Tahiti is the largest and most populated of the 118 islands and atols that make up French Polynesia in the Southern Pacific Ocean. On holiday in Tahiti you will find lush vegetation, rainforests, waterfalls, beaches and excellent scuba diving. It’s a dream combination that makes Tahiti a popular destination for honeymoons. The best mountain scenery on Tahiti island is on the north coast which has some interesting black sand beaches. The capital city Papeete is pretty hectic and has some ugly concrete buildings, but its waterfront is lovely and there’s a thriving market. The international airport is on Tahiti island and therefore many visitors spend a few days here
as a short holiday in Tahiti before heading off to quieter nearby islands, especially Bora Bora with its own beautiful turquoise lagoon.
Chilling out
Scuba diving
Visiting the peace and quiet of nearby islands like Bora Bora
Buying black pearls...if that's your thing.
Dreaming of returning to work and live. There are no visas for either.
French Polynesia (sometimes referred to as Tahiti) is an overseas territory of France. Currently you don't need a visa if you're travelling on a European Union passport and staying less than three months. Don't rely on internet access to stay in touch with home. It can be slow and expensive although new cyber cafes are opening up all the time.
Tahiti has a tropical weather pattern with a dry season from April to October and a wet season from November to March. Temperatures range from 24°C/75°F to 30°C/86°F with high humidity.
It takes around 25 hours to fly from London to Papeete, the capital ofTahiti from where there are short onward flights to other islands.
Car hire is widely available and people drive on the right hand side ofthe road. Roads are narrow and hazards are invariably not signed so it'sbest to get into the Polynesian way of life and drive very slowly. Scooterrental is not recommended.