Tahiti is as far south of the equator as Hawaii is north, and halfway between California and Australia, on the same side of the International Date Line as North America, and in the same time zone as Hawaii - (only two hours behind California April-October and three hours behind California November-March). Time in the Marquesas is half an hour ahead of the rest of the islands.
Getting there
Getting to paradise is easier and quicker than you think with a choice of 5 airlines from North America! The direct flight from either Los Angeles or San Francisco to Tahiti is just over 8 hours and 5 hours non-stop from Honolulu:
- Air Tahiti Nui leaves Los Angeles (LAX) daily. Departure times are usually late evening, overnight with early morning arrivals in Papeete and on some days; afternoon arriving Papeete in the evening. Daily return flights from Tahiti also depart late evening, arriving back into LAX the following morning.
- United Airlines (UA) offers direct afternoon flights to Tahiti from San Francisco International (SFO) to Papeete 3 times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Return evening flights depart in the evening and arrive into San Francisco next morning.
- Air France (AF) has 3 late evening flights a week from LAX to Tahiti on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Return flights depart Papeete early morning on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays arriving LAX early evening.
- French Bee (BF) offers 2 flights per week direct from San Francisco (SFO) to Papeete during the low season: Sundays and Fridays. Flights depart late evening. Return flights depart Papeete early morning on Mondays and Saturdays. An additional flight too Tahiti operates on Wednesdays and from Tahiti on Thursdays during the high season.
- Hawaiian Airlines (HA) operate a 5 hour direct flight to Tahiti from Honolulu (HNL) once a week and return to Honolulu on Saturdays
**Flight schedules can change daily so please double check with your Tahiti Travel Mate before booking**
Entry Requirements
U.S. and Canadian citizens need a passport valid for six months beyond their date of return. For stays of up to 90 days, there are no Entry visa requirements for citizens of the U.S. or Canada carrying a US or Canadian Passport. A foreigner with a residence card for the U.S. is not exempt from the above requirements and should consult the French Consulate based in the U.S. for information. If your passport is other than U.S. or Canadian, check with the French Consulate. No immunization certificates are required.
Please see our
Tahiti Travel Blog for COVID-19 information including Tahiti's top 10 questions during the pandemic.
Climate
French Polynesia enjoys warm, tropical weather year-round. The climate is divided into two seasons: a "summer" that spans from November through March, when the daily temperature is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and most of the rain falls; and a drier "winter" that spans from April through October, when the daily temperature is about 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The year-round low is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The average water temperature is in the low 80s.
What makes it Unique?
Embrace the warmth of your Polynesian hosts whose love for their islands is seen through music, dance, and flowers. Tahiti's history & culture is so unique and amazing that we have created a
separate page as there is so much to understand and take in!
Overwater Bungalows
Enjoy the drama and comfort of the world's perfect hotel room while sleeping above soothing lagoon waters.
Voyage within the legendary South Pacific aboard luxurious cruise ships, super yachts, or passenger freighter that travels between Tahiti's most beautiful islands. Options are a plenty and further information can be found via our
cruising page.
Experience true relaxation and rejuvenation at one of the many luxurious Polynesian spas while nurtured by the tropical ambience. Check out the various Tahitian Spa Package options via our
Spa Retreats page.
Share the warm, crystal-clear lagoons and swift ocean passes with schools of impossibly-colored fish, docile sharks, and giant manta rays. Additional information about
Scuba Diving in Tahiti including dive locations and sites can be found on our
Tahiti Dive page.
Romance
Celebrate a new romance or a special anniversary in the most romantic spot on earth.
Honeymoons
Discover how the seclusion and setting of these islands create one of the world's most desirable honeymoon destinations. We've dedicated a special
Tahiti Honeymoon page to interested travelers and it can be found very easily by
following this link.