French Polynesia what the population does on the islands. French Polynesia

Moscow tour operator AS-travel received the Travel.ru Star award in the category Best travel agency, operating in Russia across Oceania(including French Polynesia) according to the results of an all-Russian vote among tourists held in 2011.

All you have to do is say: “ Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora..."- and a turquoise lagoon framed by coconut palms will open before your eyes, and the mysterious smiles of Tahitian girls from the paintings will flash Paul Gauguin. Open Polynesia, its hospitality, culture, flowers, scents, songs and dances, white and sandy beaches, Tahitian friendliness and French " art de vivre"(the art of enjoying life), water sports and amazing mountain excursions! You are transported from island to island, like in a fairy tale from one wonderland to another. These are the colors of paradise landscapes and the sweet smell of tropical flowers, these are unforgettable adventures on the other side of the Earth.

Geographical location of the Tahiti Islands

French Polynesia is part of Polynesia proper, which in turn is part of the global region of Oceania. Possessions France in the eastern part Pacific Ocean make up 118 luxurious islands. The islands are united into 5 archipelagos: Societies, Tuamotu, Marquesas Islands, Tubuai, Gambier.

IN archipelago of the Society the most famous islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine.

Tiare ( Tiare) – the name of a plant whose flowers are considered a symbol French Polynesia. According to legend local residents, tiare is a sacred flower loved by the gods. Captain Cook and captain Bly The aborigines also encountered tiares. Jack London wore a tiara crown. AND Paul Gauguin, And Somerset Maugham, And Pierce Brosnan, And Jack Nicholson. This is not surprising: all tourists wear tiaras with delight. It's surprising that despite this, residents still wear them Tahiti. When you see this, you understand: they don’t lead you by the nose, they don’t put exotic things on your ears, they really share life with you. And tourists are put garlands of tiaras around their necks right at the airport. To each! Tiare Tahiti, Tahitian gardenia, - main flower Polynesia. Obviously: you are already in heaven.

From 5 to 8 December on Tahiti a holiday is taking place that has already become traditional. It is based on the women's movement Tahiti, which originated back in 1962. The first flower festival was timed to coincide with the opening of the first nurseries in the country. Since 1985 feminists Tahiti They hold the Tiare festival every year. Today it is a kind of floristry competition in which both amateurs and professionals take part. Competitions are held in two categories – small composition and large. In the second category, the area of ​​the flower garden must be at least 50 square meters! Naturally, an indispensable condition for the competition is the use of the Tiare flower in the compositions. Recently, foreign companies specializing in floristry and local travel agencies have drawn attention to the festival. The latter is due to the fact that the flower festival invariably attracts tourists, many of whom claim that they have never witnessed such a colorful and cheerful holiday before.

It is interesting that Tahitian men usually wear a bud behind their ear, while women wear an open flower. A bud is something brutal, a flower is feminine and delicate. If a pregnant Tahitian woman sees herself plucking a tiare flower from a bush in a dream, it means that she will give birth to a girl. And if it’s a bud, then, on the contrary, it’s a boy. And if, not in a dream, but in reality, a man walks around the city with a blooming flower behind his ear, this leads to corresponding thoughts. So, in order to avoid any kind of ambiguity, check at what stage of opening the tiara with which you decide to decorate your ear is. A tiara can also tell you something about your temperament and marital status. If, for example, you wear it behind your right ear, it means you are alone and ready for adventure. If you are on the left, you are married or engaged, and any coquetry is inappropriate. And if you have a flower behind both ears, it means you are married and despite this, you are ready for any adventure. Finally, a tiara flower in the hair of a young girl hints to all interested parties that this girl has matured. And if she is pretty, then it’s better not to hesitate, but to start by asking her some international stupidity. For example: “Girl, what time is it?”

By the way, until the missionaries introduced the aborigines to the dial and hands, they recognized the time by the flowers of the tiara: the buds open between twelve and two o'clock in the afternoon. And more exact time there was no need for them yet.

Population of Tahiti

In French Polynesia Home to about 270 thousand people. Ethnic composition very diverse - Polynesians make up up to 78% of the population, ethnic French - 10% (6% live here permanently, and 4% permanently live in the metropolis and come to the islands to work), as well as Chinese and people from other countries South-East Asia- up to 12%. The population is mainly very young - up to 43% of local residents are under 20 years of age.

Features of French Polynesia

Time: the difference with Moscow is minus 13 hours in winter and minus 14 hours in summer. When on Tahiti Sunday noon at Moscow Monday 01:00 in winter and 02:00 in summer.

Cloth: IN Polynesia locals and tourists dress simply. Bring beach and summer cotton clothing. For sea ​​travel On the ship, clothes made of linen and wool are suitable, as it can be cool in the evening.

Languages: French and Tahitian are the official languages. English is also widely spoken.

Currency: The official currency is the Pacific Franc (CFP): 1 Euro ~ 150 CFP. Currency can be exchanged at the airport, at a bank or in hotels. Credit cards can be used in hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist establishments.

