As a travel writer, I fly to a new international destination at least once a month. Although I love getting away, I'm also a homebody who loves returning to beautiful home. Returning home from French Polynesia was the only time I was desperately unhappy to come back to LA.
It's so easy to get to French Polynesia btw, I had no idea! It's a direct flight from LAX to Tahiti's International Airport, also known as Faa'a International Airport. I flew Air Tahiti in their Moana premium economy class and it was very comfortable.
There are 118 islands total in Tahiti and I want to explore as many of them as possible. For now, here is an itinerary to get a taste of three of the islands that you must visit first!
I traveled from Los Angeles to French Polynesia in November 2020. There were a number of things required.
Tahiti
First up spend a day eating in Tahiti and exploring the Chinese history. I had no idea there was a significant Chinese settlement in Tahiti since 150 years ago. Tahiti is known for is roulettes or food trucks and it's one-of-a-kind Tahitian Chinese food that you can't get anywhere else.
Stay at the Manava
Eat Tahitian Chinese Food
Visit the Chinese Cemetary
Visit the Chinese Temple
The Kanti Chinese Temple is the oldest temple in Papeete.
Moorea
Moorea is one of the lesser known of the islands of Tahiti after Bora Bora and Tahiti but some regard it as the most beautiful.
It's pretty glamorous to get to Moorea, you have to take a huge boat over from Tahiti and the beautiful sail is about 30-45 minutes long. It's also possible to transport your car over and there's a cafeteria and plenty of spacious seating on the boat.
Stay at the Manava Moorea
The iconic overwater bungalow was invented by three San Diego natives at the Manava Moorea. The hotel has plenty of less expensive options though, you can opt for a glamorous overwater bungalow, or a more affordable land bungalow, or a basic hotel room.
Take a Street Food Tour
For the best under the radar local eats, hit up Heimata Hall from Moorea Food Adventures. Here are some of the spots that we ate at.
Manuia Grill
The Manuia Grill is located just across the street from the Manava.
Chez Tamatoa
Cook Creperie
Visit the Fare Natura Eco-Museum
The newly opened museum seeks to share both the scientific and cultural knowledge of the natural environment of French Polynesia. There are many interactive exhibits and an immersive video room that simulates what it is like free diving or scuba diving.
Take an ATV Tour
ATVs are the best way to check out Moorea's mountain and pineapple plantation. The tour will also take you to the top of Magic Mountain. Here you'll find the most gorgeous panoramic views of the island.
Feed the Eels
Scuba Diving
Moorea's water comes in at least 5 shades of blue with plenty of marine life.
Go Snorkeling with the Whales
Learn Polynesian Traditions
Immerse yourself in Polynesian traditions like dancing, coconut harvesting, and fishing.
Stay at the Four Seasons
There's only one place that you should stay while visiting Bora Bora and that's the Four Seasons.
Swim at the Ruahatu Lagoon Sanctuary
The Four Seasons has its own private lagoon. It's massive and most of the time, you have it to yourself (all the guests are probably just swimming around their own private bungalows). There's also a marine biologist on site who can take you on a guided tour of the lagoon or host you on a coral planting session. There are over 100 different species of animals living in the lagoon.
Go on a Jet Ski Tour
The Moana Adventures Tours jet ski tour is a total adventure. We drove at top speeds around the entire island (it felt like I was flying) and we stopped by to eat some fresh coconuts and learn some Polynesian basket weaving techniques.
Go Snorkeling with the Sharks and Manta rays
One of the most magical moments of traveling to Bora Bora was swimming with the black tip sharks and snorkeling with the manta rays. It was definitely unsettling jumping into the water with 20 sharks, but they just minded their own business and paid no attention to me.
The most magical part of the swim was finding this little sting ray guy. They used to feed stingrays in Bora Bora but I believe it ended up attracting too many sharks so they stopped the practice.
We stopped by three different spots hunting for manta rays and found this big guy at the first stop.
Go Scuba Diving
Bora Bora is one of the best places in the world to swim with manta rays. I had a great time going out for two days with Top Dive and the best scuba instructor ever Arnaud. I got scuba certified in Bora Bora yay!
