FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Tahiti

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Papeete each year. The main ones are listed below.

The opportunity to experience the Tere Fā'ati the annual Polynesian ritual of shared happiness. Programme: Island tour in ‘trucks' (traditional bus covered with flowers), music, dance, swimming, food tasting and local fruits.

Religious festival and public holiday in French Polynesia, commemorating the arrival of Protestant missionaries from the London Missionary Society in Matavai Bay (5 March 1797).

Christian religious festival whose date varies. On the programme: chocolate treasure hunt in the city, games and workshops for children.

Large annual gathering: descendants of the Bounty mutineers, the British frigate that landed on April 28, 1789, gather on the island of Tubuai. Books and archival footage tell the story of the first Europeans who arrived on the island.

Holiday in all French territories.

May 8, 1945 was the date of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe.

This civil celebration in French Polynesia is the day in 1880 when King Pomare V donated his States to France.

Soldiers and officials parade to celebrate the storming of the Bastille and the end of the French monarchy. July 14 in Papeete is also the occasion for the Heiva i Tahiti celebrations. On the programme: songs and traditional dances in honour of the island.

The custom of All Saints (Turamara'a) is required under the sun. This is the day when the Tahitians pay homage to their ancestors. The graves are flowered, and brightened with paint or white sand.

The 1918 Armistice ended the fighting in the First World War, the victory of France and the defeat of Germany.

The Christmas holidays are celebrated all over the island, houses are decorated and the children eagerly await the opening of their presents. A large Christmas market is held in downtown Papeete.

On the night of December 31^st, the atmosphere is particularly festive on the streets of Nice, with families and friends celebrating the new year.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Tahiti

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	23 / 73.4	33 / 91.4	251 / 9,88	Not the best period to go
February	23 / 73.4	33 / 91.4	243 / 9,56	Not the best period to go
March	23 / 73.4	33 / 91.4	423 / 16,6	Not the best period to go
April	23 / 73.4	33 / 91.4	141 / 5,55	Not the best period to go
May	22 / 71.6	32 / 89.6	101 / 3,98	Not the best period to go
June	22 / 71.6	31 / 87.8	75 / 2,95	Good period to go
July	21 / 69.8	31 / 87.8	52 / 2,05	Good period to go
August	21 / 69.8	31 / 87.8	42 / 1,65	Good period to go
September	22 / 71.6	31 / 87.8	52 / 2,05	Good period to go
October	22 / 71.6	32 / 89.6	88 / 3,46	Good period to go
November	23 / 73.4	32 / 89.6	149 / 5,87	Not the best period to go
December	23 / 73.4	32 / 89.6	248 / 9,76	Not the best period to go

Tahiti International Airport

The Tahiti International Airport of Fa'a'ā is located about 5 km southeast of Papeete.

3 terminals:

• T1
• T2
• T international (Air France)

• By car
  From the airport of Tahiti Fa'a'a, it takes about 15 minutes to reach the city centre of Papeete via Pouvanaa a Oopa Avenue.
  At the airport, two parking lots are available to travellers: 1 for long-term parking and 1 for medium-term parking. Count XPF 150 between 20 minutes and 1 hour; 300 XPF between 1 hour and 2 hours.
  Many car rental companies are present at the T1 (the domestic terminal) near the taxi stand. Rates from XPF 5,500 / day.
• Bus/Truck
  Bus lines run at a frequency of 20 minutes from the airport to downtown Papeete. It costs about XPF 200. An increase of 50 to 70% applies between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and on Sundays and holidays.
  For buses and ‘trucks', the stop is in front of the international terminal, across the parking lot.
• Taxi A taxi stand is located at the exit of T1 (the domestic terminal). The drive from the airport to the centre of Papeete lasts between 7 and 10 minutes and costs about XPF 2,000.
• Services: bars and restaurants, boutiques, free Internet access (Wi-Fi), luggage storage.
• Website: www.tahiti-aeroport.pf
• Telephone: +689 40 86 60 60

GETTING AROUND Tahiti

The car is the ideal mode of transport to explore the island, though some sites are not accessible by vehicle, at which point it is possible to rent a bike or even a horse. Public transportation exists but unfortunately, they are not widespread and poorly organised; buses and trucks, however, are the most commonly used means of transport by the population. Hitchhiking is also very common.

By car

The best way to travel around Tahiti is by car. Several car rental agencies are available in the city centre (from XPF 3,000 per day). Public parking facilities are available all around the centre (from XPF 150 per hour).

