10 Best Islands in French Polynesia
What are the Most Beautiful Islands to Visit in French Polynesia?
When it comes to tropical utopias, nothing dazzles quite as spectacularly as the best islands in French Polynesia. Home to more than 100 of them, this South Pacific hotspot is renowned for its tantalising turquoise lagoons, beaches framed with swaying palms and cinematic mountain ranges, many of which are extinct volcanoes.
Outdoor enthusiasts can hike a jungle trail to a panoramic viewpoint, work on a tan on a stretch of rose-pink sand or swim with dolphins, whales and manta rays at one of the region’s many dive spots. Between jet skiing around the islets and lounging about in your bungalow, you can indulge in French-inspired cuisine and Pina Colada cocktails.
1. Bora Bora
The pearl of the Pacific
Good for: Photo, Luxury, Adventure
A tiny South Pacific island located northwest of Tahiti, Bora Bora seduces with its pristine white-sand beaches, glistening turquoise lagoon and lush tropical rainforests that teem with extraordinary plant life. Known for its opulent 5-star resorts that are set around the water, it’s the place to go when you want to go snorkelling, wakeboarding and scuba diving just inches from your doorstep.
With its abundance of hibiscus flowers, French-influenced cuisine and breathtaking vistas from Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora is a holiday haven that’s destined for the bucket list. Whether you’re celebrating your honeymoon or taking the family trip of a lifetime, this compact island sanctuary is not to be missed.
Bora Bora
2. Tahiti
The heart of French Polynesia
Good for: Food, Adventure, Photo
The biggest island in French Polynesia, Tahiti is a paradise that’s home to black and white sand beaches, aquamarine lagoons and waterfalls that look like they’re from a fairy tale. Further into its hinterland, you’ll find ruggedly steep landscapes that are peppered with some of the best hiking trails in all the South Pacific, including Papenoo Valley, Aorai Mountain and the Te Pari Loop.
The island’s vast underwater kingdom offers snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities with shoals of brightly coloured clownfish, bales of green turtles and a kaleidoscope of coral species. Alternatively, you can chase an adrenalin rush above the water by participating in a vast array of aquatic sports like surfing, paddleboarding and jet skiing.
Tahiti
3. Huahine
An awe-inspiring adventure
Good for: Couples, Families, History
Situated 66 miles northwest of Tahiti, Huahine is comprised of 2 sister islands that are connected by a scenic bridge: Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti. Encircled by an azure lagoon that’s bejewelled with coral gardens, one can easily spend a week here swimming with an astounding variety of sea life including dolphins, reef sharks and manta rays.
Long considered one of French Polynesia’s ancestral and cultural heartlands, Huahine overflows with age-old customs and traditions. What’s more, the islands are home to verdant rainforests that are dotted with ancient archaeological sites including the hillside of Mata’i’rea and the village of Maeva.
Huahine
4. Mo’orea
A geographical marvel
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Part of French Polynesia’s Society Islands, Mo’orea is a visually enticing volcanic retreat that’s famed for its jagged mountain peaks and palm-fringed, white-sand beaches. Two symmetrical bays, Paopao and Opunohu, divide its northerly shore and are home to some of the island’s best snorkelling and diving adventures.
Spend your days in the sunshine and splashing about in the warm turquoise water, while marvelling at giant clams, rainbow fish and enormous pastel-hued corals. Alternatively, go whale and dolphin watching from a chartered boat, or scale the panoramic viewpoints of Belvedere Lookout.
Mo'orea
5. Raiatea
Exquisite island with ancient roots
Good for: Couples, Families, History
A 45-minute flight from Tahiti, Raiatea is steeped in indigenous heritage and boasts a mesmerising blue-green lagoon that’s inundated with marine life. Copious with enchanting waterfalls, fine-sand beaches and a collection of hidden temples, this lesser-known Society Island is a natural and cultural paradise.
