Yesterday & Today in French Polynesia

Conjuring images of warm blue waters and palm tree lined white sand beaches, French Polynesia is today, one of the most spectacular vacation destinations in the world. Considered by many to be among the last remaining unspoiled paradises left on the planet, these exotic and beautiful islands hold the promise of a truly memorable vacation. With unparalleled natural beauty both above and below water, French Polynesia offers tourists a holiday like no other. Rich in history, culture and romance, these tiny islands have played host to a number of famous personalities over the years who have forever captured the exoticism here in their works, and preserved it for millions to enjoy.

Situated in the warm waters of the Eastern South Pacific, 2,500 km east of Australia and 6,000km west of Chile, French Polynesia is an Overseas French Collectivity. Close by to Cook Islands, which sits 900 km west, much of the gorgeous French Polynesia’s 118 islands are uninhabited. Covering a total land area of 4,167sq km, this group of tiny volcanic islands and atolls indeed, offers a magnificent escape. Formed some 20 million years ago from underwater volcanoes, the French Polynesia includes the island groups of;

Austral
Bass
Marquesas
Society, including Tahiti
Gambier
the Tuamotu Archipelago

Aside from Tahiti which is the largest and most populated island and which is home to the country’s capital Papeete, some key atolls and smaller islands in the French Polynesia are; Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and Maupiti. And while autonomous in most respects from the French Government, matters relating to defence, law and foreign affairs of French Polynesia are still controlled by France.

History
While no one is quite sure where the ancestors of modern day French Polynesians have come from, researchers now believe that settlers from Indonesia and the Philippines came here over 4,000 years ago. Polynesians as they are now known settled in this area between 1000 BC and 1000 AD.

First discovered by the Spanish in 1520, the entire of French Polynesia was only mapped out in 1767 by an Englishman named Samuel Wallis. With the French arriving here in 1768, Britain and France remained rivals for these islands colonization until 1843 when the French declared Polynesia as a protectorate, and made it an overseas territory in 1944.

Today, the lure of French Polynesia can hardly be denied. With its sun-kissed beaches, aqua lagoons, exquisite coral reefs and scared sites and marae, these islands allure visitors from all over with its mystery and adventure. A truly special experience for most, French Polynesia offers a luxurious decadence with coupled with superb natural beauty for the ultimate hideaway from the rest of the world.

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