Packing for Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora

Pack for island transfers as well as the beach: keep travel documents accessible, check domestic baggage rules and protect essentials during boat journeys.

Documents and booking details

Check France-Visas for your nationality and French Polynesia destination, and check every transit country separately. Keep the hotel address, flight and ferry confirmations and activity meeting points accessible offline. Do not assume the rules for mainland France describe this entire itinerary. The documents you need depend on nationality, route and carrier.

Check domestic baggage before leaving

An international airline’s allowance does not automatically carry over to a domestic island flight. Air Tahiti publishes separate cabin and checked-baggage rules, with conditions varying by fare. Check your actual ticket rather than a generic allowance copied into a packing list. A ferry or hotel boat may also have handling restrictions. Leave room to reorganise essentials.

Prepare for a boat day

Bring swimwear, a towel, suitable footwear, a hat and sun protection compatible with operator instructions. Use a dry bag for items that should stay dry. Ask the activity provider about equipment and participation restrictions. The Moorea offer lists towels among inclusions but also asks guests to bring their own; packing a personal towel avoids relying on the conflicting description.

Prepare for inland visits

A light rain layer is useful for changeable conditions. Take shoes suitable for the walks described in the offer and water for the day. If you have mobility requirements, obtain direct confirmation from the Moorea 4WD operator before booking. A photograph of a vehicle or viewpoint is not a substitute for a confirmed participation arrangement.

Keep arrival and return essentials close

Place documents, booking details and the things needed for the first evening somewhere reachable during transfers. Save the hotel boat or pickup instructions before landing. Check the exact return route and airline restrictions again before departure. Packing lightly is useful; packing for the actual sequence of planes, roads and boats is more useful.