French Polynesia has long lured explorers and artists—from Captain Cook to Gauguin—with its luminous lagoons, perfumed vanilla, and a culture that prizes hospitality and dance. Your gateway is Papeete on the island of Tahiti, a lively port where roulotte food trucks meet ocean breezes and market stalls brim with tropical fruit and mother-of-pearl.

Just across the sea lies Moorea, an island of volcanic spires and gentle bays. It’s a playground for snorkeling with blacktip reef sharks and rays, e-biking around coastal villages, and sipping fresh-pressed pineapple juice at farm stands. Days here end with dusky pink sunsets over reef-fringed shallows.

Expect warm tropical weather year-round. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a light rain jacket, water shoes, and a dry bag for boat days. Renting a car on both islands is highly recommended (roads are straightforward), and major cards are widely accepted; the local currency is the XPF (Pacific franc).

Papeete (Tahiti)

Tahiti is the beating heart of French Polynesia—equal parts cultural center and natural wonder. In Papeete, browse the Marché de Papeete (central market) for monoi oil and vanilla, stroll waterfront Paofai Gardens, and toast the sunset along Boulevard Pomare.

Circle the island to see Arahoho Blowhole’s sea geysers, the triple Faarumai Waterfalls (check trail status after heavy rains), black-sand beaches like Taharuu, and the superb Musée de Tahiti et des Îles—Te Fare Iamanaha, which traces Polynesian navigation and arts.

• Where to stay: Search stays in Papeete and the west coast (Punaauia) for easy lagoon access. Browse options on VRBO (Papeete) and Hotels.com (Papeete).
• Getting there: Fly into PPT (Faa’a International). From the U.S. West Coast it’s ~8–9 hours nonstop; from Auckland ~5 hours; from Tokyo ~11 hours. Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com.
• Good to know: “Roulottes” (food trucks) gather nightly at Place Vai’ete—an essential, affordable, and delicious local scene.

Moorea

Moorea rises from the sea like a jade crown, with shark-tooth peaks framing Cook’s and Opunohu Bays. It’s ideal for snorkeling gardens, gentle hikes to lookout points, vanilla and pineapple farms, and relaxed seaside dining.

Don’t miss Belvedere Lookout for the iconic twin-bay panorama, a lagoon tour to meet curious rays, and Moorea Tropical Garden for homemade jams and vanilla lessons. Beaches at Temae and Ta’ahiamanu offer easy snorkeling and aquamarine shallows.

• Where to stay: Consider Maharepa (central shops/eateries), Temae (great beach), or Ha’apiti (sunset coast). Explore VRBO (Moorea) and Hotels.com (Moorea).
• Getting there from Tahiti: The ferry (Aremiti or Terevau) takes ~30–45 minutes, ~US$12–18 one way; buy tickets at the terminal. There’s also a 15-minute flight—search options on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com.
• Good to know: Reserve popular restaurants for sunset hours; they fill quickly. Reef shoes help on coral rubble near shore.

Day 1: Arrive in Tahiti (Papeete)

Morning: In transit. If you land early, grab an espresso and a flaky croissant at Café Maeva inside the Marché de Papeete; it’s a great spot to watch the city wake up.

Afternoon: Check into your hotel, freshen up, then stretch your legs along Paofai Gardens’ waterfront path. Duck into the Marché de Papeete for vanilla, shell leis, and tropical fruit; try a fresh pineapple-vanilla smoothie from an upstairs café.

Evening: Join the nightly feast at Place Vai’ete’s roulottes. Try poisson cru (Tahitian lime-coconut tuna), sizzling Chinese-Polynesian chow mein, or a wood-fired pizza truck. For a local beer on the quay, stop by Les 3 Brasseurs for a Hinano and a thin-crust flammekueche.

Day 2: Tahiti Island Road Trip—Waterfalls, Marae, and Black-Sand Beaches

Morning: Pick up a rental car. Drive the north coast to Arahoho Blowhole (sea spray erupts through lava tubes) and the nearby Faarumai Waterfalls—lush and photogenic; check access after heavy rains. Continue to Point Venus lighthouse, where missionaries first landed, and stroll the wide black-sand beach.

Afternoon: Head south via Punaauia to the Musée de Tahiti et des Îles—Te Fare Iamanaha for world-class exhibits on navigation, tattooing, and voyaging canoes. Carry on to Vaipahi Water Gardens for shaded trails and lily ponds, then relax at Taharuu Beach in Papara, a classic black-sand arc with surf breaks and a casual snack stand.

Evening: Back in Papeete, book a table at L’O à la Bouche for refined French-Polynesian plates (think vanilla mahi-mahi, Tahitian vanilla crème brûlée). Prefer casual? Le Retro serves steak-frites, poisson cru, and salads on a breezy terrace perfect for people-watching.

Day 3: Ferry to Moorea, Beach Time, and Lagoon Views

Morning: Take the morning ferry to Moorea (~30–45 minutes). If you prefer to fly (15 minutes), compare on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Pick up a car at Vaiare pier. Grab pastries and espresso at Caraméline in Maharepa.

