Overview
Take a trip to Tahiti on your French Polynesia vacation
The first port of call in French Polynesia will possibly be the island of Tahiti which contains the only International airport. Although you may be just connecting to one of the outer islands, Tahiti definitely has its attractions and allure. It is the largest island and was formed from volcanic activity which explains the terrain of the island. This beautiful island is surrounded by coral reefs, black sand beaches, lush rainforests, deep valleys, high waterfalls, clear streams and rivers, all to be experienced on a Tahiti vacation. The interior is very sparsely populated and most of the population lives in or near the capital, Papeete, the economic, cultural and political centre. 70 percent of the population here is indigenous.
The island of Tahiti which is shaped like figure 8 consists of two distinct parts, Tahiti Nui, by far the larger part and Tahiti It. Tahiti is approximately 45 kilometres/28 miles in length at its widest point. The highest mountain is Mount Orohena at 2240 metres/7350 feet in height. There are 3 extinct volcanoes on the island.
For shopping enthusiasts, consider the following local “buys” – wood carvings, wooden drums, quilts, sculptures, mats woven from coconut and local artists’ paintings. Of course, one of the major offerings here is Tahitian Black Pearls which actually come in an array of colours. One can visit any of the pearl farms on the island.
For the more active, Tahiti offers many water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing, horseback riding and deep sea fishing. There are many world-class diving sites on the island with its clear waters in which there is a plethora of tropical fish and even mantra rays to view. One unusual attraction is the ability to watch reef sharks being fed up close.
For the more active, Tahiti offers many water sports such as snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, water skiing, horseback riding and deep sea fishing. There are many world-class diving sites on the island with its clear waters in which there is a plethora of tropical fish and even mantra rays to view. One unusual attraction is the ability to watch reef sharks being fed up close.
At a Glance
Languages
French, Tahitian, EnglishCurrency
South Pacific Franc (XPF)What do the experts say?
The iconic Poisson Cru must be tried while in French Polynesia - it is raw fish marinated in lime juice and coconut milk - so good!
The Food - Polynesian cuisine is based upon using top quality fresh local produce and both savory and sweet dishes often flavored with vanilla or coconut milk. It's surprising to hear many of the perishable ingredients that go into your meals are flown in from various other international countries, and yet, can still taste so fresh and exquisite.
I love the stunning natural beauty, the wonderful people and the opportunity to experience this unique Polynesian culture
Enjoy Kayaking while on your Tahiti vacation
Beautiful sunsets are a great photo opportunity...
Overwater bungalows is a great choice of accomm...
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ExcellentBased on 5,159 ReviewsEverything was expertly planned, from the drivers to the hotels to the tours to the flights. We particularly enjoyed Hobart and the animal sanctuary, Adelaide and the trip to Kangaroo Island, Melbourne and the evening tour with dinner and drinks, and Sydney with the private boat cruise of the Harbour. We will definitely use Goway again.SARA WiebeThere were 4 travelers on this trip. All of us were in our late 70's. We started planning this trip 6 months prior to our travel date and had a lot of questions regarding this trip. Our Goway Travel Specialist, Karen Larrota, always answered our questions in a timely and complete manner. We traveled to Quito, Ecuador, the Galapagos, The Sacred Valley in Peru, Machu Picchu, and Cusco in Peru. Not only were the destinations and accommodations excellent, but every tour guide and driver were beyond excellent. The entire trip went smoothly every step of the way, which was amazing given the fact that there were numerous flights and hotels included in our package. We found out that the tour company that Goway used, Condor Travel, checked on us with our guide to make sure we were doing OK which we thought was very nice but also amusing as we are fairly fit older adults. Would also like to mention that we did a cruise thru the Galapagos on the Galapagos Legend which was arranged thru Go Galapagos - Kleintouurs. This portion of our tour was also excellent as were the wildlife guides and staff. We continue to discuss how wonderful this trip was with our family and friends and how wonderful this experience was. Would definately use Goway for our travel needs in the future.DianneAfter spending some time with our agent, we felt that she understood exactly what we had in mind as far as the level of service, etc, we were hoping for. The trip exceeded our expectations. Lori kept us busy(not too busy!) and we had many, many very exciting experiences. Bruce BelshawAylin is an exceptionally proficient advisor. Coordinating my clients simultaneously often feels like herding cats, but she has remained patient and accommodating through every modification and delay. Goway continues to be my go-to for complex itineraries, and they never disappoint.Nick Cron, ACCMahalo Goway Travel for helping in planning our group Japan's trip. Lawrence was very helpful & patient with all the changes & additions we did. Also, mahalo to Natasa who helped planned my Australia trip past November. The planning from transportation to tours to hotels worked very smoothly. I'll continue to use Goway travel for all my International trips. I'll also will recommend to my friends & family to use Goway...MahaloTanya LaguatanMaria Spitman was wonderful to work with. She was very helpful in designing our trip to Japan and equally wonderful when we had to cancel it. I loved the service she gave us.Sandy WarrenMy daughter and I had a wonderful 2 weeks in New Zealand! The country is so beautiful and the people so friendly. Our destination specialist did a great job with planning and organizing the itinerary, choosing our hotels, and organizing transportation. The hotels were absolutely beautiful and we had great views. We felt right at home and found all of the staff to be friendly and accommodating. There were no issues with our itinerary and our excursions we were always on the list. Our transportation was always ready and waiting for us.
We want to thank Goway Travel for their hard work and patience with us in planning this trip. Any changes that needed to be made were communicated timely. We also want to thank you for the beautiful weather during the entire 2 weeks it was perfect every day 😀.
It was a memorable trip that we will never forget and we will think of Goway when we plan our next adventure. Because it was not just a vacation; it was an adventure!Connie WenhardtWe had a great travelling experience with GoWay !
Thank you all involved in organazing our trip!MaiaBrigitta Fuller is Amazing! She was my group coordinator. She understood the assignment and all the nuances I was trying to achieve. The itinerary she curated was fantastic. If you want someone who truly cares about her group and what they are trying to achieve. I will always reach out to Brigitta first for Europe groups. Kathryn WalkerMy clients had a wonderful time on their trip to Easter Island. They were very pleased with the Hare Nua Hotel Boutique and especially noted the warmth and hospitality of the hotel staff as well as their excellent breakfasts.
Jaime Vargas-Hendandez was an exceptionally gracious and knowledgeable agent, who went out of his way to ensure that my clients had the best possible experience. I will definitely contact him for future bookings and will recommend him to my colleagues.Alethea Kardas
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