There are many islands in French Polynesia. The best islands in French Polynesia are Matira, Bora Bora, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Moorea, Tahiti, Fakarava, Huahine, Naku Hiva, Raiatea, Maupiti, Otemanu, Tahaá, and Leeward Island.
French Polynesia is a beautiful tourist destination. French Polynesia is famous for beautiful beaches, lagoons, world-famous overwater Bungalows, Resorts, and Hotels. This is the perfect place for honeymooners, couples, and romance. The top things to do in French Polynesia are diving, snorkeling, swimming, and hiking. French Polynesian is a group of 118 islands including Bora Bora. Bora Bora has developed a grand infrastructure of many hotels ranging from budget families to grand luxury hotels.
Are you planning a trip to French Polynesia? But may have many questions in your mind. What are the best islands to visit in French Polynesia? What are the best places to visit? What are the things to do? And where to live. Then you will get answers to all questions in this article. Here is the list of the best island to visit in French Polynesia.
1. Matira
Matira beach is a tourist attraction in Bora Bora French Polynesia. The beach has crystal clear water, and soft white colored sand. The beach is covered with palm trees and green vegetables. The beach is famous for snorkeling and swimming. It is the largest public access beach On Bora Bora making it very popular among tourists. The picturesque beach offers scenic hiking trails and tourist services like boutique shops, snack bars, eateries, restaurants, and resorts. The beach is 18 miles long. The luxury resorts on the beach offer beachfront accommodations on Matira Point. Many international travel magazines declared Matira is the best beach in the world.
2. Bora Bora
Bora Bora is a group of Islands on Leeward Island. It is a small island surrounded by sand-fringed motus and turquoise lagoons. The island is located in the central South Pacific Ocean about 265 km from Tahiti in French Polynesia. Bora Bora is famous for coral reefs, scuba diving, luxury resorts, and hotels. This island has an airport known as Motu Mute Airport. It is the only international airport in Bora Bora. Bora bora is known for white sandy beaches, overwater bungalows, beachfront villas, and underwater adventure sports. Bora Bora island offers a 4×4 safari, sunbath, and swimming on white sandy beaches. You will find that Bora bora island is love at first sight.
3. Rangiroa
Rangiroa or Te Kokata is the largest attol in French Polynesia and one of the largest in the world. The distance between Rangiroa to Tahiti is approximately 355 km. Its area is 80 km2 and its population is about 2500 people. Rangiroa is known for its breathtaking dive sports and a number of star hotels and resorts surrounded by coconut trees with elegant architecture. Rangiroa is worth visiting as there is a number of diving centers. There is a greater opportunity to see the big fish like dolphins, hammerhead sharks, silvertip sharks, and manta. The temperature feels hot throughout the year with the chances of rain. Air Tahiti operates flight service 3 times a day from Rangiroa airport to Bora Bora. You can choose the ferry service.
4. Tikehau
Tikehau is a small circular coral attol near Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Tekehau island is located about 340 km north of Tahiti. It is a great place for scuba diving, unwinding, diving, and lagoon tour. Tuheiava pass is one of the best dive paths in Tikehau. Tikehau is served by Air Tahiti nonstop flight from Rangiroa. Tikehau is also called “Robinsons island” as it is a shelter for thousands of birds from different marine species such as red-footed boobies, crested terns, and blue-gray noddies.
5. Moorea
Moorea is the most beautiful volcanic island in French Polynesia. It has a circumference of 37 miles. This island is a part of nine ocean passes that draw cold water into the lagoon. This island is considered the best for snorkeling. The island is accessible by plane or ferry from Papeete. It is located 11 miles northwest of Tahiti Island. The island is known for its jagged volcanic mountains and sandy beaches. The top attractions in Moorea islands are Tiki Village, Belvedere Lookout, Public beach, Opunohu Bay, Cook’s bay, and Morea Dolphin Center. Moorea has an airport located on the east of the Island.
6. Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia in South Pacific Archipelago. It has a figure-eight shape. Tahiti is known for its different types of sand beaches. It has black sand beaches on the East Coast whereas white sand beaches on the west coast. It offers many activities like diving, surfing, and land tours. Tahiti has Papenoo valley with lush green forests and a lot of waterfalls. Tahiti is among the most expensive destination in the world. The stunning lagoons with overwater bungalows make this island very famous. Tahiti is a world beyond all other island destinations. It is a land of timeless beauty, lagoons, intoxicating aromas, and untouched beaches.
