Tahiti - Paradise found again

Due to the location of the primary international airport, Papeete sees a lot of visitors from French Polynesia. But a quick trip to the little South Pacific capital is insufficient. You have three days in Papeete, which gives you enough time to take in the city’s attractions, discover Tahiti, and even travel to the nearby island of Moorea. How? Read on.

Get to know Papeete on Day 1

Start the day in laid-back Papeete with influences from both French and Pasifika cultures. Visit the vibrant Municipal Market, the historic cathedrals, and the tropical parks and gardens with their distinct French flair in the morning. The best way to explore the city’s features and learn about the culture and history of the islands is to take a guided tour.

Discover Tahiti on Day 2

Tahiti is the largest of the French Polynesian islands, so there is plenty to see and do. Like the almost endless black-sand beaches and a mountainous, forested interior. Go beach-hopping on your own or with a tour group, stopping along the route at waterfalls, blowholes, and a well-known lighthouse. Papeete has plenty of fine-dining restaurants to end the day on a high note.

Spend day 3 in Moorea

Moorea is 45 km (28 miles) northwest of Tahiti and a popular vacation spot in its own right, with geology and topography that are very distinct from those of Tahiti. While taking a guided trip is the most convenient way to get from Papeete to Moorea, solo travelers can still use ferries.

Choose to be busy or lazy:

• Swim and snorkel in protected lagoons while taking a boat tour around Moorea’s coastline, or
• Experience the thrill of an off-road 4×4 adventure into Moorea’s mountainous interior.
• Visit vanilla and pineapple plantations in the interior, or
• Simply relax on a white sandy beach.