I still remember that day when we arrived at Tahiti airport, with our backpacks and clothes still dirty with red soil because we spent the past 3 weeks camping in the Australian outback… we were the only ones who weren’t welcomed by travel agents with the classic wreath of orchids. If you want to travel in Polynesia on your own this will be the price to pay, an indelible stain in your memories: no one is going to give you a flower wreath.
Jokes aside, the trip to Polynesia can be absolutely organized autonomously, without necessarily spending a fortune.
If we think of Polynesia, the first image that comes to mind – immediately after the crystalline sea – is undoubtedly linked to the beautiful resorts with bungalows by the ocean. Of course, that is one of the ways of experiencing Polynesia, but there is also the possibility of staying in nice accommodations that do not offer the grandeur and luxury of the resorts, but rather the intimacy and familiarity of a local house. We couldn’t miss them, so we tried both options and we had a great time in both cases. It is just two different experiences.
We cannot deny that the resort, with an overwater bungalow, is something you should try at least once in your life. Ours was a bungalow in the “horizon” category, which means it is located at the end of the pier overlooking the coral reef and the ocean. It was like being on a desert island. When we opened the door and entered, we could not believe our eyes: orchids scattered around the room, some fresh coconut and our own personal coral garden, created in the water under the sliding glass table in the living room, to feed the fishes of the lagoon.
Once we entered, we didn’t want to leave. We had our own terrace with sun loungers and a ladder to enter that wonderful turquoise-colored natural pool.
At the same time, we stayed in small, very intimate, clean and nice facilities. The important thing to know before leaving is to be aware of your budget and align your expectations accordingly, without running the risk of being disappointed. The backpacking experience in Polynesia is absolutely possible, in fact I would highly recommend it.
Apart from choosing the type of accommodation, there is a lot to do: from snorkelling, to parasailing and renting a small boat and much more.
Finally, and most importantly, you need to choose which the islands to visit. There are many of them, some of which are wilder and more authentic than others, and do not require major economic efforts; others instead, like Bora Bora, are more expensive if you want to live them fully.
We chose to go to the archipelago of the Society Islands and, among these, we opted for the islands of Huahine and Bora Bora. The former is off main touristic routes and can be described as more authentic and accessible both from the point of view of accommodation and activities. Regarding the second one… well, perhaps it is the most famous atoll in the world, and all that goes with it. Although the island offers a good choice of accommodation at a good price, experiencing it at best can be expensive.
