It might just be paradise

The word “paradise” gets thrown around a lot in the travel sphere, but Tahiti makes a strong case at defying the hyperbole. With 118 islands spread over an area the size of Europe, French Polynesia is covered with diverse landscapes well beyond the white-sand beaches you probably think of—though there are plenty of those, too.

To get oriented, the islands are divided into five archipelagos. The Society Islands include the island of Tahiti along with Bora Bora, which has become an epicentre for some of the world’s best island resorts.

The Tuamotu Islands covering 76 atolls are ring-shaped islands formed over millions of years that are a perfect snorkeller’s paradise in crystal-clear lagoons filled with laidback days on the beach. The Austral Islands are known for their slightly cooler temperatures and for humpback whale breeding between mid-august and late October.

The Marquesas Islands, a remote set of 12 islands close to the equator with towering cliffs and a vibrant culture, have inspired artists including Paul Gauguin and Belgian singer Jacques Brel who ended their days there. Finally, the Gambier Islands to the southeast are known for pearl farming and their magnificent lagoon, considered the most beautiful of The Islands of Tahiti, which encircles the entire archipelago.