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Papeete, on the island of Tahiti, is the capital of French Polynesia and the largest island in this chain. With a population of over 136,000 inhabitants, French is the main language used in the city, followed by Tahitian. A bustling, lively city with a colourful market, parks, shops, and cafés, you can buy fresh fish, sarongs, vanilla beans, or pearls among other delights. A waterfront promenade with music and food, along with a multicultural population, adds to the city’s allure.

Papeete, meaning “water basket,” was once the place where Tahitians came to collect fresh water. Polynesian culture, its art, and the history of the island—including French nuclear weapons testing and the mutiny on the HMS Bounty—can be explored in various museums and cultural centres. With the capital situated on the coast, most of the island’s inhabitants also reside near the shore. The interior of Tahiti is mountainous and rugged, with cascading waterfalls, caves, and lush foliage.

The 77 Tuamotus (the name means “Distant Islands” in Polynesian) comprise the largest chain of coral atolls on Earth. They sprawl across the vast blue South Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area the size of Western Europe. Atolls are literally the skeletal remains of coral reefs, forming rings of crushed coral sand surrounding a shallow central lagoon. The natural flora and fauna of the Oceanic realm are adapted to this environment, and Fakarava’s large lagoon is designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. The people of Fakarava farm coconuts for copra onshore and pearls in the lagoons. They also host the travellers who flock here to bask on the beaches and snorkel or dive in the luxuriant coral gardens along the shore. At the long spit of Les Sables Roses, the pink blush of the sand reveals its coral origin. The sleepy towns of Rotoava and Tetamanu offer scant attractions for visitors, except for their distinctive rock lighthouses shaped like stepped pyramids. Tetamanu does boast a 19th-century church built of coral rock by missionaries, along with an adjoining cemetery featuring coral rock headstones. Aside from snorkelling or beach-basking, some visitors enjoy a trip to a lagoon pearl farm to see how the large, flat bivalves are coaxed into creating the treasured gems formed by the lustrous nacre inside their shells.

One of the largest coral atolls on Earth, with a total circumference of 200 km, Rangiroa is part of the island group known as the Tuamotus. Its central lagoon is so expansive that it actually has its own horizon. Pearl cultivation is practised here, yielding prized black pearls, and surprisingly, it also supports a winemaking venture for the commercial market in Tahiti. The vines are planted on the small motus, right alongside coconut palms.

Huahine weaves its magic from the very moment you set foot on its shores. This picturesque island, with its lush forests, untamed landscapes, and charming villages, remains one of French Polynesia’s best-kept secrets. It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the local way of life. Encircled by a pristine, crystal-clear lagoon, Huahine consists of two islands, each adorned with magnificent bays and untouched white-sand beaches that enhance the overall experience. Unfazed by the modern world, Huahine preserves the slower, more tranquil pace of old Polynesia. Its eight quaint villages are welcoming havens where friendly residents greet visitors with genuine kindness. Huahine’s magic is but one thread in the stunning fabric of the enchanting tapestry of French Polynesia.

The second-largest of the Society Islands, Raiatea is practically twinned with its neighbour Taha’a. In fact, they are connected by a reef in the same lagoon and may have been one island in the past. The main town, Uturoa, is where most of the population lives. It’s lively, although it cannot compete with Tahiti. Known as the Sacred Island, Raiatea’s name means “bright sky,” and it was probably the first human community in the islands. The ancient sacred site of Taputapuatea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and may have been the place from which Polynesian migrations to Hawaii, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, and the rest of the South Pacific began. Although less touristy than Tahiti, hospitality for visitors has grown in importance. Agriculture mainly focuses on coconuts, pineapples, and vanilla. Vanilla orchids are hand-pollinated, as Raiatea has no insect pollinators for vanilla blossoms. South Seas pearls are farmed in the lagoon in various colours. A hike up Mt. Tapioi rewards you with stunning views of the lagoon and sea, along with the tall silhouette of Bora Bora on the far horizon. Another popular hike leads to the island’s three waterfalls. The tallest peak, Mt. Temehani, is the place to look for the unique five-petalled Tiare Apetahi flowers that grow nowhere else. The lagoon is dotted with tiny motus, mostly coral sand beaches, which are popular for castaway swimming and snorkelling adventures.

Bora Bora has long been renowned for its stunning beauty. A tiny island, less than 32 miles in circumference, Bora Bora is dominated by the castle-like Mount Otemanu and Mount Pahia, two volcanic peaks with lush tropical slopes.

A protective coral reef encloses Bora Bora, and the lagoon is dotted with colourful motus, or islets. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to brilliant turquoise and sapphire-coloured waters, and locals in the small village of Viatape sell vibrant fabrics, sculptures carved from native wood, and precious black pearls.

Tall, green Moorea packs every daydream of a South Pacific Bali Hai into its deep-cut azure bays, candy-blue lagoons and steep, lushly forested volcanic peaks. Live the dream.