How to Get Around French Polynesia

Getting in is through Faa’a airport on Tahiti, the only international gateway, with connections from Los Angeles, Paris, Auckland, Tokyo and Santiago de Chile.

Air Tahiti runs the domestic network and is how you move between islands. It is expensive — multi-island passes are far better value than individual tickets and must usually be bought before or on arrival. Baggage limits are strict.

Ferries: the Tahiti to Moorea crossing takes about thirty minutes, runs frequently and is cheap, which is why Moorea is the easy second island. Slower cargo-passenger ships serve Huahine, Raiatea and Bora Bora, and the Aranui works the Marquesas.

On the islands: hire cars, scooters and bicycles on the larger ones; Tahiti has le truck and bus services. Bora Bora is served mainly by boat between the main island and the motus.

Distances are ocean distances. Do not plan to see more than two or three islands in a fortnight.