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Captivating Tahiti and French Polynesia
Monday, June 30, 2008 4:11 PM CDT
Tahiti and French Polynesia
Captivating Tahiti and her 118 attendant islands and atolls, all radiating with iridescent green and turquoise, make up the country of French Polynesia, a French overseas territory that is spread across an area of the South Pacific that is as big as western Europe. The earliest explorers thought they had found paradise on earth when they came across these picture-perfect islands, and today's travellers are no less entranced by the volcanic mountain peaks clothed in lush tropical vegetation and exotic flowering plants, the coral reefs, warm waters, white sand beaches and stunning turquoise lagoons. Add to this the warm hospitality offered by the friendly locals, a collection of world-class resorts, spas, fine restaurants, nightclubs, vibrant markets and enticing boutiques and one would imagine the islands would be over-run with exuberant vacationers. It is surprising then, to discover that there are more hotel rooms in a typical Las Vegas hotel than on all the islands of French Polynesia, and that Hawaii receives more visitors in 10 days than Tahiti does in a year. This means it is possible to tuck a tiare (Tahiti's national fragrant white flower) behind your ear, pack your pareu (sarong) and swimsuit, and head off to find your own idyllic piece of Polynesian paradise, which will doubtless have a melodic ancient name meaning something like 'island of the long sky' or 'place of the double rainbow'. Basics Time: GMT -10 (The Marquesas Islands are half an hour ahead of the rest of French Polynesia). Electricity: The electric current in most hotels is 110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz. American-style two-pin flat blade plugs and a round pin plug and receptacle with male grounding pin are used. Money: The unit of currency in French Polynesia is the French Pacific Franc (XPF), divided into 100 centimes. The exchange rate is fairly stable as it is linked to the Euro. Banks throughout the islands are open mainly on weekdays only and are the best place to change foreign currency; rates of exchange are not as good at hotels. There are ATMs on a few of the islands, but shouldn't be relied upon. Most hotels and resorts will exchange travellers cheques in US$ or Euros, and credit cards and US currency is readily accepted on the main islands. Tourism taxes are levied for accommodation and activities. Currency Exchange Rates XPF 1= US$ 0.01 £ 0.01 C$ 0.01 A$ 0.01 R 0.10 EUR 0.01 NZ$ 0.02 Note: This is not updated daily and should be used as a guide only. Language: French and Tahitian are the official languages; English is widely spoken. Entry Requirements for Americans: US citizens do not require a visa for a stay of up to one month. Extension is possible after arrival. Health: A yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers to French Polynesia arriving from an infected area. Immunisation against hepatitis A is recommended, and the territory is subject to increasing outbreaks of dengue fever. A typhoid vaccine is also suggested for most travellers (except short-term business travellers or cruise ship passengers). Tap water in hotels is safe to drink, but bottled water is also freely available throughout the islands. Tahiti has good health facilities with pharmacies and a large government hospital. There are a few private doctors and clinics in the outer islands. The only decompression chamber is at Papeete. Medical insurance is recommended for travellers. Tipping: Tipping in Tahiti and the islands is not required - nor expected - as it goes against local custom where hospitality is paramount. All prices quoted are all-inclusive. Safety: Visits to French Polynesia are usually trouble-free. The crime rate is low, but sensible precautions should be taken with valuables. Tropical storms and cyclones can occur between November and April. Business: Business etiquette is relatively informal in Tahiti and French Polynesia. French is the main language of trade, however English is often understood in more touristy areas. Business hours are generally 8am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Communications: The country code for French Polynesia is +689 and the outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0027 for South Africa). City/area codes are not in use. There are public phone booths on all the islands, most operated with phone cards called 'Telecartes', available from the airport, some bars, magazine stands and the post offices. A GSM 900 mobile network provides limited coverage on Tahiti. United States cell phones will not operate on the islands. Internet access is available in the larger hotels and resorts and the main tourist islands all have Internet cafes. Duty Free: Travellers arriving in Tahiti may bring the following goods without paying customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 200g tobacco; 1 litre of spirits with more than 22% alcohol volume or 2 litres spirits with less than 22% and 2 litres of still wine; 50g perfume and 250ml eau de toilette; and items valued up to CFP5,000 (for adults) or CFP2,5000 (children under 15 years) for gifts or personal use. Passengers may not import any foodstuffs, weapons or drugs. Tahiti French Polynesia's main island of Tahiti (meaning 'the gathering place') stands sentinel over her surrounding sisters like a proud queen, her soaring interior mountains sheltering deep valleys, plummeting waterfalls and crystal streams flowing down to the rugged coastline of black and white sand beaches and blue lagoons. Tahiti is made up of two islands, Tahiti-Nui and Tahiti-Iti, joined by a narrow isthmus.Most holidaymakers start their island idyll at the international Faa'a Airport at Papeete, Tahiti's capital and the commercial hub of French Polynesia. The small, busy city has a French flavour and laid-back atmosphere, worth exploring for its vibrant Central Market, pearl shops, attractive waterfront with its unique mobile diners, and a selection of excellent restaurants. Another must for visitors is to take a round-the-island tour, along the 73-mile (117km) road encircling the island, passing historic monuments, museums, beaches, ruined temples, waterfalls, gardens and dramatic scenery.The island's best white sand beaches are between Punaauia and Papara, but most visitors get more of a thrill out of visiting the famed black sand beaches on the east coast, particularly renowned Pointe Venus. Besides enjoying the seaside, Tahiti also offers some interesting sightseeing, including magnificent Botanical gardens, museums, archaeological sites, the tomb of the royal family Pomare, a lake containing unique eared eels, lava tubes, and a host of other unusual experiences. Moorea The most dramatic of the French Polynesian islands, Moorea lies only a few miles northwest of Tahiti (10 minutes by air or under an hour by ferry from Papeete). The little tropical island gem is characterised by spectacular bays, white sandy beaches and towering craggy volcanic peaks that form a jagged central spine, reflected in the surrounding crystalline lagoons.About 8,000 people live happily on Moorea, but there are no towns, or even villages, as such. Settlements offering clusters of shops and stalls line the 40-mile long (64km) paved road that encircles the island, giving access to the few sightseeing opportunities and lovely beaches. The best beaches are between the Moorea Village Hotel and the Hotel Beachcomber, and near the Sofitel Ia Ora near the airport.All sorts of water activities and excursions are offered on the island, as well as several land-based activities like hikes and mountain safaris.A fun way to explore the island is to rent a scooter or bicycle, or join the locals on the 'trucks' that form the island's public transport system. A 'must see' is the panoramic view of Cook and Opunohu bays from the Roto Nui (Belvedere) viewpoint, the Paopao open air market, and a distillery where exotic liqueurs are produced from the local pineapple, vanilla, mango and coconut crops. Climate French Polynesia enjoys tropical, warm and humid weather all year round, averaging eight hours of sunshine per day over a year. The islands experience a rainy season, generally between late October and early March, when cloudy skies and brief heavy rain showers can occur. The rest of the year rain is rare and temperatures constantly high, tempered sometimes by refreshing breezes. The water temperature ranges from 79°F to 84°F (26°C to 29°C) making for extremely pleasant bathing all year round. |
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