What to do in the Society Islands?

There’s an excellent combination of water and land-based activities on the shores of a crystal-clear lagoon and at the foot of towering, lush mountains. Don’t miss a traditional picnic on a motu, buy your favourite black pearls, take a 4X4 tour of the islands’ magnificent valleys, enjoy the fine restaurants and treatments offered by Polynesian SPAs, try kayaking on the only navigable river in Raiatea at dusk, visit vanilla plantations in Taha’a, dive with manta rays in Bora Bora, meet and perhaps swim with humpback whales in Moorea or Tahiti during the season…

What to do in the Tuamotu Islands?

Get in the water and see some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the world. Diving and snorkelling offer breathtakingly beautiful spectacles. The atolls are ideal playgrounds for a wide range of water sports. Discover the pink sand beaches of Fakarava, spend a day with the locals in the remote atoll village of Toau, visit a pearl farm and learn how to graft the oysters that produce this magnificent jewel, swim with dolphins in Rangiroa, meet friendly sharks on a dive, taste coral wines in the only vineyard to be operated at this latitude, fish and enjoy an experience at the end of the world!

What to do in the Marquesas Islands

Discover the rich cultural heritage of the Marquesans, with the tattoos, carvings and weavings that the locals will share with you. Set off on breathtaking scenic hikes or 4×4 safaris along cliffs and waterfalls where wild horses roam free; discover where French painter Paul Gauguin spent the last years of his life; share a traditional meal and learn the ‘bird dance’. Bring your mask and snorkel to watch hundreds of melon-headed dolphins, dive with manta rays and hammerhead sharks. Manta rays can be seen in the evening, usually from the back of the boat, and the spectacle is nothing short of magical!

When is the best time to visit French Polynesia?

Basically, at any time of year. However, the likelihood of rain is higher between November and March (austral summer) and the season is warmer.

When do humpback whales visit the waters off French Polynesia?

When cruising on a yacht between July and October, the likelihood of encountering a whale is very high. Given the yachts’ usual itineraries, whales are often seen off Tahiti, the Tahiti peninsula and Moorea. They can also be seen on other islands.

What are the chances of a hurricane hitting French Polynesia?

The probabilities are very low. French Polynesia has a record of one hurricane per decade between November and March. The weather forecasts are reliable, and if a hurricane were to hit the main islands, yachts would have enough time to reach the Marquesas Islands and find refuge there. This group of islands is located outside potential low-pressure areas.

How do you dress in the big hotels?

Dress is very casual, as all the major hotels are located by the beach. Dress is more formal if you’re dining in a fine restaurant, but keep it casual for the bar or dinner on the beach.

Is French Polynesia suitable for children?

Yes, that’s right. There are plenty of activities on offer for children, from exploring the land to organising treasure hunts in the Tuamotus or immersing themselves in the shallow waters of the lagoon, where thousands of fish are easy to spot.

What can we buy for yachts?

A little bit of everything! Fresh food and dairy products are imported to French Polynesia from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and France. Every morning, you’ll find French-influenced baguettes and croissants on all the main islands. All supplies can be flown from Tahiti to any of the islands served by Air Tahiti, the domestic airline. A little bit of everything! Fresh food and dairy products are imported into French Polynesia from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and France. Every morning, you’ll find French-influenced baguettes and croissants on all the main islands. All supplies can be flown from Tahiti to any of the islands served by Air Tahiti, the domestic airline.

How easy is it to get a SPA treatment?

Yes, especially in the islands of society. All the top hotels have a SPA offering a full range of treatments and quality products from luxury cosmetics brands.

What are the most popular activities on a Superyacht cruise?

Most land-based activities are offered on a private basis (quad biking, 4×4 safari, picnics on a secluded motu), as well as water-based activities (diving, snorkelling, surfing, sailing, whale watching in season, spearfishing, snorkelling, water skiing, paddle, jet skiing…) and private performances by a traditional dance group on the yacht’s aft deck.

Is it easy to change guest venues outside Tahiti?

Yes, as long as the chosen island has an airport. Usually, on commercial flights, departing guests can board their aircraft while new guests simply disembark.