Bus/trucks

Twenty bus lines serve the city and outlying areas. The buses have no specific stops; just make a sign to the driver and they will pick you up. The main station is located right in downtown Papeete, in front of the Bank of Tahiti. A ticket costs about XPF 200.
‘Trucks', for their part, are a typical means of transport in the Pacific Islands. They are colourful bus trucks equipped to transport about forty passengers. For reasons of safety and pollution, the government has decided to gradually replace them with buses.
Additional information from the Department of Land Transport (www.transports-terrestres.pf)

Taxi

There are many taxi ranks in Papeete. There is an initial charge of XPF 1,000. Add XPF 130 per kilometre.

By boat

To visit an island (motu) or a pearl farm, you can hire an outboard skiff, small launches or even a pirogue that you can rent by the day locally. Apart from Tahiti and Moorea, ferries also connect some nearby islands.

Visitor information

Once in Papeete, do not hesitate to connect with tourism professionals to advise you and organise your stay.

• Address: Fare Manihini, Boulevard Pomare, BP 65 98713 Papeete
• Telephone: +689 40 50 40 30
• Website: https://tahititourisme.org/

• Address: Club Bali Hai, 98728 Moorea
• Telephone: +689 75 01 01 or +689 56 29 09
• Email: ctm@mail.pf

• Address: Vaitape Pier, BP 144, 98730 Bora Bora
• Website: www.borabora-tourisme.com

• Address: in the village, next to the craft fare building, BP 32 98742 Taiohae, Nuku Hiva - Îles Marquises
• Telephone: +689 40 92 08 25
• Website: https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/island/marquesas-islands/

Currency and Exchange Rates

The currency used in Tahiti is the Franc CFP (XPF).

1 € = 119,33 XPF

1 XPF = 0,01 €

The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Papeete counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.

No vaccination is required to stay in Papeete, except for nationals from risk areas.
But it is better to be up to date with the universal vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B.
Other recommended vaccinations:
- hepatitis A
- typhoid
- Possibly rabies.

For more information, contact your Air France centre for international vaccinations:

• Address: 38, quai de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris
• Website: https://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr/
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Beware of ‘ciguatera' food poisoning due to algae, which is contracted by consuming certain carnivorous fish from the lagoon. For more information: http://www.ciguatera-online.com/index.php/en/

Beware of 'ciguatera' food poisoning due to algae, which is contracted by consuming certain carnivorous fish from the lagoon. For more information: http://web.ciguatera.pf/index.php/en/

Tap water is drinkable in Papeete and throughout Bora Bora island. It is however recommended to drink bottled water.

Administrative formalities

Entry requirements for the territory of Papeete

Contrary to other overseas departments, overseas territories are not part of the Schengen area. An identity card is therefore not sufficient for European residents. You will need a passport valid for a period of at least 6 months after leaving French Polynesia.

If you are from a country with which France has signed visa waiver agreements (see list), you must present a valid passport and regulatory documents indicating the purpose of your stay, your financial means while in French Polynesia and your repatriation guarantee (e.g. adequate and valid travel insurance certificate, a valid return ticket to the country of residence, etc.).

If you are not affected by any of the previous cases: you must present a valid passport, a valid short-stay visa expressly mentioning its validity in French Polynesia (common Schengen visas are not accepted since the territory of French Polynesia is not part of the Schengen area), regulatory documents indicating the purpose of your stay, your financial means while in French Polynesia and your repatriation guarantee (e.g. adequate and valid travel insurance certificate, a valid return ticket to the country of residence, etc.).

For more information, visit the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/requesting-a-visa/ as well as the one of the French Polynesian State:
www.polynesie-francaise.pref.gouv.fr/Vos-demarches/Etrangers/English

Useful Addresses

French Polynesian Prefecture

• Address: Haut-commissariat de la République en Polynésie française, Avenue Pouvanaa a Oopa (new building, in face of the Papeete war memorial), BP 115 Papeete, 98713 Tahiti
• Telephone: +689 40 46 87 00
• Website: www.polynesie-francaise.gouv.fr

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Tahiti, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

+689

+ phone number (without 0)

-12 : 00
of time difference with
Hamburg

There is no daylight savings time in Tahiti

Banks
Usually open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:15 p.m. to 3:45. p.m.

Government offices
Usually open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30. p.m.

220V / 110V 60Hz

Tipping

In restaurants and cafes, a supplement for servers is already included in the bill. However, as in France, it is customary to leave a tip when you are satisfied with the service.