French polynesia - Polinesia Francesa

Introduction The French polynesia (in French, Polynésie française) is a country located in the Polynesia, the easternmost area of Oceania, and that administratively belongs to France. It groups five archipelagos, which have more than a hundred islands and islets scattered throughout the South Pacific. French Polynesia is close to the cook islands by the West, Kiribati to the northwest and the pitcairn islands To the East. Despite its remoteness, French Polynesia has become an important tourist destination, attracting thousands of people who want to enjoy its beautiful beaches and lush nature.

Capital Papeete Idiom French Surface 4167 km² Population 268 270 (2012) Currency CFP franc Time zone UTC-10 and UTC-9: 30 Telephone prefix 689

Regions

French Polynesia is made up of 5 archipelagos. The Society archipelago, the Tuamotu archipelago, the archipelago of the Marquesas, the Gambier archipelago and the Australes archipelago.

Society Islands

Most Inhabited Western Island Group, a group of high tropical islands surrounded by coral reefs and lagoons (administratively divided into Windward Islands and Leeward Islands ). Among the Leeward Islands, Bora Bora It is outstanding, Huahine , Maupiti Y Raiatea are especially notable, in the Windward Islands, Moorea it is spectacular and Tahiti it's a classic beauty with the capital Papeete .

Tuamotu Islands

Large central archipelago of coral reefs. It is a collection of low islands or atolls. Rangiroa It is outstanding.

Marquesas Islands Northeast Archipelago

A group of high islands near the equator, whose rugged mountains are inhabited by wild horses, goats, and pigs. Nuku hiva Y Hiva Oa they are exceptional.

Gambier Islands

To the southeast, rarely visited, consisting of the high island of Mangareva and its edge of islands that are the eroded remains of its ancient gigantic crater, it lies at the eastern tip of French Polynesia.

Austral Islands

Small southern archipelagos (includes the Tubuai Islands and the Bass Islands). Last inhabited islands of the South Pacific, these ancient volcanoes with gentle relief are far from the beaten track.

To get

To get to French Polynesia from Europe the fastest way is through Los Angeles with airlines such as Air Tahiti Nui or Air France. The international airport is in Tahiti, specifically in Papeete, the capital of the territory.

Entry requirements

Citizens of the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Norway only need a valid passport to enter, in no case will they need a visa for a stay of any duration. Unlike metropolitan France, Swiss citizens are only visa-exempt in French Polynesia for a stay of up to 90 days and require a visa for a stay of more than 90 days.

Citizens of all other countries will need a valid passport to enter French Polynesia and most will need a visa. Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days: Albania (note 1), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (note 1), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia , El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Montenegro (note 1), Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia (note 1), Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia (notes 1 and 2), Seychelles, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan (note 3), Tonga, Tuvalu, United States, Uruguay, City of the Vatican, Venezuela, as well as the holders of British National (Overseas), Hong Kong SAR or Macau SAR Passports. In addition, holders of a valid residence permit issued by the Préfet of a French overseas department, the High Commissioner of a French territorial collectivity or a Schengen state and holders of a special card issued by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Diplomatic and consular mission personnel can stay in French Polynesia without a visa for up to 90 days.

Citizens of Albania ¹ , Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina ¹ , Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Montenegro ¹ , Nauru, New Zealand, Nicaragua, North Macedonia, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia ^1,2 , Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Switzerland, Taiwan ³ , Tonga, Tuvalu, Uruguay, Vatican City and British citizens (abroad), you are allowed to work in French Polynesia without the need to obtain a visa or any other authorization for the period of your 90-day visa-free stay. Holders of a valid residence permit issued by the Préfet of a French overseas department, the High Commissioner of a French territorial collectivity or a Schengen state and holders of a special card issued by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to staff de Consular missions can also work during their 90-day stay without a visa.

If you must obtain a visa for French Polynesia, you can apply for it at a French embassy or consulate in your country of residence. A visa costs € 9.

For more information on entry requirements, visit this website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

While the British subjects with right to reside in the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories connected to Gibraltar, are considered "citizens of the United Kingdom for purposes of the European Union" and are therefore eligible for unlimited access to French Polynesia. Citizens of the British Overseas Territory without right of residence in the UK, British subjects without right of residence in the United Kingdom and British Overseas Citizens and British Protected Persons in general require visas. However, all citizens of the British Overseas Territories, except those exclusively connected to the Sovereign Areas of Cyprus, are eligible for British citizenship and, thereafter, unlimited access to French Polynesia.

Grades:

¹ Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia must have a passport biometric to enjoy a visa-free trip.

² Serbian citizens with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (Kosovo residents with Serbian passports) require a visa.

^{3 The} Taiwanese citizens must have their stipulated identification number in your passport to enjoy a visa-free trip.

