Papeete, French Polynesia

Sunset from hotel pool in Papeete, Tahiti

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coucher_soleil_sur_Moorea.JPG
Author: Remi Jouan


Papeete is the main town and capital of French Polynesia. Covering 17.4 sq km (6.7 sq mi) on the island of Tahiti, Papeete has a population of 26,000 (2011 estimate). It is also the administrative capital of the Windward Islands, which includes Tahiti, Moorea, Mehetia, Tetiaroa and Maiao.

Port Pepeete, Tahiti
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Port.Papeete.JPG
Author: FRED


The growth of the town was indirectly the result of a decision to relocate nuclear arms testing from Algeria to the Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls, 1,500 km to the east of Tahiti. As a result, the airport in Faa'a near Papeete was constructed, and this enabled more traffic to pass through the area.

Papeete serves as the gateway to Tahiti. It receives mainly visitors from cruise liners as well as flights at the Faa'a International Airport. The city experiences a tropical monsoon climate, which is fairly uniform except for a dry spell from August to September and a particular wet season from December to January. Temperature in Papeete usually hovers around 25°C (77°F).

Aerial view of Papeete, Tahiti

Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Papeete-_InterContinental_Beachcomber.JPG
Author: Remi Jouan

Visiting Papeete

Faa'a Inte3rnational Airport (PPT) receives flights by Air Caledonie International (Noumea), Air France (Paris, Los Angeles), Air New Zealand (Auckland), Air Tahiti Nui (Auckland, Los Angeles, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo), Air Tahiti (Raratonga) and LAN (Santiago).

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