the mountains

D) Best Restaurants on Moorea

• Moorea Beach Café – best sunset dining
• Snack Mahana – iconic lunch stop
• Holy Steak House – elevated dining with lagoon views

E) Car & Scooter Rentals

Available at the:

• Vaiare ferry terminal
• Moorea Airport
• Maharepa village

15) Bora Bora – Full Island Guide

Bora Bora is often called "the most beautiful island on earth."
The lagoon's colors and Mount Otemanu create the iconic postcard scene recognized worldwide.

A) Island Overview

• Main island: 30 km²
• 32 km ring road
• Surrounded by motus where luxury resorts sit
• Dominated by Mount Otemanu

B) Best Hotels in Bora Bora (2026)

Top Luxury Resorts

• Four Seasons Bora Bora
• St. Regis Bora Bora Resort
• InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa
• Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts
• InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort

Other Excellent Options

• The Westin Bora Bora
• Royal Bora Bora

C) What to See & Do in Bora Bora

1) Lagoon Tours (must‑do!)

Snorkeling with:

• blacktip reef sharks
• stingrays
• eagle rays
• manta rays
• coral gardens

2) Matira Beach

Often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world.

3) Sunset Cruises

Often paired with champagne & live ukulele.

4) 4x4 Jeep Safari

Visit WWII bunkers and panoramic viewpoints.

D) Best Restaurants in Bora Bora

• Bloody Mary's – iconic restaurant & bar (closed for renovations)
• Villa Mahana – top fine‑dining on the island
• Fare Manuia – great casual option near Matira

E) Car Rentals

Available mainly in:

• Vaitape (main town)
• Matira Beach

Most travelers rent a car only for one day, as the island is small.

F) All‑Inclusive in Bora Bora

Bora Bora doesn't have "Caribbean‑style" all‑inclusive resorts.
However, many properties offer all‑inclusive packages, usually sold via partner agencies:

• InterContinental Thalasso
• InterContinental Le Moana
• Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts
• St. Regis Bora Bora

Packages usually include breakfast, dinner, and activities.

G) Flight Tip – Best View

When flying from Tahiti to Bora Bora, sit on the left side of the plane for the iconic aerial view of Mount Otemanu.

🌺