Purchase artisanal gifts. Seek out local artisans and purchase hand crafted items. The Marché de Papeete is a great starting point. You can find traditional jewelry, baskets, carvings and other items. You can also check out French Polynesia’s Artisan website.

Dine at locally-owned restaurants. Try traditional Tahitian food at local eateries. Experience authentic Tahitian food and support small businesses. This ensures that the ingredients are mainly sourced locally, which means you will be supporting local fishermen and farmers as well.

Stay at local accommodations. If you want to meet and support locals, you can opt for a locally-owned lodge, guesthouse or homestay. This will undoubtedly offer a more enriching and authentic experience.

Choose activities guided by locals. Find tours or excursions led by local guides. They will provide great insight into the culture and environment.

Attend local events. French Polynesia, and particularly Tahiti, has a vibrant cultural scene, with plenty of events spread throughout the year. Check out Tahiti Tourisme’s events and festivals page.

Choose an electric vehicle for your rental car. Opting for electric vehicles can significantly reduce CO2 emissions during your travels.

Turn off water while shampooing or while brushing teeth. Conserving water can reduce energy used in water treatment and distribution, lowering CO2 emissions

Refuse all single-use plastics. Avoiding single-use plastics can dramatically reduce carbon emissions related to the production and disposal of these materials

Use a fan instead of air conditioning. While tempting to use the AC, the fan is a more sustainable option. Fans consume less energy than air conditioning units, leading to lower CO2 emissions.

Use public transportation, walk, or cycle. Walking or cycling over motorized transport for short distances is a great option to reduce CO2 emissions. Public transportation is generally more energy-efficient and produces less CO2 per passenger compared to private vehicles. Please note that this is particularly a great option for islands outside of Tahiti. Tahiti’s public transportation is a work in progress and is not currently the safest place to cycle. When you need to organize long distance travel, car-sharing or taking a bus or ferry are great ways to travel in the islands.

Pick activities that do not create sound pollution. Snorkeling, paddle, and kayak are excellent options. Indeed, engaging in quiet, non-motorized water activities helps reduce noise pollution, which can be harmful to marine life.

Do not touch coral or marine animals. Avoiding contact with marine ecosystems helps to preserve their biodiversity.

Turn off all lights at night to reduce light pollution. Minimizing light pollution can benefit nocturnal wildlife and reduce energy consumption.

Clean your shoes before and after each outing. Cleaning shoes can prevent the spread of invasive species and protect local ecosystems.

Use biodegradable sunscreen to protect coral reefs. If you must wear sunscreen, choose biodegradable sunscreen which is less harmful to marine life, especially coral reefs.

Avoid touching plants or removing plants from their natural habitat. Touching plants can spread unwanted species. It is also forbidden to bring plants from island to island. Admire the natural flora, but do not touch or take them home.