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Getting to Tahiti
Where is Tahiti?
Tahiti is the largest of the 118 islands and atolls that constitute what is officially known as French Polynesia. The islands are located south of the equator, in the same time zone as Hawaii, and halfway between California and Australia.
Papeete's Faa'a Airport (PPT) has a direct flight from Los Angeles LAX (8 hours), from Auckland & Hawaii (5 hours), from Santiago with a stop over in Easter Islands (10 hours), from Tokyo (11 hours).
What are the VISA & Entry requirements?
Every visitor to French Polynesia must have:
- a valid passport
- a return airline ticket to their resident country or to at least two more continuing destinations.
- sufficient funds to cover their planned stay
- European Visitors: Citizens of European Union countries do not need a visa for stays of up to three months.
This rule is also applicable for the following countries: Cyprus, Andorre, Monaco, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta, St Martin, St-Siège, Australia.
- Sojourn without VISA
Do not need a visa for a stay up to one month the citizens of the following countries: USA, Canada, Argentina, Brunei, South Korea, Croatia, Hungary, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Czech republic, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Equator, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Latvia, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Panama and Salvador.
- Sojourn with VISA
The citizens of the countries not listed above shall apply for a VISA at the French Embassy or Consulate with the mention “valid for French Polynesia”. For any further information regarding the entrance regulation, please contact your local French Consulate (List of French Embassies & Consulates).
What is the official language?
French and Tahitian are the official languages, but English is spoken and understood in tourist areas.
What is the local currency?
The currency is the French Pacific Franc (XPF). It has a fixed exchange rate against the Euro: 1 Euro = 119.332 XPF.
Upon arrival most visitors exchange some money at the airport or at their hotels. Since most credit cards are readily accepted in all tourist areas, it is not necessary to exchange large amounts.
Are vaccines necessary?
No vaccines are required except for passengers from high-risk countries (this information can be obtained from your airline). On the island of Tahiti, good sanitary facilities and health services are available. The cities of Papeete, Taravao (peninsula of Tahiti) and Uturoa (Raiatea Island) have fully equipped hospitals. Other tourist islands a hospital or a clinic.
Is it possible to organize legal weddings?
We are very pleased to announce that the French Assembly in Paris has voted a law authorizing foreign visitors to get legally married in Tahiti and her Islands without a “lengthy” waiting period…
The detailed procedure is now presently being worked on by the French Administration.
We shall definitely inform you as soon as this procedure is released.
How is the climate in Tahiti & her islands?
The French Polynesian islands enjoy a tropical climate; the maximum hours of sunshine is close to 3000 per year in the Tuamotu islands! The temperate which is always pleasant, is cooled by the trade winds of the Pacific that blow throughout the year.
The average ambient temperature is 27°C and the waters of the lagoons are a fairly constant 26°C. While further away from the equator, the archipelagoes down south (the Austral and Gambier) enjoy cooler temperatures.
Average temperature:
January 27°C / 80.6 F
February 27.1°C / 80.8 F
March 27.4°C / 81.3 F
April 27.1°C / 80.8 F
May 26.4°C / 79.5 F
June 25.2°C / 77.4 F
July 24.7°C / 76.5 F
August 24.6°C / 76.3 F
September 25°C / 77 F
October 25.6°C / 78.1 F
November 26.3°C / 79.3 F
December 26.6°C / 79.9 F
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