By plane

French Polynesia has a very remote position in the South Pacific Ocean, so unless you're already there, flying is the main option.

The flag carrier of French Polynesia is Air Tahiti Nui and the main airport is the Faa'a International Airport built in the lagoon, about 5 km west of Papeete, close to several major hotels, such as the hotel Intercontinental . Air Tahiti Nui flies internationally to Tokyo, Osaka, Los Angeles, New York, Auckland, Sydney and Paris. They cooperate with Air France, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Air New Zealand, Vietnam Airlines and Qantas. They no longer participate in the American Airlines Advantage or Delta Air Lines frequent flyer program. Air New Zealand It also has regular flights to Tahiti. LATAM flies twice a week from Easter Island, with connections to Santiago de Chile.

Passengers arriving on international flights must collect their luggage, clear customs, and then check in again at the domestic flight counters about 50m to the right of the international arrivals area.

Boat

There are irregular-hour cruises and regular-hour cargo ships that travel from Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and Panama. The islands are something of a hub for sailboats between South or Central America and Australasia, and finding a passage on a yacht is not impossible, but it is challenging.

Travel

To move between islands there is the possibility of traveling by boat or by plane. The airline that flies between islands is Air Tahiti.

The territory of French Polynesia is roughly the same area as the European Union, but the combined land area (all islands and atolls) is roughly the size of Mallorca. Most of the people live on the two islands of Tahiti and Moorea. These islands have street networks and public transportation (including a good tourist infrastructure). To jump from island to island there are different options:

By plane

Air Tahiti offers domestic flights to other destinations in French Polynesia, and Air Moorea makes the short trip to Moorea several times a day. Charter flights like Air Archipel are available on request. Helicopters are another option.

Air Tahiti operates 11 turboprop aircraft (four ATR42-500 with 48 seats, five ATR72-500 with 66 seats, one Beechcraft with 8 seats and one Twin Otter with 19 seats). Most inter-island flights in the Marquesas are operated with Twin Otters.

Air Tahiti offers several types of Airpasses Air Tahiti:

• Discovery Pass , which covers Moorea, Huahine and Raiatea: € 253 with 20 kg baggage allowance, € 316 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
• Bora Bora Pass , which covers Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora and Maupiti: € 367 with 20 kg baggage allowance, € 460 with 50 kg baggage allowance from January 1 to 10, June to October and from January 11 to 31 December, € 347 with 20 kg baggage allowance, € 435 with 50 kg baggage allowance from January 11 to 31, February to May, November 1 to December 10,
• Lagons Pass , which covers Moorea, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakareva and Ahe: € 378 with 20 kg baggage allowance, € 487 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
• Bora Tuamotu Pass , which covers Moorea, Huahine, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi, Fakareva and Ahe: € 498 with 20 kg baggage allowance, € 640 with 50 kg baggage allowance,
• Marquesas Pass , which covers Nuku Hiva, Atuona, Ua Pou, Ua Huka: € 666 with 20 kg baggage allowance (not available with 50 kg baggage allowance),
• Austral Pass , which covers Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Rimatara: € 491 with 20 kg baggage allowance, € 630 with 50 kg baggage allowance,

Extensions to the Marguesas cost € 459 with a 20 kg baggage allowance, € 636 with a 50 kg baggage allowance, and to the Austral Islands € 262 with a 20 kg baggage allowance, € 361 with a baggage allowance 50 kg (2010 rates). Passes begin and generally end in Tahiti or Moorea. Tahiti-Moorea or Moorea-Tahiti can be flown on Air Moorea or Air Tahiti flights. The itinerary does not need to cover all the islands of the Pass. All flights must be booked and confirmed. The entire trip must not exceed 28 days. The islands of one archipelago must be visited before moving on to the next archipelago (for example, the islands of the Society archipelago must be visited before those of the Tuamotu archipelago). Islands within an archipelago can be visited in any order. No stopover or transit in Tahiti is allowed within the Pass, with the exception of the Lagons Pass between Moorea and the islands of the Tuamotu Archipelago, for a Pass with Extension, between the Pass and the Extension, where a maximum transit of 24 hours is allowed in Tahiti. Only one stop per island (of more than 24 hours) is allowed. A transit (less than 24 hours) with a flight number change is considered a stopover. Exception: change of flight number with a transit of less than 2 hours in Rangiroa in Bora Bora to Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava or vice versa. No change of reservations is allowed after the Pass has been issued. A transit (less than 24 hours) with a flight number change is considered a stopover. Exception: change of flight number with a transit of less than 2 hours in Rangiroa in Bora Bora to Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava or vice versa. No change of reservations is allowed after the Pass has been issued. A transit (less than 24 hours) with a flight number change is considered a stopover. Exception: change of flight number with a transit of less than 2 hours in Rangiroa in Bora Bora to Tikehau, Manihi, Fakarava or vice versa. No change of reservations is allowed after the Pass has been issued. air passes they are not refundable after departure.