Grande Plaisance

Tahiti and Her Islands

Exceptional facilities for yachts and superyachts. Discover our dedicated services, our mooring areas and the exclusive welcome of our archipelagos.

In search of El Dorado

As the South Pacific’s premier superyacht hub,Tahiti & Her Islandsoffers countless opportunities for paradise cruises exploring its 118 islands.

The ocean dominates, with 99% water and 1% land spread over a territory as large as the continental United States or Western Europe. Elegance and adventure await you in one of the safest places on Earth, where preserving the ocean has been a government priority for over a decade.

With world-renowned unspoilt dive sites and friendly local people,Tahiti And Her Islandshas everything to please and will evoke even more unique and never-before-experienced emotions.

Consult our brochure on large yachts

Input ports

The main point of entry for ships is the island of Tahiti. It is possible to carry out the formalities on some of the islands in the other archipelagos (on prior request and subject to acceptance by the immigration and customs services).

Customs

Upon arrival, yachts are granted import duty-free status for a period of 36 months. Duty-free fuel is available with the assistance of a yacht agent. Spare parts for yachts in transit can be imported duty-free.

Immigration formalities

for the crew

EU citizens are allowed to stay in French Polynesia for an unlimited period. Tourist visas allow stays of up to 3 months.

Non-EU citizens staying for more than 3 months must obtain a long-stay visa from the French embassy or consulate in their country of origin before entering French Polynesia. Non-EU nationals must hold a letter of guarantee from an approved agent or a return ticket on a plane departing from Tahiti.

A visa for a maximum of 15 days may be obtained in the event of arrival by sea for exceptional reasons.

Sourcing

Supplies are mainly found in Tahiti, which offers excellent quality products, both local and imported. You can also buy through the local domestic airline which serves most of the islands of French Polynesia.

For more details, contact your local yacht agent.

Yacht agent websites:

www.seal-superyachts.com/tahiti-yacht-agents

www.tahiti-ocean.com

www.tahiti-super-yacht-support.com

Regulations

Chartering is legal in French Polynesia. The vessel must be worth more than €838,000 and have charter rates of more than €1,675 per day. The yacht must have at least three full-time professional crew members and comply with all regulations.

No entry fee is required, it is granted for six months and is renewable. Administration time is between 5 and 6 weeks. The tax is 5% of gross charter income. Local yacht agents usually submit the application before their vessel arrives.

Navigation tips

No sailing licence is required in French Polynesia. Most of the islands in the same archipelago can be reached in just a few hours. Outside Tahiti, we recommend dropping anchor in the bays sheltered by the lagoons or in the lagoons of the atolls.

Health

Tahiti Tourisme would like to remind you that the yellow fever vaccine is compulsory for anyone who has stayed in an endemic country and wishes to visit Tahiti & Her Islands.

Yellow fever is a viral disease endemic to Africa and America. Transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes (Aedes), it affects humans and monkeys Since the beginning of 2017, numerous reports have confirmed the presence of a yellow fever epidemic in the southern areas of the state of Bahia on the border with the states of Minais Gerais and Espirito Santo, as well as in the regions of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, all of which share the same ecosystem: tropical rainforests. Travellers who have visited infected areas and are carriers of the virus can sometimes contaminate disease-free regions. In order to prevent these risks, and in accordance with international health regulations, all people wishing to visit Tahiti and its islands who are over 9 months old must be vaccinated against yellow fever if they have travelled to high-risk countries. Visitors must provide proof of vaccination on arrival in Tahiti and bring the necessary documents to enter the country.

Vaccinations are also required for travellers from high-risk countries wishing to visit Tahiti and its islands.

Please also remember that it is forbidden to import live animals (birds, etc.). The transit of dogs, cats or rabbits may be authorised subject to declaration and compliance with the quarantine procedures in force. Animal products (meat, skins, etc.) must not be unloaded ashore.

– Vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travellers, including for yellow fever and malaria,

– List of countries presenting a risk of yellow fever transmission and countries where vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory,

-For more information, visit theWorld Health Organisation website

Shipyard

The following refit and maintenance facilities are available:

A 300-tonne gantry crane for vessels up to 40 metres in length and unlimited draft.
A slipway for vessels up to 60 metres in length, 4.5 metres draft and 800 tonnes.
An afloat repair quay for vessels up to 150 metres long, with a draught of 6 metres and a capacity of 3,800 tonnes.

