We’re super excited to sail from Galapagos to French Polynesia this coming year.

We first crossed the Pacific in 2017 aboard our trimaran Aldebaran. Feels incredible to be doing this route now with our (soon-to-be) 7 year old twins, after bringing Nesi all the way from East Africa, during the last 3 years.

To share this magical place with our co-op members, we’d like to outline the following in this post:

• HIGHLIGHTS of the 3 archipelagos we’ll visit: Marquesas, Tuamotus, and Societies 
• HOW TO GET AROUND by ferry and inter-island plane

Here is our Schedule for French Polynesia:

• Simplified schedule on our website (ok for mobile phone, limited info).
• Full schedule online (best for desktop computers)

Highlights

Marquesas: the most epic land & culture

These islands have mana, life force, spiritual power, unlike anywhere else.

Their grandeur is hard to describe: sheer rocky spires, daunting valleys, giant waterfalls. The light itself is memorable:  harsh bright sun, imposing black clouds, rainbows coming and going. Sometimes it feels like we’re driving through Yosemite valley, but on an island.

The people of these islands take Marquesas to another level. In the 1970s, Polynesian culture had been squashed by decades of repressive colonial thinking. That’s when Marquesans led the resurrection of Polynesian culture. They’ve revived their language, tatoo arts, drumming & dancing, sculpturing, hunting practices, and more. Through their bi-yearly Festival, they’ve become a beacon for all of Polynesia, from Easter Island, to Hawaii, to New Zealand. 

The Marquesas is a force of nature, a special place to see in this world. It stands out for its hiking, archeology, landscape and culture. Its marine life can be impressive, especially for scuba diving. 

However, the water is more turbid than elsewhere in French Polynesia, due to the sediment in its rivers, so the snorkeling is less of a highlight. Another challenge is the distance and cost to get there from Papeete. 

If those obstacles are overcome, the mana of these mid-ocean islands can be felt in person. 

Examples of islands: Hiva Oa, Fatu Hiva, Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou. 

Tuamotus: the best ocean playground?

While the Marquesas are tall islands with epic rocky spires and huge valleys, the Tuamotus are flat as pancakes. They are coral atolls that are as tall as coconut trees. There are no rivers, no sediment, so the water is crystal clear. The coral reefs and marine life is prolific and supremely healthy — particularly on the reef passes and outer edges of the atolls. 

The Tuamotu atolls are playgrounds for ocean sports. Snorkeling and scuba diving are world class. Kitesurfing can be phenomenal, since the low-lying reefs can create smooth water without turbulence. Surfing can be all-time, although it is very fickle and inconsistent, due to the exact direction of the reef passes and winds. 

From a sailing & navigation standpoint, the Tuamotus is very challenging, with difficult anchoring, dangerous coral bommies, and consequential reef passes. Since the atolls are very large, lagoons aren’t necessarily calm; changes in wind during low pressures can put sailboats “up against the ropes”. These are some of the more technical sailing grounds in the world. 

With a capable crew and boat, the Tuamotus can be an amazing ocean playground with few comparisons. 

Examples of Tuamotus include: Rangiroa, Fakarava, Tikehau, Makemo, Ahe. 

Society Islands: a balance of everything

If you were tasked to create “perfect” islands, you’d be hard pressed to make something more beautiful than the Society Islands. 

They are mountainous and gorgeous — less dramatic than Marquesas, but still awesome to behold. 

They have lagoons with turquoise water — much smaller than Tuamotus, but much calmer and easier to navigate too. 

They have flat areas which are good for agriculture and roads; deep bays for anchorages. They’re amazing for all activities: hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing. The downside? There’s a lot more people, Papeete is a busy bustling city, and Moorea & Bora-Bora are world-renown tourist destinations. Modernity has influenced the Societies more than the other archipelagos. 

As a hub for travel, they are a beautiful and easy place to explore, with a fantastic variety of islands. 

If you’re able visit a few of the Society Islands, along with either a visit to Marquesas or Tuamotus (depending on your interests), that is a great combination.

Examples of Society Islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Bora-Bora, Huahine, Raiatea. 

HOW TO GET AROUND

The Society Islands have large, fast ferries between the islands. Consider if the weather conditions will be rough for the longer passages, especially east bound legs (usually upwind). There are convenient, quick flights, which are more comfortable if the seas are rough. 

To reach the Tuamotus and Marquesas, inter-island flights are required, usually via Papeete as the travel hub.  There is also the Aranui passenger /cargo hybrid cruise ship, which can take guests between the islands. 

For the flights, the biggest inter-island airline is Air Tahiti, flying to nearly every single island. They have expensive rates, but changes are easy to make. They also offer Promotional passes combining multiple islands into one rate. 

A relatively new, smaller airline is Air Moana, which only services the most popular islands. They provide cheaper rates, but have more limited options. 

In general, be prepared to spend $$$ for transport between the islands (along with pricey accommodation and food!). French Polynesia is an expensive destination, but for the quality of the experience, variety of world class activities, high level of safety and infrastructure, it is truly a remarkable place to visit.  

Here is our Schedule for French Polynesia:

• Simplified schedule on our website (ok for mobile phone, limited info).
• Full schedule online (best for desktop computers)

Read More about Green Coco

See our website: www.greencoco.org

Take a boat tour of Nesi.

We run an Adventure Sailing Cooperative, with the around-the-world Green Coco Expedition aboard Nesi, hosting co-op members for 1-2 week trips along the way. It is a world schooling voyage, with onboard teacher for the kids. We have space for up to 7 or 8 guests. Send us a message to learn more: expedition@greencoco.org.