Transport: The main way to travel between islands is by plane. Local airline Air Tahiti connects regular flights 35 islands. There are airports on all the main islands. Between Tahiti And Moorea convenient to move on large passenger catamarans and boats. You can also sail from one island to another on a high-speed catamaran.

Telephone: International telephone service is available on all islands. From a hotel room, 1 minute of conversation with Russia costs an average of 8 euros.

Safety: To enter the country, you do not need to do any vaccinations. The healthcare system is at a high European level. There are no poisonous animals or insects in Polynesia. Tap water in hotels and restaurants is safe to drink.

Car rent: from 55 to 100 euros depending on the class of car.

Banks: open from 7:45 to 15:30 from Monday to Friday, some are also open on Saturday mornings. US dollars and euros are accepted almost everywhere.

Shopping: Shops are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 and from 14:00 to 17:00, Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30.

Present: Monoi body butter, shell crafts, fruit liqueurs, black pearls.

Jpg" width="192" height="138" border="0" align="LEFT" style="margin-right:1em; alt=">Nowhere in the world are there such large, such black and such perfect pearls as in Tahiti and its islands. They are incredibly beautiful. And incredibly expensive. Tourists are taken to Pearl Farms - pearl plantations, they explain in detail why even a small round pea costs about $200, how to avoid running into fake pearls and how to store real ones so that your great-great-granddaughter can flaunt them in two hundred years.In short, the point is this: only here, in the lagoons off the islands of French Polynesia, do people live unique oysters called Margarita, whose inside body is black, and not milky gray-white. It is not suitable for food or snacks with wine, but it does an excellent job of giving an ordinary white pearl a shade that car manufacturers call “wet asphalt color” The Japanese, of course, tried to breed such oysters in their own country, as did the Australians, but it didn’t work out: it turned out that these Margaritas are terrible patriots, and they don’t live in other seas.

Just 50 years ago, black pearls grew randomly in lagoons. That is, it could grow, or it could not - depending on whether the wave carried a lucky grain of sand into the oyster, which was destined to become a treasure. But then one wise Chinese named Robert Wang arrived in Tahiti and put this matter on stream: they began to carefully place a white mother-of-pearl core into each suitable Margarita, observe its transformations, provide it with unhindered access to the black body... And so on for 6 -8 years. Of course, this is manual, painstaking and hard work. Of course, at first it seemed to Robert Wang that the carefree Polynesians could not cope with it. Of course, he made sure that his compatriots, who were much more diligent, tinkered with the oysters. And of course, he became fabulously rich. Now this process is led by his son, Bruno Wang. In Papeete, the capital of Tahiti, there is a Black Pearl Museum where Bruno can sometimes be found. He wears moccasins on bare feet and gives no indication that he is a multi-billionaire.

Tips: are not part of Polynesian culture. A smile or nice words will bring more pleasure than leaving a coin.

Customs formalities: Duty-free transportation of 2 liters of alcoholic beverages and 200 cigarettes is allowed.

Required telephone numbers:

• Tahiti Tourist Office: 505-700
• Bora Bora Tourist Office: 677-636, 677-031, 677-236
• Moorea Tourist Office: 562-909
• Hua Hin Island Tourism Office: 688-634
• Single emergency phone number: 15 or 423-456
• Police: 17

Sights of French Polynesia

Flights to French Polynesia

1. airline flight Air France, on the route Moscow - Paris - Los Angeles - Tahiti (Papeete) takes more than a day (American visa required)
2. airline flight Aeroflot" or " JAL"(Japan Airlines) + connecting flight Tokyo - Tahiti airlines" Air Tahiti Nui"with a possible overnight stay in Tokyo on arrival or departure (a Japanese transit visa is not required for a stay of up to 72 hours).

Visa information

The visa is issued at the French embassy, ​​at the Department of Overseas Territories of France. The regular French Schengen visa is not valid.

Consular fee - 45 euros. The minimum processing time is 15 days.

Photo galleries

• Hotel Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa (French Polynesia)
• Hotel Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa (French Polynesia)
• Hotel InterContinental Le Moana Beach Bora Bora (French Polynesia)
• InterContinental Resort & Spa Moorea (French Polynesia)
• InterContinental Resort and Thalasso Spa Hotel, Bora Bora (French Polynesia)

French Polynesia is one of those rare exotic countries that only the most seasoned travelers visit. The reason for this is the country’s remoteness from civilization, as well as the high price level due to high-quality service and services. French Polynesia is often mistakenly called Tahiti after the name of its largest island. French Polynesia will surprise everyone with its unique wild beauty tropical nature combined with developed infrastructure and some of the best hotels and restaurants in the world. Elite recreation is what you will find here.

