30 Reasons to Visit French Polynesia
French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France, comprises 118 dispersed islands in the South Pacific, stretching for more than 2,000km. Divided into the Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, Society and Tuamotu archipelagos, they're known for their coral-fringed lagoons and over-the-water bungalows. Here are 30 reasons to visit French Polynesia.
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1
Go Diving
Source: trekity.comRangiroa offers French Polynesia’s best diving. It is the South Pacific’s largest atoll and one of the largest in the world. Hordes of marine life including barracuda, tuna, turtles, and dolphins can be found in the waters as well as hammerhead sharks and manta rays.
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2
Go snorkeling
Source: www.independenttraveler.comIf you’re not interested in diving, you can still experience the underwater world in French Polynesia by snorkeling.
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3
Visit a Winery
How about sipping wine from a winery located in the midst of a coconut grove, flanked on one side by turquoise lagoons and the deep blue ocean on the other? Rangiroa is home to Vin de Tahiti, one of the world’s most scenic wineries.
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4
Visit a Coral Church
Source: www.travelnation.co.ukFakarava is home to the first island church built entirely out of coral back in 1862. Today, the outer structure still remains and is quite a sight to behold.
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5
French Polynesia is closer than you think
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Cheap Eats
Dining is notoriously expensive in French Polynesia, but not at the roulottes (or caravans), which serve tasty meals in huge servings.
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7
Shopping
Shopping for sarongs, baskets, carvings and pearls is a multisensory experience at Papeete's public market, where the sweet aromas of vanilla, coconut and monoi oil fill the air, musicians strum ukuleles and the vibrant flower and fruit stalls call for plenty of photo ops.
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8
Surfing
Source: blogs.cnn.comSurfers flock to Tahiti Iti (little Tahiti) to try their luck on the notoriously dangerous "heavy wave" called Teahupoo.
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9
Island Hopping
The Bora Bora-Tuamotu pass includes 10 islands in a loop (from Tahiti) and costs around €564.80.
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10
Yachting Paradise
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Overwater bungalows
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The ultimate destination wedding location
Source: www.vancitybuzz.comIn 2009, France approved a law allowing non-French nationals to wed in the islands of Tahiti (including same-sex couples).
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13
Swimming with sharks
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14
Learn about Polynesian History
Source: travelpod.comAccessible from Puamau, Iipona is one of the best archaeological sites in French Polynesia.
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15
Wander through Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens
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16
Visit Gauguin Museum
This museum is host to many reproductions of Paul Gauguin’s paintings. His colorful style brought fame to the islands and he lived out his last years here painting traditional life.
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Tahitian Cultured Pearls
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Visit a Marae
Source: www.acfairbankconsulting.caMarae are Polynesian temples where people came to offer up gifts to the Gods.
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19
Make a trip to Fatu Hiva
Source: www.tamariskrtw.comFatu Hiva is the southernmost of the Marquesas Islands and is certainly the most isolated.
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20
Diverse Wildlife
Source: pinimg.comMost of wildlife here is found in the lagoons and surrounding waters as there are very few indigenous animals on land.
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21
Tahiti
Source: www.thefaultreport.com.auTahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia, the South Pacific archipelago. Shaped like a figure-8, it's divided into Tahiti Nui (the larger, western section) and Tahiti Iti (the eastern peninsula).
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22
Bora Bora
Source: www.tahiti.comBora Bora is a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Surrounded by sand-fringed motus (islets) and a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, it’s known for its scuba diving.
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23
Mo'orea
Source: royalcaribbean.comMo'orea is a South Pacific island, part of French Polynesia's Society Islands archipelago. It's known for its jagged volcanic mountains and sandy beaches.
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24
Papeete
Source: ytimg.comThe capital of French Polynesia.
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25
Huahine
Source: www.tahiti.comHuahine is an island located among the Society Islands.
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26
Raiatea
Source: www.etahititravel.comRaiatea, is the second largest of the Society Islands.
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Nuku Hiva
Source: dailymail.co.ukNuku Hiva is the largest of the Marquesas Islands.
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Manihi
Source: www.visualitineraries.comManihi, or Paeua, is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago.
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Makatea
Source: pacificvoyagers.orgMakatea, or Mangaia-te-vai-tamae, is a raised coral atoll in the northwestern part of the Tuamotus.
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30
Disappointment Islands
Source: getsetjetsetdotcom.wordpress.comThey are located towards the northeast, away from the main Tuamotu group.
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