French Polynesia is a relaxed place to travel, and most problems visitors meet are practical ones: sunburn, coral cuts, a strong current, a mosquito-borne fever or a missed connection after bad weather. The Government of Canada rates the territory at its lowest risk level, "take normal security precautions". This guide covers what that means on the ground: personal security, the sea, roads, health, weather and what to do if something goes wrong.
Personal security
Canada's advice notes that petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching occurs, while violent crime is rare. Sensible habits cover most of it. Use the room safe for passports and spare cash, don't leave bags or phones unattended on beaches or in parked cars, and carry only what you need for the day. Demonstrations happen from time to time in Papeete. They can disrupt traffic, and even peaceful ones can turn tense, so keep clear and follow local media.
Canada also flags stray dogs, which can become aggressive. Don't approach or feed them, and give them room when walking or cycling, especially early in the morning or after dark.
Emergency numbers
- Police: 17
- Medical emergency (SAMU): 15
- Fire and rescue: 18
Save these, plus your accommodation's number and your insurer's assistance line, in your phone before you arrive.
On the water and on the trail
Lifeguards don't usually supervise beaches. Tidal changes create strong currents, especially near passes and reef openings where lagoon water drains to the ocean. Ask residents or your host where it is safe to swim, stay well inside the lagoon unless you're with a guide, and never swim out towards the reef edge or a pass alone. Lagoons also carry boat traffic: snorkel near the shore or inside marked areas, and tow a bright float if you swim any distance.
Wear reef shoes when wading. French Polynesia's health directorate warns about stonefish on muddy bottoms, whose sting can be dangerous, and about infection from coral cuts. Clean and treat any graze straight away and keep watching it until it heals. On land, centipede bites are painful but usually not serious.
Diving and adventure activities
Canada's advice is to choose well-established, insured operators, because standards vary, and to check that your insurance covers the activity. For hikes, never go alone. Hire an experienced guide for interior trails, tell someone your plans, and check the weather: rivers can rise quickly after rain, and steep trails turn slippery. Insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation is strongly advised for anyone hiking, diving or visiting remote islands. Our travel insurance guide explains what to look for.
Roads
Roads are narrow, many secondary roads are unpaved and unlit, and drivers don't always give pedestrians the right of way. Take extra care at night, on scooters and when walking along the coast road. Canadians can drive for up to a year on a valid Canadian licence, but a licence not in French must be accompanied by an official translation or an international driving permit.
Make the visit respectful
Safety and respect overlap. Following a guide's briefing, keeping your distance from wildlife and staying off fragile reef protects you as much as the environment. Outside tourist areas, dress conservatively and behave discreetly in villages and churches, as Canada's advice recommends. Penalties for drug offences are severe.
Health precautions
See a travel health clinic, ideally six weeks before departure, to check routine vaccines and get advice on hepatitis A and B. Dengue circulates in French Polynesia and Zika is also a risk, so use insect repellent by day and night, and see a doctor promptly for a sudden high fever with headache. Pregnant travellers should discuss Zika with their healthcare provider before booking. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required only if you have recently been in, or transited through, a country with yellow fever risk; our entry requirements guide covers the other arrival rules.
Other points from the local health directorate: drink clean or bottled water, take care with reef fish because of ciguatera, and avoid wading barefoot through muddy water or rivers after rain because of leptospirosis. Strong tropical sun calls for a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and plenty of water.
Common planning mistakes
Booking back-to-back flights with no spare time in cyclone season, skipping evacuation cover because "it's only a beach holiday", and assuming medical facilities on a small atoll match those in Papeete are the usual ones.
Accessibility and individual needs
Canada describes healthcare as good on the major islands but limited on remote and less-populated ones, and providers may ask for payment up front. Travellers with ongoing conditions should carry enough medication for the whole trip plus spare, in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Consider basing yourself on Tahiti, Moorea or another larger island if regular care might be needed. Families should pack a small health kit with rehydration salts, antiseptic, plasters and repellent suited to children.
Weather and natural hazards
Heavy rain can fall in any month but is more frequent from November to April, which is also the cyclone season. Flooding and landslides can close roads, and storms can cancel flights and boats at short notice. If you travel in these months, keep plans flexible and follow local instructions. French Polynesia is also in an active seismic zone. If you're staying on the coast, find out the evacuation route in case of a tsunami warning. Our Tahiti weather guide explains the seasons in more detail.
If something goes wrong
Canada has no office in French Polynesia. During business hours, Canadians can contact the Consulate General of Australia in Papeete under a consular sharing agreement, and Global Affairs Canada's Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa answers at any time. Register with Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service before you go, and keep scanned copies of your passport and insurance policy where you can reach them online.