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Tahiti, Moorea & Bora Bora Travel Guide (2026)


1. Flights to French Polynesia (Europe & USA)

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

Airlines flying to Tahiti

  • Air Tahiti Nui – Paris → Los Angeles → Tahiti
    (also via Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo)
  • Air France – Paris → Los Angeles → Tahiti
  • United Airlines – direct San Francisco → Tahiti
    (daily flights from 29 June 2026)
  • French Bee – non‑stop San Francisco → Papeete

Typical return prices

Europe → Tahiti

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

USA → Tahiti

  • 1,200–2,800 USD
  • Air Tahiti Nui often offers LAX–PPT fares around 860 USD

Flight duration

  • Europe → Los Angeles: ~11 hours
  • Los Angeles → Tahiti: ~8 hours
  • San Francisco → Tahiti: ~8 h 45 min

Total travel time: approx. 22–30 hours

Tip:
When flying Tahiti → Bora Bora, sit on the left side of the plane for the iconic view of Mount Otemanu.

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

A compact, tropical airport divided into international and domestic zones.

What you'll find

  • Duty Free on arrival and departure (rare worldwide)
  • ATMs and currency exchange in arrivals
  • Local SIM and eSIM (Tahiti WiFi)
  • Cafés and restaurants (McDonald's, Café Maeva, Vini Vini)
  • Car rentals (Avis, Europcar and local agencies)
  • Taxis and hotel shuttles
  • Free Wi‑Fi (30 minutes)

Location

Only minutes from downtown Papeete on Tahiti's west coast.

3. Currency, ATMs & Payments

Currency

French Polynesia uses the CFP Franc (XPF)
Fixed rate: 1 EUR = 119.33 XPF

Cash & cards

  • Visa & Mastercard widely accepted
  • American Express accepted less frequently
  • Small shops and food trucks: cash only

ATMs

Available on Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora.
Limited or unavailable on smaller islands (Tikehau, Maupiti, Fakarava).

4. Food on Tahiti – Where to Eat

Local & budget

  • Roulottes – Place Vaiete (iconic food trucks)
  • Marché de Papeete (local food & snacks)

Mid‑range

  • Le Retro
  • Les 3 Brasseurs
  • Café Maeva

Bars with views

  • 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
  • Maitai Express Tahiti
  • Polynesian Cabins by Kon Tiki

Luxury hotels

  • Hilton Hotel Tahiti
  • InterContinental Tahiti Resort
  • Manava Suite Resort Tahiti

6. Inter‑Island Transportation

French Polynesia covers an area comparable to Europe.
Travel between islands is by plane or ferry.

Ferries

✅ Tahiti ⇄ Moorea only

  • Aremiti & Terevau ferries
  • Every 30–90 minutes
  • Crossing time: 30–40 minutes

Domestic flights

  • Air Tahiti – main carrier serving 48 islands
  • Air Moana – popular routes (Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Rangiroa)

Air Tahiti island passes

  • Bora Bora Pass
  • Society Islands Pass
  • Tuamotu Lagoon Pass
  • Marquesas Pass
  • Austral Islands Pass

Ideal for itineraries covering 3–6 islands.

7. Electricity & Plugs

  • Plug types: C & E
  • Voltage: 230 V
  • Frequency: 50 Hz

European travelers do not need an adapter.
Remote islands may experience short outages.

8. Healthcare & Pharmacies

Major hospitals

  • CHPF Tahiti (Pirae) – largest hospital, hyperbaric chamber
  • Clinique Cardella – private
  • Clinique Paofai – private
  • Regional hospitals: Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora

Pharmacies

Available on all main islands.

9. Health & Vaccinations

  • No mandatory vaccinations
  • No malaria in French Polynesia

Recommended: Hepatitis A & B, Tetanus/Diphtheria, MMR, Influenza, COVID booster

10. Wildlife & Safety

Stonefish

  • One of the most venomous fish
  • Found in shallow lagoons
  • Always wear reef shoes

First aid:
Hot water (40–45 °C for 30–90 minutes), then seek medical care.

Sharks

  • French Polynesia is a shark sanctuary
  • Lagoon sharks are non‑aggressive
  • Incidents are extremely rare
  • Never feed sharks

11. Whales (July–November)

  • Peak season: August–October
  • Best spots: Moorea, Tahiti (south coast), Rurutu
  • Swimming only with licensed guides under strict regulations

12. Moorea – Highlights

  • Dramatic mountains & lagoon
  • Cook's Bay & Opunohu Bay
  • Belvedere Lookout, Temae Beach

Hotels: Hilton Moorea, Sofitel Kia Ora, Manava Beach Resort
Activities: lagoon tours, whale watching, hiking, ATV

13. Bora Bora – Highlights

  • Iconic lagoon & Mount Otemanu
  • Matira Beach
  • Lagoon tours, sunset cruises, jeep safaris

Luxury resorts:
Four Seasons, St. Regis, InterContinental Thalasso