Things to do in French Polynesia
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Bora Bora: Helmet Dive & Coral Garden Walk, No Swimming RequiredYou walk on the lagoon floor 3 meters down for 30 minutes surrounded by parrot fish, clown fish, stingrays and moray eels, breathing normally through a supplied helmet with a professional instructor at your side. No swimming or diving experience required. The whole outing takes 2.5 hours, includes hotel pickup, bottled water and souvenir photos, and leaves you with footage of yourself moving through a coral garden that most people only see in documentaries.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the lagoon floor and reef fish up close without needing to learn to dive or hold your breath — the helmet and air supply let you walk and breathe normally while your instructor handles everything else.
Moorea Street Food Tour: 10-12 Tastings & Local SpotsYou get picked up from your hotel, spend four to five hours tasting 10-12 local dishes from Tahitian, Chinese, and French vendors with a native guide, and return with a real sense of how Moorea eats. All tastings and transport are included, and the small group size means you're not rushing between stops.Is it for me?Book this if you want to eat like a local without figuring out where locals actually eat — the small group and native guide are what make the difference between a food tour and a real neighborhood walk.
Sea Scooter Snorkeling in Moorea: 3 Coral GardensSea scooter snorkeling in Moorea takes you to three coral gardens in 3.5 hours with a professional guide, hotel pickup, and all gear included. You ride a motorized scooter (up to 3 mph) instead of swimming, which lets you explore longer and interact with stingrays, sea turtles, and blacktip reef sharks without fighting the current. Small groups max out at six people, and the morning timing catches the calmest water and clearest visibility.Is it for me?Book this if you want to snorkel longer and deeper without the physical effort of swimming—the sea scooter is built for people who want to see more without getting tired, and for families with children who can't keep pace on a regular snorkel. The small group and early timing mean you'll have calm water and fewer crowds than the afternoon tours.
Bora Bora Jet Ski Tour: Lagoon ride with guide and swimming stopA two-hour jet ski tour of Bora Bora's lagoon with a professional guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and a small group of four riders per guide. You'll cruise the warm turquoise waters with views of Mount Otemanu, stop to swim, and watch a coconut husking demonstration. The tour adapts to your skill level, from beginner to advanced, and includes a bottle of water.Is it for me?Choose sole use if you want to control your own machine for the full two hours; share a jet ski if you'd rather split the ride and take turns at the throttle. Either way, the small group of four riders per guide keeps the pace manageable and the lagoon exploration unhurried.
Moorea: Day Tour with Waterfalls, Magic Mountain & Private BeachYou’ll join local guides for a Moorea day tour packed with mountain views from Magic Mountain and Belvedere Lookout, vanilla tasting at a plantation, swimming at Temae’s private beach with a homemade lunch, and an easy hike to Afareaitu Waterfalls. Expect laughter, fresh fruit scents, and quiet moments by turquoise water—you’ll leave feeling like you’ve actually lived here for a day.
Moorea 4WD Shore Excursion: Bays & Pineapple DistilleryYou get picked up at the cruise pier, driven through pineapple valleys and up to two clifftop viewpoints overlooking both bays, then stop at the island's only distillery to taste local fruit products. The 4-hour excursion is timed to your ship's arrival and departure, so you don't have to negotiate your own return — the guide handles it.Is it for me?Book this if your ship stops in Moorea and you want the main viewpoints and interior valleys without arranging your own transport or worrying about missing the boat — the fixed timing is what makes a full island loop possible in a port day.
Bora Bora ATV & Jet Ski Combo: Full Day with Motu LunchYou ride an ATV up through Bora Bora's interior for three hours—crater views, World War II cannons, and a working vanilla plantation where you taste the harvest. Then you switch to a jet ski for two hours circling the island and the lagoon center. Lunch is grilled fish and chicken on a motu, with local sweets and coconut. A native guide leads both legs, sharing island stories and culture. The full day means you're not rushed; you get both the high ground and the water in one outing.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want both the island's interior and its lagoon in a single day without arranging two separate outings—the full-day format is what lets you do the volcano, the plantation, and the water loop without feeling rushed. Plan for a physically active day with steep ATV sections and jet ski handling; it suits most fitness levels, but check the health restrictions first.
Bora Bora: Jet Ski Tour & Shark Ray Snorkel CruiseYou jet ski the full lagoon circuit for two hours with a guide, break for lunch at Lucky House, then spend 2.5 hours snorkeling for sharks, rays and reef life on a boat tour. Hotel pickup, all gear, and lunch are included. Small group of four jet skis per guide keeps the pace manageable and the water calm enough to actually see what's underneath.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to pack both jet skiing and snorkeling into one day without arranging transport or meals — the fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you show up and the day unfolds. Plan for a moderate fitness level and sun exposure; the jet ski requires balance and the snorkel involves water time, which is exactly what makes the full lagoon experience possible.
Bora Bora: ATV Quad Bike, Volcano Views & Vanilla PlantationYou ride a quad bike for three hours across Bora Bora's volcanic interior, stopping at the crater rim for lagoon views, a working vanilla plantation where you taste fresh products and lemonade, and historic WWII cannons with cultural context from your local guide. Water and refreshments are included throughout, and the pace is set so you're not racing—just moving through the island's geography and history in a way you wouldn't see from the road.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Bora Bora's interior and history without a standard tour bus, and who are comfortable on a quad bike—the three-hour pace and local guide handle the navigation and storytelling, leaving you free to focus on the ride and the views.