Geography of French Polynesia

French Polynesia, with an area of ​​just 4,167 km², is administered by France, is located in the center of the Pacific Ocean and consists of more than 130 islands. In the north, east and south it borders with neutral Pacific waters, in the northwest with Kiribati, in the west with the maritime zone of the Cook Islands, in the southeast with the maritime zone of Pitcairn. The country includes archipelagos such as the Marquesas Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Society Islands, Tubuai Islands, and the Gambier Islands. The highest point in French Polynesia is Mount Orohena on the island of Tahiti (the largest island in French Polynesia) with a height of 2241 meters.

The area of ​​French Polynesia is 4167 km. sq.

Population

The national currency is the French Pacific franc.

Official language – French

Visa to French Polynesia

French Polynesia has a special visa regime; a standard Schengen visa for traveling to France is not suitable for traveling here. Citizens Russian Federation You will need to apply for a special visa from the Department of French Overseas Territories at the French Embassy called “visa for travel to French overseas territories”.

Weather in French Polynesia

The islands of French Polynesia are characterized by a tropical, trade wind climate, but in the northern part of the country a subequatorial climate predominates, and in the south a subtropical climate prevails. French Polynesia, like other tropical countries, is characterized by the presence of only two seasons: wet and hot, as well as dry and cool. The wet period lasts from November to May, characterized by temperatures of 27 - 32 °C and 92% humidity. At this time, heavy downpours, hurricanes and storms are common on the islands, the peak of which occurs in January. The dry season from June to October brings temperatures down to 18 - 21 °C. The average annual temperature is 22-26 °C. Throughout the year, French Polynesia is perfect for relaxation; precipitation here is not prolonged and short-term, and the heat is easily tolerated due to the constant sea breeze.

Sights of French Polynesia

It is quite difficult to single out specific attractions in French Polynesia, since the entire country with all 130 more unique islands is such. The center of cultural and social life in French Polynesia is the capital, the city of Papeete on the island of Tahiti. This is the most developed and Europeanized city in the country. There is noisy traffic, shops, restaurants, vibrant markets and banks. In Papeete there is the central cultural square To"ata, the Pearl Museum, the Vaima Center shopping area, Bruat Avenue with all government institutions and Tarahoi Square with the statue of Pouwanaa Oopa. Also worth a visit Botanical Garden Harrison Smith, Museum of Tahiti and Other Islands, Mataoa Garden, Ocean Museum "Lagunarium", Pearl Museum, Musée du Couquilage, Pearl Center "Taiti Pearl Center" with an incredible collection of rare black pearls. Despite its modest size, the most famous among tourists the capital is the Gauguin Museum. Otherwise, French Polynesia is an incredible, pure, untouched nature. Like the world-famous islands of Bora Bora, the volcanic island of Moorea impresses with its beauty and is one of the most picturesque in the world. By the way, this place is important and from a historical point of view, it was here that Captain Cook first landed on the lands of French Polynesia. Tetiaroa is the only coral island among its neighbors, also known as Marlon Brando Island after its former owner. The most ancient archaeological center of French Polynesia is located on the island of Hua Hin, remains were found here ancient civilization Maui, dated to 800-900. n. e. In the group of Leeward Islands, the most interesting to visit are Bora Bora, Tahaa, Raiatea, Huahine, Maupiti and the uninhabited Mopelia, Tupai, Scilly and Bellingshausen Island. In the Marquesas archipelago it is worth visiting Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou, Ua Huka and Tauata, in the Tuamotu archipelago - Rangiroa, Tikehau, Manihi and Fakarava.

National cuisine of Tahiti

The cuisine of French Polynesia is a mixture of European and Asian cuisine. The basis, of course, is the freshest seafood, which is prepared here in a wide variety of ways. Many local fish and shellfish do not even have a Russian name, their diversity is so great. Frequent ingredients local cuisine also include bananas, yams and sage, breadfruit. Especially popular dishes in French Polynesia are la tahitienne fish marinated in lemon juice and coconut milk, as well as pork with pasta, Chinese cabbage and beans called chinese ma'a tinito.

Transport

Transport within French Polynesia, as well as ways to get here, is not an easy question, since the country is extremely remote from the rest of the world. The journey here is quite long with one or two transfers and takes more than a day. The most popular routes are Moscow-Tokyo-Tahiti, Moscow-Paris-Los Angeles-Tahiti and Moscow-New York-Tahiti. Please note that a transit visa is required when flying through the USA and France. The main transport within French Polynesia and between its islands is by plane. The country's 35 major islands are connected by a dense route network of the local airline Air Tahiti. The country allows the use of private planes and helicopters, which is often used by VIP tourists. The country also has a system public transport Le Truck, represented predominantly by water transport and only a little terrestrial. Some of the islands have roads and buses, but for most it is something incredibly remote. To travel around a particular island, hitchhiking and bicycle/car rental are also common among tourists.

Currency exchange in Tahiti

In French Polynesia, dollars and euros are used; euros are most often accepted at a more favorable rate than dollars. You can exchange other foreign currencies at exchange offices at the airport, banks and hotels, but the rate can vary greatly between them. All tourist establishments such as hotels and restaurants accept bank cards. Banks on large islands open Monday to Friday (sometimes Saturday) from 7:45 to 15:30.

