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Voykit pocket guide · French Polynesia
Manihi
Stay 2–3 days for diving or pearl‑farm visit; otherwise skip – flight from Papeete 1 h 30 min, $11 per person airport‑to‑resort transfer.
Manihi is a remote coral atoll in the Tuamotu group with a single resort, limited services and daily Air Tahiti flights. Its main draws are pristine dive sites, black‑pearl farms and quiet village life. Because of the travel time and limited activities, a short stay of 2–3 days is enough to experience the atoll without wasting time.
- Country
- French Polynesia
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season, calmer seas)
- Avoid
- Feb–Mar (higher rain and wind)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- XPF
- Money
- Currency is the CFP franc (XPF), also used in New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna, pegged to the euro (€1 = 119.33 XPF); euros are sometimes taken at poor rates.
- Daily spend
- Budget XPF 8,000–12,000 excl. bed · Mid XPF 12,000–18,000 excl. bed · High XPF 18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vini (OPT) is the main network, with Vodafone (Onati) as the other; tourist SIMs at Faa'a airport and Vini shops need a passport.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Medical (SAMU) 15 · Fire 18
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 220 V · 60 Hz · French two-pin sockets; some resorts also have 110 V US sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Not expected; service is included.; Tours and dives: Optional; XPF 1,000–2,000 for a great guide.; Taxis: Not expected.; Resort staff: Optional; some resorts have a shared staff fund.
- Water
- Tap water in Papeete and many Tahiti and Moorea communes is treated; on atolls it is rainwater. Ask, or drink bottled.
- Toilets
- Western toilets; few public ones — use cafés, malls and the ferry terminal.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Snack bar coffee | $2–$4 |
| Coconut water (fresh) | $1–$2 |
| Bicycle rental (free for guests) | Free |
| Water taxi (resort‑village) | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- XMH · Manihi Airport
- Domestic airstrip, single daily Air Tahiti flight from Papeete (≈1 h 30 min).
Typical fares
- Papeete → Manihi (Air Tahiti)
- about $250–$350 one‑way, 1 h 30 min (check airline).
- Resort airport‑to‑resort transfer
- $11 per person, one‑way electric cart.
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bicycles (free for resort guests) and water taxis (free between resort and village). No motorised traffic.
See and do
Known for
- Black‑pearl farms
- Scuba diving and snorkeling
- Manihi Pearl Beach Resort
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rangiroa | Air Tahiti 1 h 30 min from Manihi, then local transport | ≈3 h total |
Sleep
- Manihi Pearl Beach Resort
- Only commercial lodging, 50 rooms, $300–$600 per night (2026 estimate).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Ia ora naee‑ah‑oh‑rah‑nah |
| Thank you | Mauruurumah‑roo‑roo |
| How much? | Eaha te moni?eh‑ah‑hah‑teh‑mo‑nee |
| Where is the water taxi? | Ehia te ta‘a vai?eh‑hee‑ah‑teh‑tah‑ah‑vai |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Bonjour or ia ora na; a kiss on the cheek among acquaintances; avoid: Starting a request without a greeting
- Flowers: Accept the flower garland (hei) on arrival; flower behind the right ear means single, left means taken; avoid: Throwing a hei away in front of the giver
- Homes: Shoes off at the door; avoid: Entering yards without asking
- Church: Neat clothes, quiet photos only when allowed; avoid: Beachwear
- Pace: Patience; 'aita pe'ape'a' (no worries); avoid: Pushing for speed
Scams and watch-outs
- Power and fresh water are limited; rely on generators and rain‑water tanks.
- Supplies are scarce; bring essentials or buy at the village mini‑market (no fresh fruit).
- Weather can change hourly; be prepared for wind, rain and sun in the same day.
Manihi is safe for tourists; main risks are limited medical facilities and occasional strong winds.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Manihi yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Black‑pearl farms
- Scuba diving and snorkeling
- Manihi Pearl Beach Resort
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- French Polynesia tourism authority: www.tourisme.pf/en/
- Wikivoyage: Manihi, revision 5065269 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5065269
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/manihi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.