French Polynesia | The Best Travel Destinations

Maupiti Island – French Polynesia

Maupiti Island – French Polynesia

Maupiti is a small coral atoll with a volcanic island in its midst.

Maupiti is located to the west of the Leeward Islands in French Polynesia. It is the westernmost volcanic high island in the archipelago, 40 km west of Bora Bora. The central island of Maupiti has a high peak of 380 metres and a surface area of 11 square kilometers. The lagoon has large and flat coral islands in its northern reef half and two motus on both sides of the pass at its southern end.

Like Bora Bora, this high island is slowly entering in its atoll phase, leaving white sandbanks in the middle of the lagoon. Still saved from tourism, you will not find any deluxe resorts there but traditional family pensions. Nor will you find restaurants, discos or bars in Maupiti but only true relaxation, calm and peace like it used to be a few decades ago in most Polynesian islands. Postcard landscapes will finally become reality … you reached paradise !

Once used to the torpor any tourist feels when getting off the plane, you will be able to appreciate the archeological richness spread in the vegetation or on the many motu around (Auira, Tiapaa, and specially Paeao) : marae (one belonged to the Tefareatii chiefs), petroglyphs representing turtles in Haranae valley, mount Terama fortifications, as well as 16 graves dated 850 A.D. on motu Paeao. Those last ones are the oldest vestiges discovered in the Society islands. Objects taken out from those graves (fish-hook, adzes … ), similar to some others found in New Zealand, participated to the accreditation of the Polynesian migrations theory.

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Huahine – French Polynesia

Huahine – French Polynesia

Huahine is an island located in French Polynesia, an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean.

Huahine is for sure the wildest and most secretive island of the Society Islands thanks to its luxuriant nature and its past full of myths and legends. Located 30 minutes away from Tahiti by plane, it is also the nearest one from the main island of this archipelago. Huahine would draw its name from hua, sex/gender and hine, woman. It is said that this name would refer to a pregnant woman. Furthermore, some think that the Tavaiura Mount looks like a lying woman face with a roundness belly. Formerly, the island was called Matairea which means « cheerful breeze ». At his time, Captain Cook named it « hermosa » which means « beautiful ». This island appears like a feminine and attractive island whose inhabitants are proud of.

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About Bora Bora

Bora Bora is an island in the Leeward group of the Society Islands of French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France in the Pacific Ocean. The original name of the island in the Tahitian language might be better rendered as Pora Pora, meaning “First Born”; an early transcription found in 18th- and 19th-century accounts, is Bolabolla or Bollabolla. The island, located about 230 kilometres (140 mi) northwest of Papeete, is surrounded by a lagoon and a barrier reef. In the center of the island are the remnants of an extinct volcano rising to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point at 727 metres (2,385 ft).

Bora Bora, The Romantic Island

Under a one hour flight from the island of Tahiti or Moorea, the island of Bora Bora, with a lagoon resembling an artist’s palette of blues and greens, is love at first sight.

Romantics from around the world have laid claim to this island where the castle-like Mount Otemanu pierces the sky. Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the illuminated lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where colored fish animate the coral gardens as they greet the giant manta rays. This could be easily be described as the center of the romantic universe, where luxury resorts and spas dot the island with overwater bungalows, thatchedroof villas, and fabled ambience.

Simply said, Bora Bora is the most beautiful island in the world.
Pora Pora – the ancient name, meaning “first born,” came from legends describing this as the first island to rise when Taaroa,
the supreme god, fished it out of the waters after the mythical creation of Havai’i, now known as Raiatea. Although the first letter “B” does not exist in the Tahitian language, when Captain Cook first heard the name he mistook the softened sound of the Tahitian “P” for “B” and called the island Bola Bola.

Romance on Bora Bora
Truly, the most romantic island in the world. From the dramatic scenery to the privacy and amenities of the overwater bungalows, everything in Bora Bora equals a 10 on the romance scale.

Resorts have been welcoming couples for over 40 years and their special amenities have been fine tuned to perfection. From sunrise to sunset, each resort has designed their own blend of unique romantic experiences for their guests to choose from.

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