All these facilities are located in Papeete, on the island of Tahiti.

Projects are currently being developed with the Port Authority to increase the refit capacity and technical offering for Superyachts.

Marina Taina can accommodate 20 yachts up to 60 metres long. It is located 10 minutes from Faa’a international airport and 20 minutes from downtown Papeete.

Downtown Papeete offers a marina with a dedicated Superyacht area.

Both marinas have video surveillance, security guards and the usual marina services.

Chartering

Chartering is legal in French Polynesia. A 5% tax is applied to the gross charter fee and is due before the end of the charter period.

Entering Polynesia

Nationalities allowed into French Polynesia without a visa:

All EC citizens, Albania (e-passport only), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia (e-passport), Brazil, British Overseas Passport (BNO), British subjects with right of abode, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kiribati Islands, Macau, Macedonia (e-passport only), Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Montenegro (e-passport only), Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia (e-passport only), Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, United States, Vatican City, Venezuela.

Citizens of Bahrain, Belarus, China, India, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates who already hold a Schengen multiple-entry visa valid for a minimum of six months and issued by a French consulate do not need an additional visa.

Schengen visas other than those listed above are not valid in Tahiti.

All other visitors must obtain a short-term visa from their nearest French consulate or embassy prior to arrival.

Accommodation ashore

The main island of Tahiti offers several high-end hotel chains to accommodate guests. When two archipelagos are on the cruise itinerary, guests most often choose to connect by air (commercial or private flight) to the next destination to avoid excessively long cruises. Many hotels are also an ideal solution for guests wishing to enjoy a local experience after or before their cruise.

Activities

Numerous activities on land and in the water are available with dedicated and experienced professionals on the different islands.

For more information on the yachts available for charter in Tahiti & Her Islands, contact your charter agent.

Biosafety formalities

Ships arriving from an external port

The following biosecurity formalities are MANDATORY for any vessel arriving from a PORT OUTSIDE French Polynesia (F.P.).

Notify the Motu-Uta Biosafety Department of your arrival viasecretariat@biosecurite.gov.pf
Tel: 40544585
If you are travelling with a pet, ALSO contact the zoo-sanitary unit for your biosafety formalities by e-mail atanimal.impex@biosecurite.gov.pf
If your ship touched an infested port* in the 9 months prior to its arrival in the P.F :
– You MUST dock at the port of Papeete in TAHITI;
– Only berth between 6.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
If your vessel has not called at an infested port* in the 9 months prior to its arrival in the F.P., your vessel must dock at an official F.P. point of entry* of a country, territory or zone recognised as infested by Oryctes spp., Strategus spp. and Scapanes spp.Arrêté 2471 CM du 4 novembre 2021.

source de l’article : La Direction de La Biosécurité.

Tips for a tailor-made itinerary

Any itinerary may combine one or more archipelagos, depending on the length and period of the cruise. The time spent in the different islands mentioned in these itineraries is the minimum time recommended to fully enjoy the charm of each island. It is recommended that you spend 10 to 12 days in the same group of islands for a complete and unforgettable experience. Itineraries can also be prepared for the Australs and the Gambiers, which are well known for being off the beaten track.

