Highlights from 10 Days in French Polynesia

French Polynesia—the name alone invokes visions of bright blue lagoons, palm-fringed beaches, lush valleys, frozen tropical cocktails and balmy evening air.

Not every paradisal travel destination lives up to the hype, but I’m happy to share that Tahiti and her sister islands are even more mesmerizing and enchanting in real life than they are in the most filtered of Instagram photos.

This May, Derek and I spent 10 days in French Polynesia exploring the islands of Huahine, Moorea and Tahiti. Each of the three islands was incredibly beautiful and unique in its own way, and I feel so lucky to have experienced them all.

Our 10 Day French Polynesia Itinerary

Day One: Arrival in Pape’ete, Tahiti

Day Two: Tahiti > Huahine—Leisurely exploring the town of Fare & beach time

Day Three: Huahine—Rode bikes past coconut plantations, fishing villages, empty beaches & ancient ruins

Day Four: Huahine—Rented a scooter & explored the whole island

Day Five: Huahine—Full-day lagoon tour with Huahine Nautique

Day Six: Huahine > Moorea

Day Seven: Moorea—Rented a car & explored the whole island, including the Belvedere & Pineapple Route

Day Eight: Moorea—Rotui Juice Factory & leisurely beach day

Day Nine: Moorea—Day Pass at the Hilton Moorea

Day Ten: Moorea > Tahiti—Rented car & explored the whole island > Evening departure

I have, quite literally, thousands of photos and countless memories and travel tips I want to share from our time in French Polynesia. But to start off, I’m going to share just a few of my favorite photos and personal highlights.

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Swimming in Bright Blue, Crystal Clear Waters

Cyan. Turquoise. Cerulean. Azure. Sapphire. Aquamarine.

We saw so many brilliant shades of blue during our time on the islands, from dazzling electric blue to majestic jewel-toned waters. Especially on the island of Huahine—no Instagram filter could ever do those colors justice!

Diving in and swimming through those crystal clear waters was like something out of a dream; I felt as if I should keep pinching myself to make sure it was all real. I swear I’ve never something as beautiful as those views of the Huahine lagoon!

Snorkeling with Black Tip Reef Sharks

Would you willingly jump into shark-infested waters for a bit of snorkeling? If your answer is “no,” I’m begging you to reconsider! We did exactly that, and it was easily one of the coolest and most memorable experiences of my entire lifetime.

All of that crystal clear water I mentioned earlier? Now, it was buzzing with dozens of black tip reef sharks feeding on the chum that our boat captain had tossed in…and we got to witness it all, up-close and personal!

Although black tip reef sharks aren’t usually aggressive, I was legitimately terrified during those first few moments in the water, before I had my mask positioned to see what was happening below. But as soon as I caught sight of those views, all fear went out the window.

It was beyond beautiful and exhilarating, and an experience I will remember for a lifetime.

Picnicking on a Motu

As if snorkeling with sharks wasn’t enough, on that same boat excursion we stopped at a quiet motu (small, flat islet) for a picnic lunch…and that motu had one of the most insanely beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen.

Equally exciting was the fact that the lunch itself was among of the best food we had during our 10 days in French Polynesia: roasted chicken, poisson cru (sort of a Tahitian ceviche featuring coconut milk), saffron rice, French bread (a staple on these islands), fresh fruit, and banana slices covered in coconut flakes.

…plus an open bar of rum punch made with local juices, of course! Sitting at the picnic tables with our feet in the water, enjoying fresh seafood and strong drinks, was seriously my version of paradise.

Getting Off-the-Beaten Path on Huahine

I have a feeling I’m starting to sound a bit like a broken record with how often I keep repeating the word “Huahine.” But I promise, there’s a good reason!

Simply put, Huahine is one of the most enchanting destinations I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. It’s a bit hard to put into words (…there goes my career as a writer, I guess) but Derek and I both agreed that Huahine was easily our favorite of the islands.

Or as Derek said a few hours after we arrived on Moorea, when I asked him what his first impressions of the island were, “I think it’s going to be hard to beat Huahine.”

This small island of 6,000 people has a single grocery store, a single bar, and a single resort (isolated on a private bay that’s only accessible by boat). I can’t say that Huahine is completely untouched by tourism, but I can say that during our four nights on the island, we met just a handful of fellow American travelers—the vast majority of people we encountered were locals, French expats, and sailors.

…and that was only in the main town (well actually, it’s the island’s only town) of Fare! Outside of town, it was even more apparent how wild and untouched the island truly is.

We spent a full day exploring by bike and a second day venturing even further by scooter, and passed little more than quiet fishing villages, local homes, overgrown farmlands and endless jungle.

Dramatic, Tropical Vistas of Lush Mountains and Jungles

Something that Huahine, Moorea and Tahiti all shared was their never-ending supply of panoramic views.

I’ve traveled to a lot of a beautiful places in my lifetime, but French Polynesia has hands-down the lushest, greenest landscapes I’ve ever seen.

Dense jungle, forested mountainsides, palm-fringed rivers and lakes, powerful waterfalls…it’s all there, and it’s all so unbelievably stunning. I swear, it’s impossible to become jaded by views like that—every time I stepped outside, I was blown away all over again.

Eating Freshly Caught Seafood Everyday

During our 10 days in French Polynesia, we ate more seafood than I’ve ever eaten in my life…and it was glorious.

Shrimp, mahi mahi, swordfish, tuna, barracuda, local fish from the lagoon…all same-day fresh and lovingly dressed in unique and delicious sauces like coconut milk or Tahitian vanilla (sounds strange, I know, but trust me when I say that fish with vanilla sauce is truly divine).

Of course, there is SO much more I want to share from our 10 days in French Polynesia—these highlights truly just skim the surface! In the coming weeks, keep an eye out for travel guides, itineraries, tips and other stories from the islands of Huahine, Moorea and Tahiti.

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Have you ever traveled to French Polynesia? Is it a destination you would consider visiting? What tips and information would be helpful when planning your own trip to French Polynesia?

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