Everything You Need To Know About Chartering In French Polynesia

The tradeoff is accessibility. Distances are greater, infrastructure is limited, and there are far fewer crewed charter yachts operating here. Chartering the Tuamotus requires more planning and usually works best for travelers who prioritize diving, marine life, and remoteness over restaurants, resorts, and nightlife.

If you’re an experienced diver looking for a genuine South Pacific expedition, however, the Tuamotus are difficult to beat.

The Marquesas: The Rugged Side of French Polynesia

Then there are the Marquesas Islands.

The Marquesas are considerably farther from Tahiti and feel completely different from the classic lagoon-filled images most people associate with French Polynesia. There are very few charter options in French Polynesia, and there are even fewer that offer charters in the Marquesas. 

These islands are rugged, mountainous, and incredibly remote. Huge volcanic peaks rise directly from the Pacific, deep valleys cut through the landscape, waterfalls pour down steep cliffs, and small communities remain scattered across islands that receive relatively few visitors.

Unlike the Society Islands and Tuamotus, the Marquesas do not have large protective barrier reefs and lagoons. Anchorages can be deeper and more exposed, and cruising here feels much more like an expedition.

For adventurous travelers looking for one of the most remote yacht charter experiences available anywhere in the world, the Marquesas are extraordinary.

However, yacht availability is extremely limited, distances are significant, and getting there requires considerably more planning.

Where Do French Polynesia Yacht Charters Typically Start?

One of the most important things to understand is that most crewed yacht charters in the Society Islands start and end in Raiatea, not Tahiti.

Raiatea is one of the main centers of the charter industry and provides easy access to Taha’a, Huahine, and Bora Bora.

Most international travelers first fly into Faa’a International Airport in Papeete, Tahiti, and then take a short domestic flight to Raiatea. Air Moana offers great prices for domestic flights in French Polynesia. 

Domestic flights between the islands are relatively inexpensive and easy to arrange. Air Moana operates flights between Tahiti and several of the major Society Islands, making it easy to connect with your yacht.

Roundtrip Raiatea Charters

The simplest option is a roundtrip charter beginning and ending in Raiatea. A seven-night itinerary can include destinations such as:

Raiatea → Taha’a → Bora Bora → Taha’a → Raiatea

See a sample itinerary HERE. Depending on the yacht, weather, and itinerary, Huahine may also be incorporated.

Roundtrip itineraries generally offer the simplest logistics and avoid the relocation costs associated with one-way charters.

One-Way Charters to Bora Bora

One of my favorite ways to experience the Society Islands is a one-way, generally downwind charter ending in Bora Bora. Depending on the yacht and its schedule, your charter may begin in Tahiti, Huahine, or Raiatea and finish in Bora Bora.

This allows you to keep moving through the islands rather than retracing your route at the end of the week. For example, a longer itinerary might take you from:

Tahiti → Moorea → Huahine → Taha’a → Bora Bora

You can then fly from Bora Bora back to Tahiti for your international flight home.

The important thing to understand is that one-way charters involve a relocation fee. The amount varies from yacht to yacht depending on where the vessel needs to reposition before or after your charter.

Papeete pickups can also be arranged with certain yachts, but because many boats are normally based around Raiatea, a relocation fee will usually apply.

Your charter broker should confirm the exact relocation cost before booking.

Crewed Yacht Availability Is Limited

This is probably the biggest difference between French Polynesia and more established charter destinations. There simply aren’t that many fully crewed charter yachts available.

In destinations such as the British Virgin Islands, there may be dozens of crewed catamarans to choose from within a particular price range. French Polynesia has a much smaller fleet.

That makes booking early particularly important, especially if you have fixed dates, need multiple cabins, or are working within a specific budget.

Flexibility can make a huge difference. Sometimes shifting a trip by only a few days can open up a yacht that otherwise wouldn’t be available.

When Is the Best Time to Charter French Polynesia?

French Polynesia is a year-round destination, but the seasons do matter.

May Through October: Dry Season

For most travelers, May through October is the prime charter season and it is also the non cyclone season. Although cyclones rarely make it as far east as French Polynesia. 

Temperatures are comfortable, humidity is generally lower, rainfall is reduced, and the southeast trade winds tend to provide excellent sailing conditions. July and August are particularly popular, so yachts can book well in advance.

November Through April: Warmer and Wetter

November through April is cyclone season, and the climate is warmer and wetter.

Temperatures and humidity increase, and tropical rain showers become more frequent. That doesn’t mean it rains constantly, and there can still be beautiful cruising conditions, but the weather is less predictable. The upside is fewer visitors and potentially greater yacht availability.

Humpback Whale Season

Pictured Above: Swimming with Humpback Whales in Moorea. Picture courtesy of Tahiti.com

One of the most extraordinary experiences available in French Polynesia is encountering humpback whales.

Humpbacks migrate into French Polynesian waters during the austral winter to mate, give birth, and raise their calves. The season generally runs from approximately July through November, with some of the best opportunities during the heart of that period.