Society Islands

Day 1: Mooring the yacht in Tahiti or Moorea

Day 2: Moorea

Day 3: Huahine

Day 4/5: Taha’a – Raiatea

Day 6: Bora Bora

Day 7: Bora Bora – late afternoon flight to Tahiti

The Tuamotu Islands

Day 1: Flight to Fakarava from Tahiti or Cruise to Fakarava South Pass

Day 2: South Passage of Fakarava

Day 3: Early morning trip to the North Passage of Fakarava, passing through Toau

Day 4: Apataki

Day 5 – 6: Rangiroa

Day 7: Return to Tahiti

The Marquesas Islands

Day 1: Fly from Tahiti to Nuku Hiva – Moor the yacht

Day 2: Nuku Hiva

Day 3: Ua Huka

Day 4: Hiva Oa

Day 5: Ua Pou

Day 6: Nuku Hiva

Day 7: Return to Tahiti

Frequently asked questions

What to do in the Society Islands?
There’s an excellent combination of water and land-based activities on the shores of a crystal-clear lagoon and at the foot of towering, lush mountains. Don’t miss a traditional picnic on a motu, buy your favourite black pearls, take a 4X4 tour of the islands’ magnificent valleys, enjoy the fine restaurants and treatments offered by Polynesian SPAs, try kayaking on the only navigable river in Raiatea at dusk, visit vanilla plantations in Taha’a, dive with manta rays in Bora Bora, meet and perhaps swim with humpback whales in Moorea or Tahiti during the season…
What to do in the Tuamotu Islands?
Get in the water and see some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the world. Diving and snorkelling offer breathtakingly beautiful spectacles. The atolls are ideal playgrounds for a wide range of water sports. Discover the pink sand beaches of Fakarava, spend a day with the locals in the remote atoll village of Toau, visit a pearl farm and learn how to graft the oysters that produce this magnificent jewel, swim with dolphins in Rangiroa, meet friendly sharks on a dive, taste coral wines in the only vineyard to be operated at this latitude, fish and enjoy an experience at the end of the world!
What to do in the Marquesas Islands
Discover the rich cultural heritage of the Marquesans, with the tattoos, carvings and weavings that the locals will share with you. Set off on breathtaking scenic hikes or 4×4 safaris along cliffs and waterfalls where wild horses roam free; discover where French painter Paul Gauguin spent the last years of his life; share a traditional meal and learn the ‘bird dance’. Bring your mask and snorkel to watch hundreds of melon-headed dolphins, dive with manta rays and hammerhead sharks. Manta rays can be seen in the evening, usually from the back of the boat, and the spectacle is nothing short of magical!
When is the best time to visit French Polynesia?
Basically, at any time of year. However, the likelihood of rain is higher between November and March (austral summer) and the season is warmer.
When do humpback whales visit the waters off French Polynesia?
When cruising on a yacht between July and October, the likelihood of encountering a whale is very high. Given the yachts’ usual itineraries, whales are often seen off Tahiti, the Tahiti peninsula and Moorea. They can also be seen on other islands.
What are the chances of a hurricane hitting French Polynesia?
The probabilities are very low. French Polynesia has a record of one hurricane per decade between November and March. The weather forecasts are reliable, and if a hurricane were to hit the main islands, yachts would have enough time to reach the Marquesas Islands and find refuge there. This group of islands is located outside potential low-pressure areas.
How do you dress in the big hotels?
Dress is very casual, as all the major hotels are located by the beach. Dress is more formal if you’re dining in a fine restaurant, but keep it casual for the bar or dinner on the beach.
Is French Polynesia suitable for children?
Yes, that’s right. There are plenty of activities on offer for children, from exploring the land to organising treasure hunts in the Tuamotus or immersing themselves in the shallow waters of the lagoon, where thousands of fish are easy to spot.
What can we buy for yachts?
A little bit of everything! Fresh food and dairy products are imported to French Polynesia from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and France. Every morning, you’ll find French-influenced baguettes and croissants on all the main islands. All supplies can be flown from Tahiti to any of the islands served by Air Tahiti, the domestic airline. A little bit of everything! Fresh food and dairy products are imported into French Polynesia from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and France. Every morning, you’ll find French-influenced baguettes and croissants on all the main islands. All supplies can be flown from Tahiti to any of the islands served by Air Tahiti, the domestic airline.
How easy is it to get a SPA treatment?
Yes, especially in the islands of society. All the top hotels have a SPA offering a full range of treatments and quality products from luxury cosmetics brands.
What are the most popular activities on a Superyacht cruise?
Most land-based activities are offered on a private basis (quad biking, 4×4 safari, picnics on a secluded motu), as well as water-based activities (diving, snorkelling, surfing, sailing, whale watching in season, spearfishing, snorkelling, water skiing, paddle, jet skiing…) and private performances by a traditional dance group on the yacht’s aft deck.
Is it easy to change guest venues outside Tahiti?
Yes, as long as the chosen island has an airport. Usually, on commercial flights, departing guests can board their aircraft while new guests simply disembark.