The volcanic and coral islands and atolls of French Polynesia are full of abundant wild life and breathtaking scenery. From snorkeling with sharks and whales, to feeding blue-eyed eels, here are the top 11 adventures that you shouldn’t miss when planning your visit to French Polynesia.
Shark Feeding Snorkeling Experience
As someone who has been terrified of sharks her entire life, swimming with sharks in French Polynesia was both terrifying and exhilarating! During our shark feeding experience in Huahine, we were surrounded by over 100 Blacktip Reef Sharks! The feeding lasted about 15 minutes and the sharks came so close that we could touch them.
Blacktip Reef Sharks do not attack humans so if you’re scared of sharks, French Polynesia is a great place to conquer your fear. We snorkeled almost every day during our ten day visit. All of the sharks that we encountered were curious about humans, but would swim away when approached. If you’re scared of sharks, I recommend warming up with a few regular snorkeling experiences first before trying the shark feeding.
Swim with Humpback Whales
Over 300 Humpback Whales migrate from Antarctica to Tahiti every summer to give birth and breed. Visiting French Polynesia between mid-August and October is the best time to spot them.
We visited Moorea in August and were lucky enough to get to swim with a mom and her calf in the open ocean. Unfortunately I bought a cheap underwater camera and didn’t get the best pictures. The picture above is one that I took without the zoom. We were really that close! It was definitely a surreal, once in a lifetime experience and one that I highly recommend that you try when you visit Moorea!
Have a Picnic on a Private Motu
Taking a Motu Picnic Tour on an Outrigger Canoe is a must when in French Polynesia! Our tour in Huahine had everything! We swam with sharks, snorkeled with colorful fish, visited a pearl farm, and had lunch on a private tropical Motu.
During our adventure, we were served homemade rum punch and beer along with a traditional Polynesian lunch. Our guides taught us how to make Poisson Cru, dance like Polynesian, wear a pareos (sarong), and open a coconut. It was an exciting way to learn about Polynesian Culture and I highly recommend it for anyone visiting French Polynesia for the first time.
Stay in an Over Water Bungalow
Our stay in an over water bungalow at the Le Meridien Resort in Bora Bora was magical! We spent the day jumping off our private deck into the turquoise waters of the lagoon below. We also couldn’t resist swimming under our see-through floor to get some funny photos.
Over water bungalows in French Polynesia can be very expensive. Learn how we scored a great deal on an over water bungalow in French Polynesia.
Snorkel and Scuba in an Underwater Paradise
French Polynesia is truly an underwater paradise. The majority of the islands are surrounded by volcanic rock and coral reefs which make the water around the islands incredibly calm and clear. The mature coral attract tons of colorful fish, which help to make French Polynesia one of the best places to scuba dive and snorkel in the South Pacific.
Huahine was our favorite island for snorkeling of the four we visited. And best of all, it was complete free! Read about snorkeling in the coral garden in Huahine.
Hand Feed the Blue-Eyed Eels
Most of the information about feeding blue-eyed eels in French Polynesia leads you to believe that they only exist on the island of Huahine. However, that’s not the case. You can also feed the eels on the island of Moorea.
During our ATV tour in Moorea, we had the chance to feed these unusual docile creatures. The eels are blind, but they swim right up to you when they smell food. And they will eat right out of your hand if you let them! Read more about our adventures in Moorea.
Bike Bora Bora
One of the best ways to get around Bora Bora and experience all that this tropical paradise has to offer is to explore it on bike. The road around the main island of Bora Bora is 18 miles long and is mostly flat. We made quite a few stops on our bike tour to hike, snorkel, eat lunch, and take photos of all the beautiful scenery.
Read all about our bike adventure in Bora Bora which included hiking to see WWII cannons.
Stroll Along a Black Sand Beach
French Polynesia is made up of 118 volcanic and coral islands and atolls. This volcanic makeup means that French Polynesia is home to some of the prettiest black sand beaches in the world.
When you visit French Polynesia, you will start your journey on the island of Tahiti. Rent a car for the day and go exploring! You’ll likely encounter some gorgeous black sand beaches and waterfalls along your journey.
However, so that you don’t make the same mistakes that we did, Read my post on How Not to Explore Tahiti on Your First Trip to French Polynesia
Explore the Jungle on ATV
Moorea’s lush dense tropical jungle set this island apart from the others in French Polynesia. If you’re planning to visit Moorea, taking an ATV tour is one of the best ways to see all that this island has to offer.
On our tour, we visited the Juice Factory, Vanilla Plantation, Pineapple Farms, Belvedere Lookout Point and Magic Mountain. We also got to hand feed the famous blue-eyed eels!
Read all about our adventures in Moorea
Feed the Green Sea Turtles
Green Sea Turtles are one of the largest species of turtles in the world, growing to a size of over 700 lbs. Although these turtles have an average natural lifespan of 80+ years, they are currently classified as an endangered species.
The islands of Moorea and Bora Bora are home to the only two green turtle sanctuaries in French Polynesia. Their mission is to rehab the injured turtles and release them back into the wild. The turtles that are brought to the sanctuaries have suffered a variety of injuries resulting from such things as shark attacks, boat accidents, the ingestion of plastic, and encounters with poachers who cut off their fins for turtle soup.
During our trip to French Polynesia, we visited the Turtle Center in Bora Bora which is located at the Le Meridien Resort. At the time we visited, the sanctuary had seven injured turtles that they were treating for a variety of injuries and illnesses.
Upon arriving, we were given a brief informative lecture about the types of turtles that sanctuary handles as well as educated about the dangers that they face during their lifetime. After the lecture, we were escorted to the turtle hospital, where we got to assist with feeding the turtles their lunch of fish and squid, which they eagerly consumed.
Jet Ski
Are you an adrenaline junky? Zipping around the turquoise waters of the Bora Bora lagoon on a jet ski is a fantastic and thrilling way to explore the island. During our two-hour tour, we were able to circle the entire main island of Bora Bora. Our guide took us to white sand bar in the middle of the lagoon where we stopped to have fresh coconut and fruit. The postcard perfect turquoise waters of the Bora Bora Lagoon really make you feel like you’re living a dream.
Related Posts:
What to Pack for a Trip to French Polynesia
How to Score a Great Deal on an Over Water Bungalow in French Polynesia
Itinerary for Biking Around Bora Bora
How Not to Explore Tahiti on Your First Trip to French Polynesia