Air Tahiti suggests the following multi-island itineraries:

• Archipelago Society:
  • 2 islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Bora Bora (or Huahine or Raiatea) - Tahiti
  • 3 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora - Raiatea (or Huahine or Maupiti) - Tahiti, or: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine - Bora Bora - Tahiti, or: Tahiti - Moorea - Bora Bora - Raiatea - Tahiti
  • 4 islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine - Raiatea - Bora Bora - Tahiti
  • 5 islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine) - Raiatea - Bora Bora - Tahiti
• Society Islands and North Tuamotu:
  • 2 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora - Rangiroa (or Fakarava, Manihi or Tikehau) - Tahiti
  • 3 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora - Rangiroa - Manihi (or Fakarava or Tikehau) - Tahiti, or Tahiti - Moorea (or Huahine, Raiatea or Maupiti) - Bora Bora - Rangiroa (or Fakarava, Manihi or Tikehau) - Tahiti
  • 4 Islamic islands: Tahiti - Moorea - Huahine or Raiatea) - Bora Bora - Rangiroa (or Fakarava, Manihi or Tikehau) - Tahiti
• North Tuamotu Archipelago:
  • 2 islands: Tahiti - Rangiroa - Tikehau (or Fakarava or Manihi) - Tahiti, or Tahiti - Ahe (or Tikehau) - Manihi - Tahiti
  • 3 islands: Tahiti - Tinehau (or Manihi) - Rangiroa - Fakareva (or Tikehau) - Tahiti, or Tahiti - Fakarava - Rangiroa - Manihi - Tahiti
  • 4 islands: Tahiti on Friday - Ahe el sol - Manihi (Tuesday or Wednesday) - Rangiroa (Friday or Saturday) - Fakarava - Tahiti
• Marquesas Archipelago:
  • 2 islands: Tahiti - Nuku Hiva - Hiva Oa (Atuona) (or Ua Huka or Ua Pou) - Tahiti
  • 3 islands: Tahiti - Hiva Oa ((Atuona) - Ua Huka (or Ua Pou) - Nuku Hiva - Tahiti
  • 4 islands: Tahiti - Hiva Oa ((Atuona) - Ua Huka - Ua Pou) - Nuku Hiva - Tahiti
• Society Islands - Tuamotu - Marquesas:
  • 4 islands: Tahiti - Bora Bora -Rangiroa - Nuku Hiva - Atuona - Tahiti
• Austral Archipelago:
  • 2 islands: Tahiti -Rurutu - Tubuai (or Rimatara) - Tahiti, or: Tahiti - Tubuai - Raivavae - Tahiti
  • 4 islands: Tahiti (Monday) - Raivavae (Wednesday) - Tubuai (Friday) - Rurutu (Monday) - Rimatara (Wednesday) - Tahiti

Check-in at airports begins 1 hour and closes 20 minutes before departure time (except for flights to Rarotonga where check-in begins 2 hours and closes 45 minutes before departure time).

Boat

• Ferries (sometimes combined cargo and passenger ships like the Aranui) travel between most of the islands. Catamarans and ferries cross between Tahiti and Moorea several times a day. Schooners and cargo ships serve all the inhabited islands of Papeete. Rotations vary by destination: from three times a week to the Society Islands to once a month to Mangareva Island.
• Two luxury cruise liners / liners sail the islands: the Paul gauguin , which makes a regular 7-day trip through the Societies, with occasional trips to the Tuamotus, Marquesas and Cook Islands; and the tahitian princess that makes similar itineraries. A great way to see the islands, unless you are on a budget. The Bora Bora cruises It is a more intimate vessel based on the Leeward Islands. Or for more adventure, embark on the Aranui III . In December 2007: Star clippers they will have a capacity of 170 passengers.
• Yacht charter Polynesia Windward Islands, one of the largest yacht charter companies in the world, can handle all your charter requirements, from bareboat boats to luxury yachts in French Polynesia. Operating from different offices around the world (United Kingdom, United States, Hong Kong, Dubai, Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland).

Watch

In tahiti

• Pointe venus It was the site of Captain Cook's observatory, built to record the transit of Venus across the face of the sun to try to calculate the distance between the sun and the earth. Today it is a popular shady black sand beach overlooking an impressive lighthouse.
• The Gauguin Museum ( Musée Gaugin ), about 50 km from Papeete on Tahiti Nui, contains artifacts from Gauguin's time in Tahiti, including reproductions of many of his paintings. The open-air buildings and a gift shop sit on a well-kept lawn, right by the ocean, away from the city and the resorts. The botanical gardens are right next door.
• The Tahiti Museum and its islands, about 15 km from Papeete, contain great samples of Polynesian history, culture and ethnology. Anyone who is interested in anthropology or the history of Polynesian culture should see this museum. Museum of Tahiti and Islands - Te Fare Manah at Fishermen's Point, Punaauia, PK 15., telephone = 689 54 84 35, fax = 689 58 43 00, [email protected]
• For pearl lovers, there is also the Robert Wan Pearl Museum in Tahiti.

