Family holidays with children in French Polynesia - attractions and entertainment

It is rather difficult to find a country more suitable for families with children than French Polynesia. Any child and teenager will enjoy active recreation surrounded by tropical flowers and amazing aromas, swimming among beautiful colorful fish, and funny games on the warm sand under a bright blue sky. Finally, you can taste the most exotic delicacies here and get acquainted with the history and culture of this unique place. When coming to the paradise islands with children, you should first of all think about safety and explain to the kids how dangerous it is to run on the water barefooted or grab pebbles from the bottom because of such terrible water inhabitants like a well-disguised wart fish.

There are no specialized museums for children on the islands of French Polynesia. Nevertheless this is not a problem, since art and historical museums tell fascinating stories about the life and art of the islanders. In Paeet there is a museum called “Manua Exquisite Tahitian Art”, which presents the best works of Tahiti masters, which is basically in the form of carved figures and dishes. In the souvenir shop you can buy such interesting things as, for example, wonderful wooden pipes that children will definitely like. The collection of the art gallery “Art du Pacific” in Bora Bora is an interesting collection of superb paintings and other objects of art created by famous artists on the islands.

The Art Museum and Studio the Alain Despert in Wi-Tape are filled with beautiful paintings that are striking bright, warm, and with sunny colors. Many of these paintings can be purchased so that you can hang a piece of the Polynesian sun at your home. Visitors to the Art Museum also have the chance to chat with the artist Alain Despert himself. Gallery “Umatatea” is also another great place to dive into the culture of the locals. It is located in Hua Hin, on the islands of the Society. It invites adults and children to appreciate contemporary local art. Basically you can see the beautiful landscapes and portraits of the Polynesians here, which are sold at relatively low prices. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

All kids need to run and frolic, and physical activity is better when combined with the discovery of new facets of the Polynesian culture, as well as the study of new places. To do this, you can go to the commune of Tapuppuatea on the island of Raiatea. In this commune is located “Marae” – the so-called Polynesian shrines. Marae bears the name of the commune and is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This place was found in the early 30s of the last century. Religious ceremonies took place here, in pre-colonial times. As the children play among the stones, adults can breathe the air of history near this once-important shrine for locals, which is about a thousand years old.

Vacationers on the island of Bora Bora should definitely go with the children to visit the “Turtle Center”. It is located in a closed lagoon, where these reptiles, hawksbill and green turtles mostly on the verge of extinction, live in natural conditions and complete safety. These are turtles with injuries that are nursed with love and set free. There is also an incubator here for turtle eggs, aquariums with corals, a museum of local nature and a pool in which you can mingle with convalescent turtles and feed them. The center will be one of the best places for instilling in children, love of nature and learning to care for it.

There is a wonderful “Dolphin Center” on the island of Moorea, and it is not at all like an ordinary dolphinarium. Here living in the lagoon are dolphins, which for various reasons cannot survive alone in the ocean. The center invites visitors to listen to the most interesting lectures on the psychology, anatomy and behavior of dolphins and to talk closely with these wonderful animals, which are carefully looked after by the center’s veterinarians. Some of the animals are trained in tricks and will gladly show their skills to visitors. In the mornings there are fifteen minute swims with dolphins. A day spent with these friendly and funny sea animals will be remembered for life by children as well as their parents.

In the cultural center “Tiki Village” on the island of Moorea, you can have fun, learn a lot of new things, and eat too. Visitors can easily and inconspicuously immerse themselves in the Polynesian culture by watching the evening show, participating in traditional dances with professional dancers, opening coconuts, enjoying dishes from the underground stove, viewing the authentic village and simply enjoying the community of the locals. Tourists whose children crave for something very special are recommended to go for a tour underwater in breathing helmets on Bora Bora. An incredible experience of a leisurely timeout along the bottom among corals and fish of all colors of the rainbow will be one of the best memories in the lives of travelers.