7. Fakarava
Fakarava is the second largest rectangular-shaped lagoon in Tuamotu Attols. It is located southeast of Rangiroa Iceland. Fakarava is known as a paradise for underwater snorkeling and diving. It is famous for its immense lagoons that have an incredible number of coral reefs. The sea life at that attol is not ordinary. This place is reserved as a biosphere by UNESCO. Fakarava has only 837 inhabitants. The main village in Fakarava is Ritoava. The Ritoava village has fluorescent corals and divine warm water offering an exceptionally rich ecosystem. The area of Fakarava is approximately 1200 km2.
8. Huahine
The Huahine is an island located in the society island of French Polynesia. Huahine is known for its fish farming technique that uses V-shaped stones for the fish traps. The distance between Bora Bora and Huahine island is 85 km. It is accessible by ferry. Huahine is an immense tropical jungle covered with coconut trees and vanilla. It is also culture preserved sanctuary with sacred temples. The deep crystal clear lagoons that surround the two islands comprise Huahine island. The Huahine island was known as the “Rebel Island” because of its fierce worriers and resistance to change. The Royal Huahine Resort is an overwater bungalow in Huahine. Huahine Far is an airport in Huahine.
9. Naku Hiva
Naku Hiva is an island in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest island in the Marquesas of French Polynesia. This is one of the large areas with rare inhabitants. This is one of the world’s most remote locations. The tradition of cannibalism exists on the island of Naka Hiva. This island is very beautiful and picturesque. It feels like a world away from the most crowded islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora. There is very little or no crime of Naku Hiva. It is not a dangerous island.
10. Raiatea
Raiatea island is the second largest island in French Polynesia after Tahiti. Raiatea is known as god’s cradle. It has archaeological treasures and eons of history and culture. It is worth visiting the place. It is a good trip for hiking and enjoying. The meaning of Raiatea is “faraway heaven” and “sky with soft light”. It is considered the homeland of the ancient Polynesians. The things to do in Raiatea are Motu Iriru, Mercato Coperto di Uturoa, Taputapuatea Marae, Arahurahu Marae, and Arii Moana Tour.
11. Maupiti
Maupiti island is located in western Leeward Island in French Polynesia. It is the westernmost volcanic high island in the archipelago. The distance between Maupiti to Tahiti is 315 km. The distance between Maupiti to Bora Bora is 40 km. There are regular flights to Maupiti from Bora Bora, Papeete, and Raiatea. The area of Maupiti is 11 square meters. The Maupiti offers shimmering lagoons, welcoming residents, restaurants, hotels, lodges, and accommodations. All these things make Maupiti the best destination for tourism. This small island looks like a paradise from the air. If you decided to visit Tahiti island or any other island you must visit Maupiti island.
12. Otemanu
Otemanu is a beautiful beach with a view of mount Otemanu located on Bora Bora island. The meaning of Otemanu is the “bird” or “The Sea Bird”. Mount Otemanu is one of the two peaks of an extinct volcano located at the center of the Island idyll. Otemanu is famous for overwater Bungalows and resorts. Some of the famous overwater bungalows are Four Season Bora Bora, One Bedroom Otemanu, and Lee Bora Bora. These bungalows offer a stunning view of mount Otemanu. The hikes to Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia have required a reasonable level of fitness.
13. Tahaá
Tahaá is an island located on Leeward island in French Polynesia. Tahaá is known for its vanilla plantation and coral garden. It is true botanical beauty. Its fertile valleys and slopping hill are covered with banana, watermelon, and coconut trees. There are many 5-star hotels and resorts. The charming island of Tahaa is scattered with small villages along the hillside bays. It is also known as Vanilla Island due to the production of Vanilla on large scale.
14. Leeward Island
Leeward island is a group of islands situated at the northeastern sea that meet the western Atlantic Ocean. The most famous islands of Leeward Island are Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Nevis, Redonda, Saba, St. Barts, Saint Martin, British Virgin Island, and U.S. Virgin Island. The total area of Leeward island is 91 km square with a population of 14000 only.
I hope that this article is useful to you for planning a trip to French Polynesia.
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