Moorea: Transparent Kayak Lagoon Tour & Snorkeling StopsYou’ll paddle a transparent kayak across Moorea’s lagoon, watching fish and rays glide beneath you while your local guide shares stories and points out hidden coral spots. There’s time to snorkel among tropical fish, taste fresh fruit or homemade cake, and maybe even sip a cocktail if you choose the longer tour—leaving you with salt on your skin and those wild colors stuck in your mind.
Moorea: ATV Tour Pineapple Fields, Magic Mountain & Jam TastingYou’ll ride an ATV through Moorea’s lush pineapple fields and up winding trails to Magic Mountain for unreal views over Cook Bay. Taste homemade jams at a local farm stop and end your day with fresh fruit juice back at base. The small group size means you get real time with your guide—and maybe a few laughs along the way.
Bora Bora: Jet Ski Island Tour & Lagoon ExplorerYou ride your own jet ski around Bora Bora's lagoon for two hours with a local guide, stopping at a motu islet, Mount Otemanu, and the volcanic center. The tour includes safety gear, instruction, exotic fruit tasting, and refreshments before you return. Book if you want to see the island's full shape from the water without arranging your own boat or worrying about navigation.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Bora Bora's full lagoon and volcanic landscape from the water without renting your own boat or navigating yourself — the guide handles the route and the stops, leaving you free to ride and look around.
Tahiti East Coast: Small Group Tour with Waterfalls & BlowholeYou’ll wander lively markets in Papeete, feel sea spray at Arahoho Blowhole, walk under Faarumai Waterfalls’ misty rush, and meet local artists by quiet riversides. With pickup included and stories from your guide woven through every stop, this small group day trip lets you feel Tahiti’s east coast up close—sometimes messy, always real.
Black Pearl Farm Activity in Bora Bora: Choose & harvest your ownA black pearl farming activity in Bora Bora where you snorkel to oyster lines on a motu, choose an oyster to harvest, watch it open to reveal the pearl, and take it home. Boat transfer from your hotel or Vaitape quay, snorkeling gear, and a guide in English, Spanish or French are included; the experience runs about two hours and ends with local fruit and drinks overlooking the lagoon and Mount Otemanu.Is it for me?Pearl farming tours in Bora Bora often leave you watching while someone else does the work—this one puts you in the water choosing the oyster and standing beside the team as it opens, so you're the one who discovers what's inside and walks away with the actual pearl.
Moorea: Underwater Helmet Walk & Lagoon Fish ExperienceYou’ll step straight into Moorea’s lagoon wearing a special diving helmet—no swimming skills needed—guided by a local instructor who keeps things relaxed. Expect close-up encounters with colorful fish, gentle coral gardens beneath your feet, and that odd but peaceful feeling of hearing only your own breath underwater.
Tahiti 4x4 Safari: Rainforest, Rivers & Archaeological SitesA full-day 4WD safari across Tahiti's interior with a local guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and transportation through rainforest, river crossings and archaeological sites. The tour departs from the East coast and follows the Papenoo Valley to the main crater, where giant ferns, waterfalls and mountain streams frame the day. Groups stay under six people. Book at least 48 hours ahead (72 hours for Monday or weekend departures).Is it for me?The eight-hour commitment rules out a half-day itinerary but leaves the rest of your day free if you start early. The rough terrain and river crossings mean this tour is for travelers comfortable with an active, bumpy ride into terrain that standard vehicles can't reach—not a scenic drive, but genuine backcountry access.
Moorea: Lagoon Snorkeling Tour & Lunch with Marine LifeYou’ll float over Moorea’s lagoon, swim with stingrays and turtles, and share stories with your guide before sitting down to lunch in shallow water. Expect warm currents, local flavors, and moments that linger long after you’ve dried off.
Humpback Whale & Lagoon Snorkel Tour Moorea: Swim with RaysYou'll either swim toward humpback whales in open water or observe them from the boat, both with a guide who calls the shots based on weather and animal behavior. After that, you snorkel in the lagoon with rays and sharks in waist-deep water. The tour includes a snorkel-friendly lifejacket, fins, mask, snorkel, and bottled water. Cancellations must come 72 hours ahead, and seasickness or voluntary exit won't qualify for a refund.Is it for me?Right for swimmers and observers who want a genuine encounter with humpback whales in their migration season and accept that sightings are never guaranteed—the guide's authority over launch timing and water entry is what keeps the experience safe and compliant with French Polynesian regulations.
Tahiti West Coast: Small Group Tour with Caves & Black Sand BeachesYou’ll walk mossy valleys among ancient Tikis, sink your toes into Tahiti’s black sand beaches beside surfers and fishermen, taste fresh fruit straight from street vendors, and share laughter with locals who feel more like friends by day’s end. Expect cool cave swims and quiet moments in flower-filled gardens—a day that lingers long after you leave.
Bora Bora: Morning Certified Dive Tour & Manta Rays, Nitrox FreeYou’ll slip into warm Pacific water with a local guide, spot manta rays gliding by coral gardens, share hot tea between dives with fellow divers, and maybe laugh at yourself trying to say “Mauruuru” right. Includes pickup from your hotel or pension plus free Nitrox if you’re certified—leaving you with salty hair and memories that stick around long after you dry off.