Moorea is particularly famous for whale encounters.

Under appropriate conditions and with authorized operators following local regulations, it may be possible to enter the water and experience humpback whales underwater. For travelers visiting during whale season, this can easily become one of the highlights of the entire trip.

The Best Things to Do on a French Polynesia Yacht Charter

One reason I love French Polynesia as a charter destination is that you can make the trip as relaxing or adventurous as you want.

Snorkeling

You don’t need to be a scuba diver to experience the marine life here. Coral gardens, rays, reef fish, sharks, and crystal-clear lagoons provide incredible snorkeling throughout the Society Islands and Tuamotus.

Scuba Diving

French Polynesia is a world-class diving destination. The Society Islands offer excellent diving, while destinations such as Fakarava and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus take things to another level.

Surfing

Tahiti and the surrounding islands are home to some of the most famous waves on Earth. You certainly don’t need to surf Teahupo’o to enjoy surfing in French Polynesia. There are breaks suitable for a wide range of experience levels, and a yacht can provide access to locations that are difficult to reach from shore.

Hiking

French Polynesia isn’t just about the water. Moorea, Tahiti, Huahine, and the Marquesas offer spectacular hiking through volcanic mountains, jungles, ridgelines, and valleys.

Waterfalls

Many of the high volcanic islands contain beautiful waterfalls that can be visited during hikes or island excursions. A great charter itinerary should include time ashore rather than spending the entire week aboard the yacht.

Pearl Farms

French Polynesia is famous for its Tahitian black pearls. Visiting a working pearl farm, particularly around Taha’a and the surrounding islands, provides an interesting look at how pearls are cultivated and graded.

Fishing

Fishing opportunities range from lagoon fishing to offshore trolling for pelagic species. If fishing is an important part of your trip, let your broker and captain know beforehand so they can confirm the yacht’s equipment and any applicable local regulations.

Paddleboarding and Kayaking

The protected lagoons of the Society Islands are ideal for paddleboards and kayaks. Early mornings when the lagoon is glassy calm can be some of the best moments of the entire charter.

Polynesian Culture

Take time to get off the yacht. Visit local markets, archaeological sites, small villages, farms, restaurants, and cultural sites. French Polynesia becomes much more interesting when you experience the history and people behind the scenery.

Language in French Polynesia

French is the official language, and Tahitian and other Polynesian languages are also widely spoken.

English is commonly spoken within the tourism and charter industries, particularly at hotels, airports, dive centers, and aboard professionally crewed yachts.

You certainly don’t need to speak French to charter here, although knowing a few basic French or Tahitian phrases is always appreciated.

Currency

French Polynesia uses the CFP franc, commonly abbreviated XPF.

Credit cards are widely accepted in larger towns, resorts, restaurants, and tourism businesses, but carrying some local currency is useful when visiting smaller islands, markets, and more remote locations.

Getting Around by Air

Because French Polynesia covers such an enormous area, domestic aviation is an important part of traveling here.

For Society Islands charters, this is actually very easy.

You may fly internationally into Tahiti, spend a night there, and then take a short domestic flight to Raiatea to meet your yacht. At the end of a one-way charter, you might fly from Bora Bora directly back to Tahiti.

Air Moana operates relatively inexpensive inter-island flights, and these short flights make it possible to build much more interesting one-way charter itineraries without needing to return the yacht to your original starting point.

How Long Should You Charter?

Seven nights is the standard yacht charter length and works well for a Raiatea-based Society Islands itinerary.

However, if you’re traveling all the way to French Polynesia, 10 days can be even better! One way charters starting in Tahiti require atleast 10 days if ending in Bora Bora. The additional time allows you to slow down, spend multiple nights at your favorite anchorages, incorporate more islands, and avoid feeling like you constantly need to move to the next destination.

For the Tuamotus or Marquesas, 7 Day charters are absolutely doable, but longer charters are often prefered because of the greater distances and more complicated logistics.

Is a French Polynesia Yacht Charter Worth It?

Absolutely, but it’s important to plan it correctly.

French Polynesia isn’t a destination where I recommend simply finding the cheapest available yacht and booking it online.

The limited fleet, relocation costs, inter-island logistics, differences between island groups, and importance of having a knowledgeable crew mean that the specific yacht, crew, and itinerary matter enormously.

For a first trip, the Society Islands are difficult to beat. Start in Raiatea, explore Taha’a and Huahine, finish beneath the mountains of Bora Bora, or extend the itinerary through Moorea and Tahiti.

If you’re a serious diver or want something more remote, head toward the Tuamotus.

And if you’re looking for a genuine expedition into one of the most isolated and dramatic island chains in the Pacific, start looking toward the Marquesas.

Whichever you choose, French Polynesia offers something increasingly difficult to find: the ability to wake up aboard a yacht, look around at an almost impossibly beautiful stretch of the Pacific, and realize that the best way to see what comes next is simply to sail there.

Available French Polynesia Yachts