What to Pack for French Polynesia

30.07.2024 - 21:28 / cntraveler.com / Bora Bora

The allure of French Polynesia is intoxicating. It’s the beat of pahu drums, the smell of tiaré flowers on the wind, the vivid blues of the sea, and swaying palms with a breeze that ever-so-perfectly tickles your skin.

A note about seasonality

I visited in July, French Polynesia’s winter, when temperatures hover between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can expect a refreshing breeze in the evening. This is the high season, despite the fact that bursts of wind and rain are never off the menu (we’re in the tropics, after all). Plus, late June to mid-July is when you can catch The Heiva, a cultural festival across the islands. In summer, roughly December to February, temperatures rise by about 10-20 degrees, and the humidity can reach nearly 90 percent.

Here, days may range from those on a lounge chair, ordering another rum punch, to ones spent trekking past coconut trees in the presence of Ancient Polynesian temples. You may even surf the region's infamous waves—however you choose to divide your time, French Polynesia has decidedly more to offer than most people give it credit for. (No wonder Marlon Brando was so enamored he bought an entire atoll here in the ’60s—it's now home to the dreamy Brando resort.)

This diversity of experiences is a large part of what drew me to plan a trip, yet determining what to pack for French Polynesia was another story. With such a rich itinerary, and little puddle-jumper planes the go-to mode of transportation from one island to the next (translation: it’s a real headache for everyone if you overpack), knowing what to bring and what to wear each day was an art I had to refine in real time. Plus, when visiting such a bucket list destination, getting your packing plan on lock is simply due diligence.

Now as I close my suitcase, leaving The Brando's Tetiaroa after jaunts in Bora Bora and Tahiti as well, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to pack for French Polynesia—especially if you’re hopping between more than 1 of the 118 islands, which most travelers are. Below are the outfits I wore again and again, strategically missing the block heels and long skirt that withered at the back of my suitcase. Oh and don’t worry: A desire to look half as fabulous as these sceneries was always in the back of my mind, especially since every inch of land is worth documenting—your camera will be out at all times.

The private atoll of Tetiaroa lies just 30 miles north of Tahiti, but it may as well be worlds away for its privacy and unspoiled beauty.

On most islands, including Tetiaroa, a mix of water and land excursions are on offer. I learned to always wear a bathing suit under my clothes—the opportunity to get in the water usually manifests—and to lean into waterproof shoes (why