Electricity

Mains voltage 220V, frequency 50Hz. Most often in hotels there are French type E sockets with two round pins in the plug and one in the socket, less often - type A with two flat vertical pins.

Religion

More than half of the local residents of French Polynesia, namely 54% of the population, are Protestants, 30% are Catholics, 6% are atheists. The rest adhere to other beliefs, including paganism. Among Protestants there are supporters of the Protestant Evangelical Church, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Assemblies of God.

Safety

The crime rate on the islands of French Polynesia is very low and the country is safe for foreign travelers. The foreigner here is more of a deity than an object for committing a crime. Be that as it may, following simple safety measures will not hurt: leaving large amounts Money, passport and other valuables in the safe. Thefts are rare here, but they do occur.

Health

Despite the exotic location, health care in French Polynesia is excellent; there is no need for special vaccinations before traveling. The tap water here is quite drinkable, and high hygiene measures are observed everywhere. To ensure that your holiday is not overshadowed by anything, take care of means to protect your skin from the sun, and also purchase shoes with thick soles, as corals and sea ​​urchins tend to seriously injure inept foreigners. Be careful when eating raw seafood, which is so popular in French Polynesia. An unprepared body can receive an excess of raw protein, resulting in biointoxication.

Russian Consulate in French Polynesia

There is no representation of the Russian Federation in French Polynesia.
Embassy of the Russian Federation in France
40-50, Boulevard Lannes, 75116 Paris
Phone: (8-10-331) 45-04-0550, 45-03-4020, 45-04-4030
Fax: (8-10-331) 45-04-1765
Email: [email protected]

useful links

Search tours

Travel agency

City

Metro

Contact Information

Prices for tours from

French Polynesia is known throughout the world as one of the most exotic regions in the Pacific Ocean. This is a huge water area that includes 118 islands of different scale and local color. The territory is the property of France, a country that earned the status of “colonial ruler” several centuries ago. For a leading European power, this overseas land is a real tasty morsel - very profitable and promising. Every year the number of people wishing to plunge into the atmosphere increases picturesque nature, the amazing underwater wealth of the ocean and a stunning holiday on the most fashionable beaches.

Islands where harmony lives

Five archipelagos - Societies, Tuamotu, Marquesas Islands, Tubuai, Gambier - make up the islands of French Polynesia. Located in the southern region of the Pacific Ocean, they occupy a total area of ​​about 4 thousand square meters. km. A distinctive feature of this region is the contrast of the local landscape. The islands are impressive not only Cote d'Azur, sandy beaches, but also dense tropical forests.

These 2.5 million square kilometers of total area can be compared to the territory of the European Union. But a particle of solid soil in Polynesia will surprise you with its small size. The land here occupies a little more than 4 thousand square meters. kilometers. If you add up all the islands, you get something like the island of Mallorca. But it’s not the size that catches this one paradise, but by its intangible beauty and amazing uniqueness of nature. As for the population, the island of Tahiti is considered the most inhabited. It also leads in the number of tourists flying to the island every year.

The Polynesian islands form groups characterized by certain features.

• Society Islands. This group includes the so-called Windward and Leeward Islands. This group of islands is inhabited by greatest number people throughout French Polynesia. There are high mountain slopes covered with dense tropical forests. The beauty here is highlighted coral reefs. The most famous island of this group is Bora Bora.

• Tuamotu Islands. In some sources they received the romantic name “Strand of Tahitian Pearls”. The area received this name due to its large-scale black pearl resources. It is also home to one of the largest coral atolls in Polynesia. The primary name of the Tuamotu stands for “distant islands.”

• Marquesas Islands. 15 islands, strewn with mountain slopes, are located on the equator. Of all the lands, only 6 are inhabited. It is interesting that the system of islands is called “mysterious”. Most likely, this is due to the unusual nature that creates an unusual, unique world.

• Gambier Islands. These islands are closely adjacent to the Tuamot, but are still considered separate due to differences in culture and language. The unique lifestyle and landscapes truly allow Gambier to be a world unto itself.

• Austral Islands. If you are tired of society and want to be alone, this place is the ideal point of arrival. These islands are sparsely populated. Many of them do not know human traces at all.

French Polynesia: interesting facts

Unusual territory, exotic nature and unique animal world made the islands of French Polynesia filled with various mysteries and sacraments. A lot of interesting facts attract the attention of not only tourists, but also lovers of everything unusual, unique, inimitable. For example, have you ever guessed that:

• You won't find snakes on the Polynesian islands. This applies not only to poisonous representatives, but to the entire class of creeping creatures;
  Polynesia is considered the birthplace of tattoos;
• The stars are considered the best compass here. The local population developed their own star navigation system, with the help of which ancient sailors got to the desired islands using maps in the night sky;
• Taaha Island can easily be called vanilla, because a huge amount of this delicate, aromatic plant grows here.
• Moorea Island is the footprint of a dinosaur. What would you think if you saw it from a bird's eye view?

