Kumbaya - Bound for French Polynesia

In October, we learned that French Polynesia was finally opening its borders. We decided to leave Panama, where we’d been enjoying the charming San Blas, Bocas del Toro and Escudo des Veraguas. At the beginning of December, we cast off. Some energetic grandparents joined us for the crossing. After a short one-week stopover in the Galapagos Islands and a quiet 19 day crossing of the Pacific Ocean, we arrived in the Marquesas Islands in mid- January. We were thrilled to discover the incredible culture and landscapes of Polynesia. We spent two months discovering the Marquesas, before heading to the Gambiers. It was wonderful to arrive in this small archipelago, and we really enjoyed discovering it. It was a treat to finally find the turquoise sea that we had left behind in Panama. This archipelago offers an ideal sailing environment between motus and anchorages, each one as charming as the next. The lagoons are incredibly blue, and the underwater landscape offers an infinite wealth of diversity: corals, fish, sharks, it’s magical! There are also many beautiful hikes through the forests with pine trees and raspberry bushes, not to mention the magnificent pearls. Add to that the welcoming and generous inhabitants (don’t miss the barbecue at Hervé and Valerie’s in Taravai, or the visit to Rémy and Ruita’s vanilla plantation) and the numerous fruits to pick. This all makes it a really unique stopover that will remain etched in our memories.

Thank you the Gambiers!