Flights vs. Boats in French Polynesia

Hi everyone,

My girlfriend and I are arriving in Tahiti in March and are planning to go to the following islands (in the following order):

Tahiti (Arrive - 1 night)
Mo'orea (4 nights)
Maupiti (4 nights)
Bora Bora (3 nights)
Tahiti (1 night then depart)

Flights seem to be a nightmare (e.g. low numbers per week, actually booking) so wondered whether boats were a better option.

Could someone recommend an online agency/service which could help us book, pay and decide the best approach - Air Tahiti seems to be difficult as our island route (and dates) doesn't fit there ideal itinerary

Thanks,

Nathan

Boats are regarded as being far cheaper if slower obviously, though Moorea ain't far away.
Tahiti ain't cheap, and in fact quite expensive and so unless you're loaded, you ought to join the rest of budget travellers and take the boats.
BUG has some general info on their French Polynesian destinations, and you'll find budget accomodation options under accomodation.

Virtual Tourist has info on Maupiti, there only being three boats a week from Bora Bora.

Seems as though most online agents are all about the ritzy packages/resorts and if that's you a googlr on Tahiti gives a few selections but if it's budget travel, I'd just be sorting out ferry timetables and getting budget accomodation booked direct where possible, or otherwise just getting there.

Hi,
there are frequent ferries ro Moorea, from the center of PPT- ne need to fly.
For other flights check AIR Tahiti's website. They offer different air passes. We booked the flights online and picked up the tickets at their airport office. Allow some time for the connection. Planes arrive early and the ticket office opens at normal business hours.
To get around on the islands consider renting a car. Hitching is not a good option. Check Europcar. With a promo code from your automobile association you can get considerable discounts if you reserve online.
Happy travelling,
Profax, Vienna

I certainly wouldn't rent a car on Maupiti, which is great 'cause I don't think you can! I hiked over the spine of the island and it was lovely, especially at the top of the small mountain where you have a stupendous 360 view of what seems like half the earth. The rest of my 4 days there I walked, and walked and walked. Can't possibly more than a coupl of hours all the way around the main part. You can also walk or swim to almost all the motu, and then walk them, too.

Air Tahiti is the ONLY way to do this,. just adjust your itinerary to match the flight schedules.

Ed

Aside from the ferries to Moorea-which you should use-the rest has to be done by air. There are some copra boats making the runs that do accept passengers, but they are unreliable and slow, as they are only tangentially in the business of moving passengers.

Ed

The way you've specified the order is very expensive.

You'll save yourself about 1000 bucks USD in airfares on Air Tahiti if you do it in this order and add an extra day in French Polynesia:

Papeete -Bora Bora on Hawaiki Nui (Hawaiki Nui runs a pretty decent schedule as it's privately run) Cost is about 30 bucks USD a person.
This boat takes approximately 24 hours to reach Bora Bora

You must call them to get latest schedules as the web is horribly outdated when it comes to schedules on these boats.

http://www.tahiti.com/english-version/about-tahiti/gen-resources/boat%20transportation.html#MAUPITI%20EXPRESS

Bora Bora -Maupti Express $25.00 per person give or take each way if I recall correctly

Your biggest hangup will be getting OFF Maupiti. The flights are like 2 days a week and the boat is one or 2 (I can't remember call)

If you make Maupiti a day trip, you can get off the boat, look around then get right back on the Express in the afternoon.

You can either take Maupiti Express back to Bora Bora or take a plane to Bora Bora or Papeete or a plane to Bora Bora then Papeete
(the schedule gets very tricky but if you intend to stay 4 days on Maupiti, you'll have some flexibility, if you can pinpoint your schedule down to what day of the week it is)

There are a few other freighters that travel to Bora Bora, but Hawaiki is the one I used and everytime it was on schedule.

You DO NOT want to take any boat being run by the government. (GIP)

Again, unless there's a specific reason that order, save yourself some bucks by taking the boat into Bora Bora.

If you decide freighter is the way to go, and you want to go into Bora Bora on a freighter then out on one, be prepared to adjust for schedule for
48 hours on boats and wait time for freighters leaving Bora Bora.

I would also question your wisdom on Maupiti for 4 nights. At nighttime there is absolutely NOTHING to do on Maupiti, except sit in your pension.

I would apply the time from Maupti to Moorea and Tahiti.

I haven't commented on Moorea since it's a 45 minutre run on Highspeed ferry from tahiti. No real scheduling needed on that, except hit it on the way out of FP, not IN.

Air Tahiti's prices are monopolistic, and if you calculate correctly, you can save some real money by avoiding them completely.

If however, you have money to burn and must stay on your stops as outlined above, then he's very much right. There is no way you're going to
be able to see all those [places in that order by boat.

I don't think there is any agency that can help with booking on freighters, it's pretty much show up, buy a ticket. :)