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Tahiti and French Polynesia Culture & Customs

TRAVEL BASICS

Visa & Entry Requirements

Nationals of many countries do not require a visa to visit French Polynesia for a period..

Health & Safety

There are occasional outbreaks of the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever in French..

Currency

The currency is the franc cours pacifique (CFP) or simply the 'franc'. The note..

Weather & Climate

French Polynesia has a typical climate for a tropical, oceanic island. Temperatures and..

Culture & Customs

When arriving in French Polynesia you may be welcomed with a traditional garland made of..

Language & Communications

French and Tahitian are the official languages, but English is spoken and understood in..

Transport & Getting Around

The major international airport is Faaa Airport in Papeete, on Tahiti.Getting between..

Food & Eating Guide

For a true island cuisine experience try a feast called a tamaaraa when food is cooked in..

Timezone & Electricity

French Polynesia is 10 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-10) except for the Gambier..

Dutyfree

The following is a basic guide to what travelers may bring into French Polynesia without..

states of Tahiti and French Polynesia

Society Islands Information

The Society Islands Archipelago (composed of the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands) is a group of high, tropical..

Tuamotu-Gambier Islands Information

The Tuamotus Gambier Islands are a massive chain of coral atolls which cover an area the size of western Europe. The 76..

Marquesas Islands Information

The Marquesas archipelago, with its powerful landscapes, its cliffs and sharp peaks and its deep valleys, imposes its..

Austral Islands Information

Hundreds of miles to the south of Tahiti lie the Austral islands, a chain of five high islands located on the Tropic of..

INDEX OF ALL states AND LOCATIONS

Culture & Customs

When arriving in French Polynesia you may be welcomed with a traditional garland made of the national flower, the tiare, a heavily scented gardenia. What a fitting introduction to the hospitality that French Polynesians are reknowned for. The languid tropical environment suits the easy going nature of the people. Life is casual - it's almost always 'beach style' for dress standards.

Tipping is not customary in Polynesian culture and is not expected. However, tipping is welcomed for good service. Bargaining and haggling over prices in markets and stores is not customary.

The missionaries that came with European exploration did all they could to wipe out traditional Polynesian culture. Luckily some customs and practices have made a resurgence : the hypnotic dancing, the intricate carvings and the irresistible island music.

Christianity is the major religion and church is taken very seriously. Sunday is the day of worship.

Offices and shops are usually open Monday - Friday from 7:30 am to 11:30 am and from 1:30 pm to 5-6 pm and Saturdays from 7:30 am until 1130am.

Highlights of Tahiti and French Polynesia

Bora Bora Information

Think Bora Bora and your mind instantly conjures up romantic images of astonishingly clear blue waters lapping gently..

Tahiti Information

Tahiti is probably the kind of place most people think of when the word 'paradise' is mentioned. From waterfalls..

Rangiroa Information

Slightly over an hour away from Tahiti on flights that run daily, Rangiroa is a gigantic atoll,the largest in..

Tahaa Information

Just a few minutes away from Raiatea's airport by shuttle boat,Tahaa “The vanilla island”has retained the..

Fakarava Information

450 kilometres from Papeete, Fakarava is the second largest atoll of Polynesia. Like her big sister Rangiroa,this..

Rurutu Information

Protected from the ocean's fury by a small coral reef, Rurutu the “gushing rock” in the Polynesian language is the..

Tikehau Information

300 kilometres northeast of Tahiti and a few kilometres from Rangiroa,Tikehau,with its nearly perfect circular blue..

Raiatea Information

40 minutes on a direct flight from Tahiti- Faa’a,Raiatea was the first island settled by Polynesians and the starting..

INDEX OF ALL LOCATIONS