Tahiti

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Introduction

Tahiti is the largest and most populated (just under 200,000 inhabitants) island of the Windwards Islands of French Polynesia. It is located in the Society Islands archipelago in the northwestern region of the country. The capital is Papeete.

Geography

Tahiti measures over 1000 square kilometers and contains two round parts centred around volcanic mountains. The parts are connected by a narrow isthmus. Mount Orohena is the highest mountain at 2241 meters above sea level. The northwestern part is Tahiti Nui (big Tahiti). Here you will find Papeete, the airport and many hotels and beaches. Tahiti Iti (small Tahiti) is much more quiet. You can drive around Tahiti Nui and there even is a rougher road across the interior. Tahiti Iti has some roads along the coastline as well, but you can not drive around.

Cities

• Papeete

Sights and Activities

Events and Festivals

Weather

Located almost entirely within the tropics, the climate of Tahiti is tropical. The average temperatures are around 28 to 32 degrees Celcius during the day and still well above 20 degrees at night. The hotter months are between November and April and this is also the wet season (which peaks in January) with much more rain compared to June to September. Also, occasional tropical storms hit the islnd during this time, though certainly not every year.

Getting There

By Plane

International
Faa'a International Airport (PPT), 5 km southwest of Papeete, handles all international flights. The national carrier, Air Tahiti Nui, flies to Auckland, New York, Los Angeles, Osaka, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo.

Other airlines flying into PPT include Air France (from Los Angles and Paris), Air New Zealand (Aukland), Hawaiianair (Honolulu), Air Tahiti (Rarotonga), Aircalin (Nouméa) and Lan Chile (Hanga Roa, Santiago de Chile).

Domestic
There are two airlines operating scheduled domestic air services.

• Air Moorea - Moorea-Temae.
• Air Tahiti - Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae, Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Mataiva, Tikehau, Rangiroa, Manihi, Ahe, Arutua, Kaukura, Takaroa, Takapoto, Kauehi, Katiu, Makemo, Anaa, Raroia, Hikueru, Hao, Tatakoto, Pukarua, Reao, Mangareva.

By Boat

There are ferries and catamarans travelling between Tahiti and Moorea several times daily. There are also services, often combined with cargo, to more outlying islands, but on an less frequent basis, sometimes even only once a month. Boats usually leave from Papeete. Destinations include the Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands, Tuamota Archipelago, Bora Bora and even as far as the Gambier islands (Mangareva).
Check the ferry link about all possibilities.

Getting Around

By Car

You can rent cars on Tahiti and a 4wd is only recommended when visiting some inland tracks. Fares are high, but as you don't need a car for more than a few days, it is not that bad, especially if you are with 3 or 4 people to share costs.
Motorcycles, scooters and bikes are for rent as well.

By Bus

Tahiti offers buses and minibuses on fixed routes, and are relatively cheap.

By Boat

Eat

Drink

Sleep