This is what you picture as 'paradise on earth’ - Azure blue lagoons, secluded white sand beaches, natural beauty beyond compare, world class diving, snorkeling, lagoon cruising, jeep safaris through lush green mountains, Polynesian Spas, Overwater Bungalows, canoe breakfasts all complemented by the warmth of the Polynesian people. Tahiti and Her Islands are considered the most romantic and beautiful on earth, they are the islands of love!

The islands collectively known as 'Tahiti' actually consists of 118 spectacular islands located in five island groups: the Society Islands, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, the Austral and the Gambier archipelago. Located in the same time zone as Hawaii, the islands of French Polynesia are located half way between California and Australia.

French Polynesia enjoys a warm tropical climate year round with an average yearly temperature of 79F and an average ocean and water temperature of 80F. Visitors will be charmed by the Polynesian and French influences around the islands. French and Tahitian are the official languages of the islands. However, English is spoken and understood in tourist areas.


Attractions:
With its exciting mix of cultures, French Polynesia promises visitors an exciting tropical getaway. Consisting of 118 South Pacific islands and atolls, French Polynesia is a wonderful destination for travelers who enjoy water activities. There are a number of scuba outfitters who will help visitors make the most of their dives. Being surrounded by many varieties of animal life, including brightly colored schools of fish, coral, and sponges, scuba diving in French Polynesia is an exciting adventure for both beginners and experienced divers. Snorkeling is also very popular with the islanders. With good snorkeling spots located near just about every hotel and beach hut, travelers never have to venture far to find an exciting underwater exploration. Although there are many places on the islands to rent snorkeling equipment, many returned visitors suggest that you take your own equipment with you to ensure that your mask does not leak and that all of your gear fits well. French Polynesia has a long history of surfing. According to some accounts, the native Polynesian people were the first to take to the waves on wooden planks. Just about every island has some great surfing spots, but the best locations are at the open ocean entryways into lagoons. Called passes, these areas allow large waves to form but allow surfers to avoid the coral that surrounds the lagoon.

Tahiti Map

The islands of the Marquesas group are believed by many historians to be
the oldest inhabited islands in French Polynesia, having first been
colonised by Samoan explorers between 300 and 150 years BC. Located
approximately 950 miles north east of Tahiti, the Marquesas archipelago
consists of 16 islands divided between a northern and southern grouping.
There are six inhabited islands, Nuku Hiva,
Ua Pou, Ua Huka, Hiva Oa, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva, and eleven deserted
islets.
Numerous European and American explorers visited the islands between 1595 and 1838,
England’s Captain Cook visited the islands of the northern group in 1774. In 1842 the islands
were incorporated into the French protectorate which already covered the neighbouring islands
to the Soutwest. In 1945 the Marquesans were given French citizenship.
The islands and the islander’s way of life have changed little since the first Europeans
arrived, modern buildings are few and you will only find paved roadways in the main towns
on Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa. The inhabited islands are all high islands with very similar
landscapes, a central mountain chain, with peaks up to 3,500 feet above sea level, with very
deep valleys surrounded by plateaus so a 4 wheel drive vehicle, or a horse are a must.
Unlike most Pacific Islands the main islands of the Marquesas are not surrounded by coral
reefs so there are no lagoons. As a result there are very few beaches, and those that are there
are to be found in the coves and inlets that are dotted around the islands and are best reached
from the sea.
Because of their remoteness from Tahiti the Marquesas Island have been less exposed to
European influences than the other islands, resulting in them retaining more of their
Polynesian culture than the other island peoples in French Polynesia. In addition to the
culture the islands offer some of the most dramatic scenery to be found anywhere in the
world let alone French Polynesia. The blend of remoteness, scenic beauty and Polynesian
lifestyle has attracted many writers and artists to spend time in the Marquesas, the most
renowned of them the artist Gauguin died there and is buried in the island of Hiva Oa.
So if you are looking for a cultural experience during your travels to French Polynesian then