The South Pacific
Overwater bungalows, lagoons in every shade of blue and the honeymoon people dream about for years.
Islands made for slowing down
The islands of the South Pacific were settled by Polynesian and Melanesian voyagers who crossed thousands of miles of open ocean by canoe. Their traditions are still very much alive: Tahitian dance and drumming, the tattoo (the word itself comes from the Tahitian tatau), flower crowns and the warm Fijian greeting of "Bula!" that you will hear a hundred times a day.
French Polynesia is 118 islands spread across an area of ocean about the size of Western Europe. Tahiti is the gateway, Moorea is a short ferry ride away, and Bora Bora, with its jagged peak of Mount Otemanu rising from the lagoon, is the one on everyone's list. Fiji has a different feel: friendly villages, family resorts, kava ceremonies and the island chains of the Mamanucas and Yasawas. The Cook Islands and Samoa are quieter options for travelers who want to get further off the map.
It is warm all year. The dry season, roughly May to October, brings lower humidity and the most reliable sunshine. November to April is warmer and wetter, with short tropical showers, and often better value. Getting there is easier than most people think: about eight hours from LAX to Papeete, and some airlines fly nonstop from SFO in season.
South Pacific at a glance
Our favorite ways to spend your time
Not an exhaustive list, just the things our travelers come home talking about.
Things to do
- Stay in an overwater bungalowStep from your deck straight into the lagoon, and watch fish swim by through the glass floor panel.
- Snorkel with rays and reef sharksBora Bora and Moorea lagoon tours bring you face to face with gentle stingrays and blacktip reef sharks in shallow water.
- Take a 4x4 tour of MooreaClimb to the Belvedere Lookout for the view over Cook's Bay and Opunohu Bay, past pineapple fields along the way.
- Join a kava ceremony in FijiMany resorts and villages welcome guests with a traditional sevusevu. Clap once, say "Bula" and drink up.
- Watch a Polynesian dance showFast drums, swaying grass skirts and fire dancing, often paired with a feast cooked in an earth oven.
Places to go
- TahitiThe main island and gateway, with the bustling Papeete market, black-sand beaches and lush waterfalls inland.
- Bora BoraThe iconic lagoon, Mount Otemanu and the overwater bungalows that made the South Pacific famous.
- MooreaDramatic green peaks, a laid-back pace and an easy ferry ride from Tahiti. A great first or last stop.
- FijiWarm, family-friendly resorts, island-hopping in the Mamanucas and Yasawas, and excellent diving.
- The Cook IslandsRarotonga and the stunning Aitutaki lagoon: unhurried, uncrowded and English-speaking.
Things to see
- Mount OtemanuBora Bora's volcanic peak, best seen from the lagoon at sunset or from the air on arrival.
- The lagoon from aboveA helicopter or seaplane flight shows every shade of blue, from deep navy to bright turquoise.
- Taha'a vanilla farmsThe "vanilla island" next to Raiatea, where you can see how Tahitian vanilla is grown and cured by hand.
- Humpback whalesFrom about July to October, humpbacks visit French Polynesia to breed and give birth.
- Heiva festivalEvery July, Tahiti hosts weeks of dance, music and traditional sports competitions.
What to eat in South Pacific
Dishes to order
- Poisson cruTahiti's national dish: raw tuna marinated in lime and coconut milk with cucumber and tomato.
- KokodaFiji's version of ceviche, fresh fish cured in citrus and finished with coconut cream and chili.
- Ma'a Tahiti & lovoFeasts slow-cooked in an underground oven: pork, fish, taro and breadfruit wrapped in leaves.
- Po'eA sweet, sticky pudding of banana, papaya or pumpkin, baked and served with coconut milk.
Where to eat
- Roulottes in PapeeteFood trucks that gather on the waterfront in the evening, serving everything from crêpes to grilled fish.
- Beach and lagoon dinnersMost resorts can set a private table on the sand or on your deck. Perfect for an anniversary.
- Local "snacks"Small family-run cafés, as they're called in French Polynesia, for casual plates and fresh fish at local prices.
What to drink
- Fresh coconutCracked open in front of you, often right on the beach.
- KavaFiji's earthy, slightly numbing ceremonial drink made from a pepper plant root. An experience more than a treat.
- Local beerHinano in Tahiti and Fiji Bitter in Fiji, both best served cold after a day on the water.
Let's plan your South Pacific trip
The South Pacific is a trip where the right island and the right bungalow make all the difference, and we've helped plenty of honeymooners and anniversary couples get it right. Tell us when you'd like to travel and we'll come back with options and current pricing.