Afternoon: Check in and set up on Ta’ahiamanu (Opunohu) Beach—a public gem with palms, shallow snorkeling, and views to Mount Rotui. For lunch, Snack Mahana serves legendary tuna tartare, poisson cru, and breadfruit fries right over the water—come early to snag a table.

Evening: Reserve a sunset table at Moorea Beach Café by Bruno Jamais. Order the seared local fish with vanilla sauce or the tuna tataki; the over-lagoon deck catches that golden-hour glow. Nightcap with a passionfruit mojito while stingrays ghost by beneath the lights.

Day 4: Shark & Ray Lagoon Snorkel + Motu Picnic

Morning: Join a lagoon tour to swim with friendly blacktip reef sharks and stingrays (skippers are respectful; bring reef-safe sunscreen). Snorkel coral gardens teeming with butterflyfish and parrotfish, then decamp to a sandy motu for a Polynesian picnic—grilled fish, poisson cru, and coconut demonstrations. Expect ~US$90–140 per person, 4–6 hours.

Afternoon: Lazy post-snorkel hours at your pool or on Temae Beach’s long, soft sands facing Tahiti. If you’ve got energy, rent kayaks or a SUP to drift the shallows.

Evening: For culture, book the Tiki Village dinner & dance show (select nights) to see ‘ori Tahiti, fire dancing, and traditional crafts. Prefer a lighter bite? Toatea Crêperie & Bar serves savory galettes and sweet crêpes on an overwater walkway—magical with reef fish circling beneath.

Day 5: Peaks and Plantations—Belvedere, Tropical Garden, and Distillery

Morning: Drive to Belvedere Lookout for the postcard view over Cook’s and Opunohu Bays. Hike the Three Coconuts Pass trail (allow ~3–4 hours roundtrip; take water and sun protection) for ridge-top vistas. Easier option: short marae (temple) walks in Opunohu Valley shaded by giant mape trees.

Afternoon: Visit Moorea Tropical Garden for vanilla-trellis tours and tastings of house-made jams, honey, and soursop ice cream. Continue to the Rotui/Manutea tasting room to sample fresh pineapple juice, fruit liqueurs, and rum arrangés (bring a designated driver).

Evening: Dine at Holy Steak House & Gastrobar, perched above the lagoon with sunset views; beyond excellent steaks, they do seafood and truffle mash that pairs well with French wines. For something cozier, Rudy’s is beloved for parrotfish meunière and Tahitian twists on French classics.

Day 6: Choose Your Adventure—ATV, E-Bike, Spa, or Hidden Coves

Morning: Rent e-bikes to cruise the coastal road through Maharepa’s boutiques and cafés, stopping for iced lattes and smoothie bowls at Blue Pineapple’s beachfront loungers. Adventure option: a guided ATV tour into Opunohu Valley’s pineapple fields and to panoramic viewpoints (~3–4 hours, ~US$100–160 per driver).

Afternoon: Treat yourself to a Polynesian taurumi massage with monoi oil, then snorkel off your hotel or explore the shallow coral bommies near Hauru Point. Hungry? Find a casual “snack” (local café) for sashimi plates and poisson cru au lait de coco.

Evening: Time your last Moorea sunset at Temae Beach, where Tahiti glows on the horizon. Celebrate with a final island dinner back at Moorea Beach Café (great cocktails and chocolate fondant) or try a laid-back burger-and-fish shack in Maharepa if you’re craving simple comfort.

Day 7: Market Morning in Papeete and Departure

Morning: Catch an early ferry back to Tahiti (or a short flight via Trip.com flights / Kiwi.com). Back in Papeete, make a final sweep of the Marché for vanilla beans (vacuum-sealed), pareos, and black pearl pendants.

Afternoon: Early lunch along the waterfront—Le Retro’s tuna tartare or a final roulotte chow mein—then transfer to PPT for your afternoon flight. Mauruuru roa (thank you) and nana (goodbye) until next time.

Practical Tips:

• Transport: Taxis are expensive; rent a car on both islands for freedom (~US$70–100/day). Drive clockwise to follow ocean-side pullouts.
• Cash & cards: Cards are widely accepted; keep some XPF for snacks, markets, and small stands.
• Safety & nature: Coral cuts sting—wear reef shoes. Heed current/wave advisories and avoid touching coral or wildlife.

Book your stays: VRBO Papeete | Hotels.com Papeete | VRBO Moorea | Hotels.com Moorea

Compare flights: Trip.com flights | Kiwi.com

Over one unforgettable week, you’ll taste Tahiti’s city buzz and wild coasts, then slow down on Moorea’s turquoise edge—snorkeling, hiking, and dining with your feet in the sand. This rhythm balances culture, adventure, and pure lagoon time so you return home sun-kissed, well-fed, and dreaming in shades of blue.