Tahiti and Her Islands comprise an area officially known as French Polynesia. The Islands are scattered over four million square kilometers (one and a half million sq. miles) of ocean in the eastern South Pacific.
In the last few years, Papeete has grown into a very modern city boasting a variety of new public facilities: shopping centers, boutiques, restaurants, night clubs and bars, travel agencies and airline offices, art galleries and museums.
The term French Polynesia refers to five archipelagoes spread over an expanse of the South Pacific approximately the size of Western Europe (2,000,000 square miles or approximately 5,000,000 square kilometers). The region includes the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, the Society Islands, the Australs and the Gambiers. Each of these archipelagoes has its own culture, ethnicity and climate.
French Polynesia enjoys warm, tropical weather year-round. Cooled by the gentle breezes of the Pacific, the climate of these islands is sunny and pleasant. The average ocean temperature is in the low 80’s. Because Tahiti and her Islands are below the Equator, the seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Roughly speaking, there are two seasons: from November through April the climate is warmer and more humid, with daily high temperatures of about 85 F and lows of 70F at night. More rain falls during the warmer season, but there are also many lovely sunny days with refreshing trade-winds during these months. In fact, during the period of November through March Tahiti still averages more sunshine hours than Honolulu. From May through October the climate is cooler and drier with daily high temperatures of about 82F and lows of 70F at night.
High islands (such as Tahiti, Moorea or Bora Bora) feature micro-climates related to their altitudes and exposition. Eastern coasts are more exposed to trade winds and consequently receive more rainfalls than the western coasts that are more sheltered.
Plant life, which grows vigorously throughout the year, comes into flower more often during the wet season, while further away from the equator the archipelagoes down south, the Austral and Gambier, enjoy cooler temperatures.
Whether you're looking to hike into mountain beauty, dive among multi-colored schools of fish, tour the islands or set sail at sunset, you'll find it here.
The Tahitians are a handsome people noted for their hospitality, friendliness and easygoing approach to life. Tahitian culture is a lively fusion of ancient Polynesian lore and European contemporaneousness.
The mixture of Polynesian and French cultures has resulted in a fertile culinary environment. There is a variety of splendid foods available in Tahiti ranging from traditional Tahitian fare to fine French cuisine, and tempting combinations thereof. The Tahitian diet consists mostly of fish, shellfish, breadfruit, taro, cassava, pork, yams, chicken, rice and coconut.
Visitors will also find any number of Italian, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants of various price categories and quality. For Americans accustomed to fast-food, Papeete and some of the outer islands serve hamburgers, steaks, fries and similar staples.
One of the most lasting impressions of French Polynesia is the captivating floral scents which permeate the tropical air. The region is home to a myriad of tropical flowers, many indigenous to these islands.
The basis for French Polynesia's traditional "hei" wreath is the perfumed "Tiare Tahiti." This heavily scented gardenia is widely used for greeting arriving visitors and returning family. In fact, the "Tiare Tahiti" is so revered in French Polynesia that it has its own national holiday. The flower is also used as an ingredient in tanning lotions, perfumes, soaps and other cosmetic products. |