• The local population knows what it means to seize the moment and not rush things. Dinner for a typical Polynesian family will take 3 hours. This is what it means to enjoy a meal and feel every note of the prepared delicacy.

There are many such interesting facts hidden on the islands. Everyone who returns from this piece of paradise can name amazing things that will be remembered for a lifetime. It could be an unusual fish with a bright color, an exotic fruit with an inexplicable taste, or a different sunset of the tired sun every evening. There is some kind of good magic and an amazing fairy tale on the islands of French Polynesia.

French polynesia- an overseas community of France located in the center of the South Pacific Ocean. It is bordered in the west by the waters of the Cook Islands, in the northwest by Kiribati, in the north, east and south by neutral Pacific waters, and in the southeast by the waters of Pitcairn.

Includes the archipelagos: the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the Marquesas Islands, the Austral Islands (Tubuai), and the Gambier Islands, which are located near the Tuamotu, and are actually a separate part of the Tuamotu. The total area is 4 thousand km² (land).

The administrative center is the city of Papeete on the island of Tahiti (the largest island of French Polynesia, 1 thousand km²).

The islands of French Polynesia are either volcanic or coral in origin. Most of the Society and Austral Islands, the Gambier and Marquesas Islands are volcanic; coral atolls form the Tuamotu archipelago and are part of several other island groups.

Volcanic islands are mountainous. Highest point Tahiti (and all of French Polynesia) - Mount Orohena - rises to 2241 m above sea level. Coral islands usually rise only a few meters above sea level.

The river network is developed only on islands of volcanic origin. The rivers there flow in narrow and deep valleys and are replete with waterfalls. On the islands of Tahiti and Huahine there are small lakes. There are no rivers on the coral islands.

Islands of volcanic origin differ sharply from coral atolls in their vegetation. On windward slopes volcanic islands From the coast to the tops of the mountains, dense forests rise, consisting of evergreen trees, interspersed with plantations of coconut palms, bananas and other crops. The leeward slopes are dominated by herbaceous vegetation. The coral islands are covered with thickets of coconut palms.

Climate in French Polynesia

The climate in most of French Polynesia is tropical, trade wind.

The islands are conventionally divided into two seasons - warm and humid (November-May) and cool and dry (June-October). In fact, the difference between them is insignificant; the temperature on any day of the year fluctuates between +20..+30°C.

Average air temperature in Papaete in °C, by month: January +30, February +29, March +29, April +29, May +25, June +24, July +24, August +24, September +25, October + 27, November +28, December +29.

The sun shines very brightly in French Polynesia, and there is little rainfall. Rains can range from short-term evening showers to prolonged drizzle lasting up to several days.

There is no sweltering heat here - the cool breeze from the ocean helps you calmly endure the heat.

The islands of French Polynesia are subject to the invasion of tropical cyclones, sometimes of a destructive nature.

Population

The population of French Polynesia as of 2009 is 287,032 people. Urban population: 52% of the total population.

Ethnic composition: Polynesians 78%, Chinese 12%, local French (mainly French-Polynesian mestizos) 6%, French (from the metropolis) 4%.

Protestants 54%, Catholics 30%, others 10%, atheists 6%.

Official language- French (61.3%), the indigenous population speaks Polynesian languages. The languages ​​taught in schools are French and Tahitian (31.4%). English is understood in all hotels and most restaurants.

Last changes: 04/28/2013

Currency

French Pacific franc (CFP), 1 EUR ≅ 130 CFP.

The following coins are in circulation: 1 franc, 2 francs, 5 francs, 10 francs, 20 francs, 50 francs, 100 francs. Banknotes in denominations: 500 francs, 1000 francs, 5000 francs, 10000 francs.

Banks are open from 7:45 to 15:30 from Monday to Friday, some are also open on Saturday mornings.

US dollars and euros are accepted for payment almost everywhere, but the exchange rate is different everywhere. Currency can be exchanged at the airport, at a bank or in hotels. It is most profitable to have euros with you, which are exchanged at the official rate in all hotels and exchange offices. Dollars are often accepted at a rate that is not the most favorable.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa credit cards are accepted for payment in hotels, restaurants, shops and other tourist establishments. ATMs are widespread in Tahiti and other large islands, but in the periphery they can only be found at bank offices. Use on small atolls credit cards almost impossible. Operating instructions at ATMs are usually given in French and English.

Travel checks are accepted for payment at most banks and large organizations. Traveler's checks are often recommended as the best means of bringing foreign currency into the country. To avoid additional fees for conversion, it is recommended to use checks in US dollars or euros.

Last changes: 05/01/2010

Communications

Telephone code: 689

Internet domain: .pf

Single emergency phone number: 15 or 423-456

Police: 17

Communication between locals settlements carried out directly, without using codes, using single six- or eight-digit numbers.

