Of the five main groups of islands nestled in the South Pacific that make up French Polynesia, the best known – and most popular for yachting charters – is Tahiti.
A sailing yacht off the coast of Tahiti at sunset (Photo: Craig Hatfield via Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
There are a large number of companies that offer a choice of crewed yacht or bareboat charters in Tahiti and the wider region. Many of these are global agencies, while others are based locally and own and manage their own fleet of yachts. To help you find the best option for you, we’ve done some research and picked out three of the best yacht rental companies currently providing Tahiti yacht charters.
Ritzy Charters
One of the biggest names in the yacht charter sector, Ritzy offers a total of 10 yachts for rent in French Poylnesia, including motorboat, sailboat charter and catamaran charter options. Based on our searches, the cheapest available boat currently listed for charter in Tahiti is priced at $11,000 per week, which gets you a 37-foot skippered catamaran that sleeps two guests, plus captain and crew. The booking process itself is simple, too – all you need to do is provide details about your trip, including number of guests, travel dates, favoured itinerary and any special requests, then you ask for a quote and wait for the company to return a list of available vessels based on your criteria.
Boatbookings
Another reputable name for private yacht charter deals, Boatbookings are our number one choice for bareboat options. They can get you on-board a total of 46 yachts in Tahiti, of which 17 are offered as bareboat and the rest crewed. Among them are 5 sailing charter yachts, 9 motorboats and the rest catamarans. They also have an impressive selection of ultra luxury luxury yacht charter opportunities, including supersized vessels such as the 147-foot Big Fish and 206-foot Suri, both of which will set you back at least a cool quarter-of-a-million dollars per week. Boatbookings also claim to personally review every yacht before they list it on the website, and also host a detailed reviews section of their own, which invites past clients to post testimonials about their charter experience. The website search function is also simple and intuitive.
Tahiti Yacht Charter
When it comes to local charter companies, Tahiti Yacht Charters are among the best known. They specialise in sailboat catamaran cruising across French Polynesia, with cruises customised for groups of anything from 2 passengers through to 10, plus captain and crew. From their base located on the island of Raiatea, you will be able to sail through the region and discover each of its island’s unique characteristics. Those seeking bareboat charters are particularly well catered for, although the company stresses that you will need at least two years’ experience as a skipper to helm one of their vessels. Prices start at $3,800 per week for their smallest catamaran, a 36-foot boat with 2-3 cabins.