French Polynesia is an archipelago country with 67 inhabited atolls and 118 islands scattered throughout the southern Pacific Ocean. It’s an overseas collectivity of France with five main archipelagos called the Society Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tubuai Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago, and Tubuai Islands. French Polynesia boasts some of the best beaches in the world, one being Bora Bora which is dubbed as one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

Bora Bora

This should be at the top of your French Polynesian destination. Bora Bora is the most beautiful and magical place on earth, it’s almost unreal to see the place in real life. It’s where you’ll see the clearest and bluest waters your eyes will ever see, and they change in color depending on how shallow or deep the waters are. A visit to Bora Bora on a sunny day is perfect. You can stay in a luxurious bungalow or villa over the waters for a more relaxing blue water view.

Matira Beach

Situated in Bora Bora on Tahiti island, Matira Beach is a public beach that is popular among tourists. Bright white sand, coconut trees, and lapping waves are the beaches’ main ingredients. You can go on snorkeling in its shallow lagoon openings, and as obvious as it is, the water is blue and crystal clear, just like most of Bora Bora’s. You’ll see colorful corals, and a variety of tropical fish here, something you don’t get to see every day.

Faarumi Waterfalls

The Faarumi Waterfalls is located in Tahiti, and it's the most accessible, making it the most popular waterfall among tourists. The cascading water running through the rugged rocks, down to the cold pool is a perfect in-nature refreshment. Bathe in this natural beauty, or dip your tired toes. There’s a parking spot here near the jungles, then you can walk your way to the waterfalls. You can bring snacks, and bottled drinks you can drown in the cold pool.

Coral Gardens

The fascinating Coral Gardens is, you guessed it, a coral haven. Its shallow depth makes it a great snorkeling spot for tourists who love seeing diverse and colorful coral reefs. And of course, where there are corals, you’d expect fish to thrive there. Some of the fish varieties you’ll find here are the Picasso triggerfish, butterflyfish, pufferfish, tang, parrotfish, goatfish, trumpet fish, zebra unicorn fish, grouper, and wrasse or Japanese moray eels.

Magic Mountain

Moorea's Magic Mountain is the island’s highest point. It sits along the exterior of the Moorea islands and offers a great 360-degree view of the island and the clear, blue lagoon that surrounds it. The way up the mountain offers a scenic view of valleys, fruit trees, villages, and pineapple plantations. The spot is not accessible with a regular car, so a 4WD vehicle is a good way to reach it, but you could arrange a guided tour that includes a trip up the Magic Mountain.

Belvedere Lookout

Here’s another awesome spot if you want to get a stunning sight of Cook's Bay, Opunohu Bay, Mount Rotui, and the Opunohu Valley’s peaks and slopes, featuring the pineapple plantation. Seeing the great views requires you to hike up the hill, though you can reach the lookout with your vehicle as there’s a road leading the way to the top. Sunset is the best here with reds, pink, oranges, yellow, and purple hues painting the skies.

Marche de Papeete

Situated in the beautiful, lively, and laid-back city of Papeete, this market is sought to be the oldest surviving institution on the island. You can pick up traditional handicrafts such as baskets, hats, sarongs, garments, and other woven goodies. When buying these crafts, make sure to look around for a better price as some stalls may sell them at a higher price than others. Tasty treats are also everywhere; tropical fruits and veggies are widely available here.