How to call

To call from Russia to French Polynesia, you need to dial: 8 - 10 beeps - 689 - subscriber number.

To call from French Polynesia to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Landline communications

French Polynesia has a powerful and modern telecommunications system. Direct calls to any country in the world are possible from almost anywhere, from local hotel numbers to street pay phones. Telephone booths operate using cards ("telecarte"), which can be purchased at post offices, hotels and shops.

mobile connection

GSM 900 cellular communications on the islands are excellent. The main islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Tahaa, Raiatea, Huahine and Rangiroa) are fully covered, small islands are often outside the coverage area, but even there the connection is relatively stable thanks to powerful central repeaters. Roaming with the local Tikiphone SA network is available to subscribers of the largest Russian operators. Local SIM cards can be purchased from Tikiphone SA offices, but it is recommended to check the card directly on your phone before purchasing as some GSM phones are not supported by local operators.

Internet

The Internet is developing quite intensively in French Polynesia. There are a large number of internet cafes in Papeete and the main towns of the islands. However, communication is quite slow and expensive.

Last changes: 05/26/2010

Shopping

Shops are open from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 13.30 to 17.00-17.30. Private shops and shops in the suburbs are usually open until 22.00. On Saturdays, large stores close at 11.00.

From French Polynesia they usually bring “monoi” (a special oil to strengthen the tan and soften the skin), crafts made from shells, mother-of-pearl, and fruit liqueurs. And, of course, black pearls are used in jewelry and valuable trinkets.

Local craft products are popular among other souvenirs. The Polynesian culture is broad and varied. On different islands, various ritual, military and household items were produced from wood, stone, bone, etc. Items of utensils, jewelry, key rings and other trinkets made of mother-of-pearl, wood, stone or bone will be offered to you in souvenir shops. One of the favorite motifs of the natives is the sea turtle.

Last changes: 05/01/2010

Where to stay

Hotels on the islands of French Polynesia are mostly four to five star. These are real “stars”, without deception and even with more luxury than provided by the European standard, this applies to both the service and the rooms. Usually these are bungalows, some of which are located on the shore, and some on platforms extending into the sea.

Most hotels in French Polynesia have two tariff periods: high: from 1 July (June) to 31 October; low from November 1 to June 30 (May).

Sea and beaches

The places here are not just beachy, but also exclusive in all respects of the resort. Long beaches of white soft sand, turquoise lagoons surrounded by thickets of exotic plants. Moreover, all beaches are considered public, and access to them is completely free.

Last changes: 09/01/2010

History of French Polynesia

Polynesians began to settle on the islands of what is now French Polynesia in the first centuries AD. e. Presumably, the migration occurred from the Samoan Islands. The Marquesas and Society Islands were settled first. From the Society Islands, Polynesians at the end of the 1st or beginning of the 2nd millennium AD. e. migrated to the Tuamotu and Tubuai islands.

By the time Europeans appeared on the islands, among the population of what is now French Polynesia, the most developed in socio-economic terms were the people inhabiting the island of Tahiti - an early class state arose there at the beginning of the 19th century.

The first island discovered by Europeans was Puka Puka in the Tuamotu archipelago (Magellan, 1521). The Marquesas Islands were discovered in 1595 by Mendaña, Tahiti in 1606 by Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, Tubuai in 1777 by James Cook, and Gambier in 1797 by Wilson.

In 1842, France took under its protectorate the island of Tahiti, the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago, the Tubuai Islands and the Marquesas Islands.

Since 1880, the status of protectorates was abolished and colonial status was introduced. The power of the Pomare dynasty was destroyed.

In 1946, French Polynesia received the status overseas territory France. All natives of the islands became French citizens.

Since 2004, it received the status of an overseas community.

Last changes: 04/28/2013

Many islands of French Polynesia bear second, Russian names: Rurik, Lazarev, Kruzenshtern, Raevsky and others. The Tuamotu archipelago itself has a second name - the Russian Islands. These islands were discovered and described by Russian navigators - F.F. Bellingshausen, M.P. Lazarev, O.E. Kotzebue.

The rituals in French Polynesia are incredibly beautiful. One of the most beautiful rituals is the wedding ceremony. The groom arrives in a canoe, and the bride meets him on the shore. playing musical instruments, the shore is decorated with flowers. The bride and groom are then wrapped in a wedding towel and given palm leaves as a marriage certificate. After the holiday in honor of the newlyweds, they get into a canoe and sail away to a neighboring island.

The culture of French Polynesia has largely lost its identity. The island of Tahiti, especially the capital Papeete, is most Europeanized. The houses in this city are predominantly of a European style, and the clothes of the townspeople are also of a European style.

The tradition has been preserved more in the construction of dwellings on the Tuamotu archipelago and other islands on the periphery of French Polynesia - there you can still find huts whose walls and roofs are made of palm leaves. However, traditional clothes are no longer worn there either.

