Pacific Ocean
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French Polynesia
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Bora Bora
Sculpted by sky-piercing, moss-green peaks and lined with vivid turquoise lagoons, sultry French Polynesia is a place to take it slow and experience warm, laid-back island culture.
5 min read
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4 July 2022
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Thalia Martins
Written by
Thalia Martins
The islands of French Polynesia became legends the minute the first European explorers reached their home shores with tales of a heaven on earth where the soil was fertile, life was simple and lust was guilt-free. While the lingering hype is outdated, French Polynesia is still about as dreamy as reality gets.
Lipona
As you advance towards the first platform, you’ll first notice the reclining Tiki Maki Taua Pepe, representing a woman lying on her stomach, her head stretched out and arms pointing to the sky. Experts believe she represents a woman giving birth. The petroglyphs on the pedestal represent dogs but their meaning is unknown.
Known to ethnologists and archaeologists in the 1800s, the Iipona site was extensively restored in 1991 by French archaeologists Pierre and Marie-Noëlle Garanger-Ottino.
To reach the site from Puamau, follow the track directly back from the seafront, next to the football ground, and continue for about 1.5km. You will need to pay 300 CFP to the person who maintains and guards the site.
Mo’orea. The best place to swim with whales
French Polynesia has lots of incredible experiences to offer visitors, but by far one of the best is getting the chance to swim with humpback whales in Mo’orea. From the months of July to November, humpback whales visit the waters around this island and can be seen on a regular basis, sometimes even inside the lagoon.
Bora Bora
With kids
“Bora Bora is peaceful and quiet, but fun, so full of cool activities and more; spiritual to the core, and you leave with fully recharged batteries.”
- Gilles Marini
The beautiful French Polynesian island you've never heard of
French Polynesia is world famous as a stunning South Pacific paradise. Warm temperatures year-round, crystal clear waters, and supremely friendly hosts draw visitors from around the globe.
But the glamorous hotels of Tahiti and Bora Bora might not be for everyone. For environmentally-minded tourists keen to travel sustainably and see the authentic French Polynesia – and perhaps keen to support some worthy projects in the process – the heavenly island of Anaa should be top of your list.
