Why Go Island Hopping in Tahiti?
With 5 archipielagos to discover, Island hopping in Tahiti is a must for those looking to truly experience the mesmerizing waters and wonders of French Polynesia. From the well-traveled Society Islands like Tahiti and the unmistakable Bora Bora, to the remote Mangareva in the Gambier Islands, no two islands or atolls are exactly alike, and offer their one slice of paradise.
Traveling by plane may be the fastest way to get around Tahiti, but transportation options by boat make for serene and scenic voyages unlike anywhere else in the world.
Inter-Island Transportation By Plane
The domestic airline, Air Tahiti, is located at Tahiti Faa’a Airport and offers daily service between the most visited islands.
Air Tahiti operates regularly scheduled flights out of Tahiti over a network of 47 islands and atolls including a 7-minute shuttle service between Tahiti and Moorea. There is a maximum luggage allowance of 50 lbs (23 kg) for passengers reserved in class Y and 101 lbs (46 kg) for passengers reserved in class Z. Divers are granted a supplementary free luggage allowance of 11 lbs (5 kg) on ATR flights for transport of diving gear upon presentation of supporting documents. No luggage allowance for babies.
Travelers can purchase an Air Tahiti Pass to fly to multiple islands across multiple archipelagos. Extensions to Marquesas and the Austral islands are available. For further information: www.airtahiti.pf
The Society Islands
- Bora Bora, Huahine, Maupiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha’a, Tahiti
West Tuamotu
- Ahe, Arutua, Fakarava, Manihi, Mataiva, Rangiroa, Takapoto, Takaroa, Tikehau
East Tuamotu – Gambier Islands
- Hao, Makemo, Mangareva
The Austral Islands
- Raivavae, Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai
The Marquesas Islands
- Hiva Oa, Nuku Hiva, Ua Huka, Ua Pou
Cook Islands
- Aitutaki, Rarotonga
*For additional flight information, do not hesitate to visit our page about airline companies.
Inter-Island Transportation By Boat
Although the plane remains the fastest and most commonly used means of transportation in The Islands of Tahiti, island hopping by boat is also an option.
By boat, service varies based on destination: ferries operated by Aremiti and Terevau run several times a day between Tahiti and Moorea while cargo schooners like Hawaiki Nui sail three times a week for the Society Islands, every two weeks for the Marquesas and the Austral Islands and once a month for Mangareva (Gambier Islands).
There is ferry service between islands that are not too distant from one another (such as Tahiti and Moorea or Bora Bora and Maupiti) while cargo schooners take longer routes with more picturesque views, and sailing to the Leeward Islands, the Tuamotu Islands, the Gambier Islands, the Marquesas and the Austral Islands, offer cabins and occasionally a space on deck.
Among islands in the same archipelago, there are ferrys, small shuttle boats or speedboats that can transfer you back and forth. The Maupiti Express II and the Apetahi Express offer transit to The Society Islands, and run in a loop several times a week.
The sea link between the Island of Tahiti and her sister Moorea is one of the most used maritime routes in the world. This transport, used daily by people living in Moorea and working in Tahiti, offers convenient schedules, a comfortable and inexpensive crossing listing between 30-45 minutes (depending on the ferry) with over 10 rotations per day. This crossing offers splendid views of lagoons and the coast of Tahiti and Moorea. With luck, you’ll see whales during this crossing, which give birth in the warm Polynesian waters every year.
There are 2 ferry companies / shuttle boats which are close to Papeete Harbor Station:
Aremiti
- The Aremiti 6 rapid catamaran sails between Tahiti and Moorea with an average 30 minute crossing time.
- The Aremiti Ferry 2 sails between Tahiti and Moorea with an average 40 minute crossing time.
- For more information: www.aremiti.pf
Terevau
- Terevau’s rapid catamaran sails between Tahiti and Moorea with a 30 minute crossing time.
- For more information: www.terevau.pf