Traditions in food preparation methods hold tighter. In particular, the aborigines still eat fish and shrimp raw (though they are pre-soaked in lemon juice). Many islanders still stew roast meat in earthen ovens, where hot stones create a high temperature.

When visiting the islands, it is worth bringing shoes with reliable soles: many reef areas have sharp pebbles, and the coastal zone is home to prickly marine animals. It is better to enter the water in plastic slippers to avoid cuts and burns from the corals. There are no poisonous animals or insects on the islands.

French Polynesia is very dear country. There are no taxes on personal income, but indirect taxes and duties are high, and most items and food products are imported from nearby countries, the closest of which are more than one and a half to two thousand kilometers away. Many goods and services cost 2 times higher than, for example, in Australia or 3 times higher than in the nearby Cook Islands.

A characteristic feature that determines the price level in a particular establishment is the designation of its category with dollar signs - an expensive restaurant is indicated by the inscriptions “$$$$”, and an inexpensive budget restaurant - “$”.

The system of weights and measures is metric.

Tap water in hotels and restaurants is safe to drink.

Although tap water is chlorinated, all water should be considered potentially unfit for consumption, especially during the first days of your stay on the islands. All water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should be boiled first. Milk and dairy products are usually pasteurized and are safe for consumption. Meat, seafood and fish are considered safe, but it is still recommended to consume them only after preliminary heat treatment, preferably hot. Vegetables must be thoroughly washed and pre-processed, and fruits must be peeled.

Most islands do not have any dangerous animals. Mosquitoes and sand flies are found on some atolls, but their bites are relatively harmless. The lagoons are home to several species of sharks, as well as rays, moray eels, barracudas, sea urchins and other relatively dangerous animals. On the outer side of the reefs, the fauna is more aggressive, but throughout the entire 20th century, not a single case of shark attack on people was recorded in French Polynesia.

Since the climate is very hot and solar radiation is aggressive, it is necessary to take certain measures against solar radiation, heat damage and dehydration.

Nuclear weapons tests have been conducted on the atolls of Mururoa and Fangataufa for almost 40 years. The French government recommends against visiting these areas. However, ships simply do not go to those areas, and it will be difficult to rent a plane.

Last changes: 01/20/2013

How to get there

There are no direct flights between Russia and French Polynesia.

The most popular, shortest and also visa-free option (but more expensive than flights from other airlines) is the flight Moscow - Tokyo airlines Aeroflot or JAL plus connecting airline flight Air Tahiti Nui Tokyo - Tahiti with an overnight stay in Tokyo. A Japanese visa is not required if you stay in the country for up to 72 hours.

Less popular (due to the need to obtain a US visa), but relatively inexpensive airline flight Air France Moscow - Paris - Los Angeles - Tahiti (Papeete). On the way back there will be a stopover for at least one night in Paris (it is inevitable when flying Air France; if desired, the length of stay in Paris can be extended), so you will also need a French transit visa. Flight time is more than a day.

Flight Moscow - New York company Delta Airlines+ connecting flight Air Tahiti Nui New York - Tahiti: an American visa is also required. Duration: 24-26 hours excluding connections.

You can also reach French Polynesia via Australia (Sydney) with the airline Air Tahiti Nui or New Zealand(Auckland) with airlines Air New Zealand , Air Tahiti Nui .

Last changes: 03/19/2017

If there is at least one unsolved mystery in the world that has long been familiar to all of us, then these are the islands of French Polynesia. And if even a piece of the untouched earthly paradise- This is primarily the Marquesas archipelago.

The islands of French Polynesia are a branch of heaven on earth

Of course, the cherished corner of paradise is far away: an airliner will take you there in no less than 20 hours, or even in 25 (if you fly from Moscow or St. Petersburg via Paris and Los Angeles, for example, or from there - via Madrid and Easter Island/Chile).

But, after enjoying the daily contemplation of the boundless ocean of air, you will find yourself straight in the center of the real ocean, the Pacific - turquoise-azure, including all shades of ultramarine, emerald and gold, bordered by the most picturesque outlines of velvety green islands piercing the sky with dark volcanic tongues.

The contrast of tiny patches of land covered with lush tropical vegetation and the endless, mesmerizing surface of water, closing on the horizon with the variegated blue and white dome of the sky, is simply amazing - it will not leave anyone indifferent.

No epithets or comparisons will suffice for a person who sets out to describe the beauty of the local nature. But we will have to return to earth from heaven - otherwise why did we come here?

About what they represent islands of French Polynesia- our short story. The opinion that the territory of the islands is small is erroneous: their total area is almost 4 thousand sq. km. The country's residents live off tourism - not richly, but quite successfully. In addition to very good service for foreign guests, they know how to fish for pearls, collect a rich harvest of coconuts and extract priceless shark fin.

While communicating in Tahitian and French, most local residents speak relatively good English, so it will be easy for them to understand you (if your English is good or you have a Russian-English phrasebook in your pocket).