To buy

Money

Exchange rates for CFP francs As of January 2020: US $ 1 ≈ 105 F € 1 ≈ 120 (flat rate) F UK £ 1 ≈ 140 F Australian $ 1 ≈ 75 F Canadian $ 1 ≈ 85 F Exchange rates fluctuate. Current rates for these and other currencies are available at XE.com

The CFP franc (called Frank locally, ISO 4217 currency code XPF ) is the currency used in French Polynesia, and also in the other Pacific territories of New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. It is most commonly denoted by F , and also by CFP , xfp Y fcp . It is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 119.33 F. They have their own currency, the Tahitian franc. It is not possible to get it in Spain, to change money you have to wait until you reach your destination.

Banknotes, international credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted. The international banks with foreign exchange offices in Tahiti and the most visited islands are the Bank of Tahiti, the Bank of Polynesia and Socredo. Banks will charge a commission for each exchange of, for example, 1,010 F. The exchange office at Papeete Fa'a'a airport only charges 700 F (February 2019), but the difference between their buy and sell rates it is much broader than that of banks. The euro is exchanged in banks and exchange offices at 119.33 F for € 1 (buy or sell), so your only cost is the commission.

International hotels also offer currency exchange. Some atolls and islands in the Austral and Gambier group do not have banking facilities.

Many companies that deal with tourists, such as taxi drivers and souvenir vendors, will accept US dollars at a rate of 100 F to US $ 1 (January 2019).

Costs

Everything is very expensive in French Polynesia. Even cheap accommodation is tough on the budget, as is food, even groceries. So if you visit, take a lot of money, you will need it.

Jewelry

Different Round Shape Tahitian Pearls from RangiroaBlack pearls They are the high end purchase in this part of the world. They are beautiful and of varied quality, so buyer beware, and the sky's the limit. There are many inexpensive mother-of-pearl jewelry that make great gifts. Created only by the giant black-lipped oyster Pinctada margaritifera Thriving in the lagoons of the Tuamotu archipelago, the rare Polynesian black pearl ranges in color from silver to dark gray with green and pink highlights. This Tahitian gem is an exquisite and unique keepsake. For visitors who wish to discover the secrets of the pearls of Tahiti A visit to one of the pearl farms on the island of Rangiroa, in the Tuamotus, is an experience not to be missed.

Eat and drink

To eat

Tahitian gastronomy is a mix between Polynesian and French culture. The sophistication of French gastronomy meets exotic Tahitan food. The good food in Tahiti and the nearby islands is usually a natural style of cooking based on fresh products mixed exotically. There is a presence of European cuisine in a tropical setting. Asian cuisine has also added its own tastes and textures.

Fish of all kinds, be it tuna, bonito, mahimahi, or the many varieties of lagoon fish, are prepared in many different ways: grilled, boiled, and raw.

The highest rated dishes are raw fish (poisson cru) a la tahitienne which is marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk and the very popular ma'a tinito Chinese (which is a mixture of pork, beans, Chinese cabbage, and macaroni).

Family occasions and celebrations are the time for a great tamara'a Tahiti (Tahitian-style feasts) where a meal consisting of suckling pig, fish, breadfruit, yams, and fe'i bananas is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed in a dug-earth oven over layers of hot rocks.

The larger hotels organize large buffet nights that offer a wide panorama of local culinary delights accompanied by traditional dance performances.

Tourist-oriented restaurants are usually quite expensive (burgers and pizzas from 1400 F, other main dishes from 2000 F), but you can also eat well in sandwiches (small restaurants) and caravans (food trucks), where the locals eat. These will serve burgers for 700-800 F, steaks or chow mein for 1000 F, grilled mahi-mahi or tuna, and poisson cru for 1200-1400 F (January 2019).

Tip it is not a custom in Tahiti or the nearby islands.

To drink

Bottles of water are readily available. Being a French territory, wine is common and easy to find. As it is a tropical island, you can find a multitude of fruit juices, from pineapple juice to coconut milk. You can't miss the Moorea Pineapple Juice! Sometimes it is best to open your own coconut and drain it for lunch. Orange juice is the state's favorite drink, and oranges are grown along the coasts.

If you are a fan of the beer , Beer Hinano It will definitely be one that you will like to try and bring home some cans.

external links

• Wikipedia has an article on French polynesia.w: French Polynesia
• Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about French Polynesia. Commons