Tahiti is comprised of 118 islands in the South Pacific – the largest island group in the Windward group called French Polynesia. Due to its warm temperatures year-round, beautiful palm-fringed beaches and distinctive Polynesian culture, Tahiti is a popular vacation choice for couples who want to truly escape somewhere unique. Many islands of this volcanic chain are topped with jagged mountains, while others are quite flat. Tahiti has both white and black sand beaches!
Tahiti is actually easier to get to than you may think – only 8 hours from Los Angeles (LAX) with non-stop flights leaving daily. Tahiti is located in the same time zone as Hawaii and both English and French are widely spoken throughout the islands.
Location Size Capital of Tahiti Time Difference Population Language Temperatures and Seasons Currency Entry Requirements Quick Facts
Tahiti is located half way between Los Angeles and Australia, 2,626 miles south of Hawaii in the South Pacific Ocean.
118 islands covering 1.5 million square miles total, but consists of only 1,544 square miles of land.
Papeete, located on the big island of Tahiti.
Tahiti is in the same time zone as Hawaii, two hours behind Pacific Standard Time, and three hours behind during daylight saving time (late April through October).
245,000 people (75% Polynesian, 15% European, 10% Chinese – source: Tahiti Tourism)
French and Tahitian are official languages. English is widely spoken as well.
The average temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit, suitable for travel year-round. Many hotels are air-conditioned. Water temperatures average 79 degrees in the winter and 84 degrees during the summer, with less than a degree of variation from the surface down to a depth of 150 feet.
The French Pacific Franc (XPF, previously CFP), fluctuates with the euro (there are about 100 XPFs for every U.S. dollar). Hotels and financial institutions offer exchange services. Euros and major credit cards are widely accepted.
US and Canadian visitors need only a passport valid for six months after the return date and a round-trip ticket for entry. Citizens of other countries should consult their travel agents or the French Consulate.
International Air Service Inter-Island Transportation As the major inter-island airline, Air Tahiti serves 46 islands within French Polynesia with newer, twin-engine, jet-prop aircraft. Flights to the neighboring islands depart from Tahiti Faa’a Airport with frequent daily service between the most visited islands. Air Archipels is a private airline and a subsidiary of the Air Tahiti Group. This small airline operates flights for local organizations and companies, and also offers private flights open to the public to all the islands of Tahiti. Air Archipels operates three Beechcraft King Air B200 and two Twin Otter DHC6-300. Between Tahiti and Moorea, Aremiti operates the high-speed Aremiti Catamaran 4 which seats 495 passengers for a 30-minute one-way crossing. For transport of autos and passengers, the Aremiti Ferry crosses in 1 hour. Both have frequent daily schedules from the waterfront in Papeete to Vaiare, Moorea. Other infrequent inter-island ferries are available but are not recommended as a transportation option for visitors. Land TransportationTransportation
Frequent airline connections link Tahiti with Los Angeles, Hawaii, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan. Airlines serving Tahiti to and from the US mainland include Tahiti-based Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, Air New Zealand and Hawaiian Airlines (out of Honolulu). Air Tahiti Nui codeshares with American Airlines and offers flights from 15 cities throughout the United States including New york, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Chicago, Boston, Dallas/ Fort Worth, Miami and Washington, D.C.
Traveling to neighboring islands is short, convenient, and easily arranged. The domestic airline Air Tahiti is located at Tahiti Faa’a Airport.
Taxis and buses are popular forms of transportation on the main island of Tahiti. On the outer islands, car and scooter rentals are available and “Le Truck” (open-air buses) are an inexpensive means of getting around. Boats are often the mode of transportation on many of the islands including Bora Bora.
Tahiti offers a large range of accommodation options throughout the islands. View hotels here.Hotels
View all our packages here, or call us at 1-800-788-0829 to speak with an experienced agent to create a custom Tahiti travel vacation.Packages