The islands of French Polynesia are the colors of paradise landscapes

The number of islands in French Polynesia is 118, of which about a dozen (mainly among the Marquesas) are inhabited by hundreds of thousands of tourists visiting the country all year round.

Some of the islands are of volcanic origin, and this makes them completely special, incomparable to anything - the nature of the land, which once survived the invasion of lava, changes radically and for a long time: streams and rivers, waterfalls, canyons and gorges retain in their appearance the stamp of formidable volcanic processes; This is their wild charm and gloomy grandeur.

The other part of these land masses, scattered by someone’s generous hand across the vast expanses of the ocean, arose in places where there were huge accumulations of corals. They look different, representing amazingly beautiful sandy plains, where luxurious palm trees, frozen in a deep bow to the sea, strive to dip their sharp-leaved crowns into the blue of the water world.

The beaches here are magnificent, the sun is majestic and generous, and the sunsets, captivating the eye with the brightness of their colors, are so good that you don’t want to compare them. They are unique - that says it all.

A thousand to one and a half thousand years ago, the territory of five archipelagos, today included in one large archipelago called French Polynesia, was inhabited by Maori tribes. Today's inhabitants of the country inherited from them the ruins of ancient sanctuaries, the remains stone pyramids, difficult to decipher drawings with a traditional type of conventional image of the world and a lot of surprisingly modern types of art that have survived the era of the rebirth and are heavily copied by many today: tattooing, dancing, creating jewelry.

The archipelagos of Polynesia are called Societies, Gambier, Marquesas, Tuamotu and Austral (Ostral).

The Society Archipelago bears traces of volcanic origin. It looks accordingly: the grayish-brown outlines of the peaks of extinct volcanoes, in the lower part overgrown with lush vegetation, lush thickets of bushes make up its usual appearance.

Rising above tropical forests of palm trees high mountains; together with the green low-lying part, they form the basis of a border that forms a crown, in the center of which an amazingly beautiful lagoon splashes. The royal “crown” includes the islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and Juanhin.

Tahiti – main island archipelago on which the capital city of Papete is located. The most beautiful skyscrapers, international Airport, a lot of fashionable hotels and comfortable villas, many world-famous museums, the city hall of the most luxurious architecture and several ancient temples in the mountains - these are the main “civilized” attractions of the island.

From the “uncivilized” – a picturesque peak extinct volcano Orohena (the most high peak islands), a magnificent valley, gorges, as well as a wonderful bright “eye” of nature: a lake in the crater of a volcano. If we add that one of the capes of the island is the place where Captains Cook, Bougainville and Blythe moored more than once about three centuries ago, the idea of ​​the island will be fully formed.

Two more dazzlingly beautiful islands of the main archipelago of Polynesia - Moorea, shaped like a heart, and Bora Bora (often reproduced as "Bora Bora") - are truly the pearls of these places. They are clean, bright, have beautiful beaches of white crumbly sand, with fancy corals scattered across their warm surface.

The lagoons of both islands, both on their own and in combination with the indescribable beauty of the coastline, are a rare and unforgettable sight. Here you can feed tame sharks and admire the paintings underwater world, watch completely unique creatures - huge leopard stingrays.

You will never forget Tahitian cuisine, fiery “fire” dances of local residents, the process of breaking a coconut and delightful, cozy mini-hotels on stilts scattered across the blue shallow waters.

Moorea is a true tropical paradise and a truly delightful place

The Gambier Archipelago is the most remote and smallest of all, consisting of ten tiny islands whose only attraction is a luxurious black pearl plantation.

The Marquesas Islands archipelago is the pride of French Polynesia - as a corner of truly wild nature, almost untouched by human hands. The name translates as “land of men.” The archipelago consists of 12 islands, of which the island of Nuku Hiva is especially interesting in appearance. On its territory there are two ancient extinct volcanoes.

The bays of the island, which are lagoons of wondrous beauty, protected from the outside world nearby mountain peaks, are indispensable for scrolling. It was these islands that became last refuge for the famous French post-impressionist artist Paul Gauguin and another extraordinary European - half-Belgian, half-French Jacques Brel: poet, singer, film actor. They are buried nearby.

Guests will not only be able to worship their graves, but also take short walking and horseback excursions along the emerald mountain slopes. The view during the walks is beautiful - no one can resist the temptation to capture stunning panoramas in photos and videos.

Tuamotu is the most extensive of all the archipelagos of French Polynesia. All its islands (there are 78 of them) are coral atolls, where black pearl farms are concentrated - the basis of the country's economy. Coral gardens, small transparent lagoons with a variety of fish, an excursion to a pearl farm, good conditions for activities aquatic species sports is a wonderful set of exotic entertainment for continental tourists.

The Ostral archipelago is small (5 islands) and is not particularly popular among visitors.

The general impression that comes from getting to know French Polynesia (in everyday life it is often called briefly - Tahiti) is a fairy tale. No more and no less. Anyone who has been there is deeply convinced: paradise exists on earth, and its name is Polynesia.