The second largest of the Society Islands, but no less enigmatic than some of its smaller counterparts, Raiatea is home to endangered species of botanicals including tiare apetahi, one of the world’s rarest flowering shrubs. Along with its snorkelling and scuba diving, the island’s Polynesia River offers scenic tours via kayak, paddleboard and outrigger canoe, accompanied by an enthusiastic and insightful local guide.
Location: Raiatea, French Polynesia
Raiatea
6. The Tuamotus
Blissful beaches and boutique wines
Good for: History, Adventure, Food
An unblemished sanctuary for marine biodiversity, the Tuamotu Archipelago is a South Pacific holiday showstopper that begs to be discovered. Its 76 atolls are spread over a surface area of more than 1.2 million square miles, making this French Polynesian island chain as epic as it is beautiful.
Scuba enthusiasts will enjoy diving with dolphins, sharks and turtles, while those who’d prefer to stay on land can day trip to the Domaine Dominique Auroy Winery, which is famed for its boutique bottles spanning whites and rosés. One can spend weeks here, hopping between islands like Anaa, Rangiroa, Hao and Makemo, which impress with their moss-green mountains, powdery beaches, historic temples and jungle cascades.
The Tuamotus
7. Rangiroa
An astonishing natural aquarium
Good for: Couples, Families, Adventure
Rangiroa, or Te Kokōta in Cook Islands’ Māori, is the largest atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, comprising approximately 415 islets and sand bars. Free of sweeping mountain ranges that are characteristic of French Polynesia, Rangiroa’s major drawcard is its alluring array of water sports.
For drift diving, snorkelling and wild dolphin encounters, nothing beats a day out at Tiputa Pass which is situated on the atoll’s northern side. Alternatively, sail to Les Sables Roses, a deserted beach that’s lapped by inviting turquoise waters and laden with an extraordinary shade of candy-pink sand.
Rangiroa
8. Nuku Hiva
A hotbed of colour and culture
Good for: Couples, Families, History
The capital of the Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva effortlessly melds indigenous traditions with some of French Polynesia’s most breathtaking scenery. Here, you can spend your days exploring verdant valleys dotted with magnificent waterfalls or sunning yourself on one of its onyx-black beaches.
Along with its wealth of dive spots which are home to melon-headed whales and spotted eagle rays, the Marquesas are imbued with the spirit of its ancestors, which can be felt across its many celebrations. The Marquesas Arts Festival is an annual highlight that’s beloved by visitors thanks to its oral storytelling, tribal tattooing, music and dance performances and traditional games.
Nuku Hiva
9. Fakarava
An aquatic UNESCO treasure
Good for: Couples, Families, History
A protected coral atoll that’s also a refuge for rare species of birds, crustaceans, fish and marine plants, Fakarava is situated in the Tuamotu Islands, an hour’s flight from Tahiti. Its reef boasts such an abundant ecosystem that it has been designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve and is considered one of the world’s most exceptional diving locations.
With its rustic-chic accommodation featuring quaint guesthouses on working pearl farms and thatched breezy bungalows just footsteps from the water, Fakarava is the place to go to get away from it all. At Tetamanu village, you can admire a Catholic church built entirely out of coral by early European missionaries or enjoy a succulent seafood meal on an outside restaurant deck.
Fakarava
10. Maupiti Island
Severely underrated beauty spot
Good for: Adventure, Photo
Twenty-five minutes from Bora Bora, you’ll find the mountainous Maupiti Island that boasts a crystal-clear lagoon, a scattering of idyllic islets and sugar-white beaches that feel like powder underfoot. While there are no 5-star hotels here, it’s well worth a visit for its off-the-beaten-track adventures and its hospitable rustic guesthouses.
The sea’s multiple shades of blue will have you transfixed, as you spend your days stretched out on the sand under coconut palms or getting up close and personal with squadrons of manta rays. Hikers will love the island for its many rainforest, beach and volcanic walks including the mind-blowing vistas from Mount Teurafaatiu.
Maupiti Island
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