Quick answer
- Best for most guests: a crewed sailing catamaran or power cat — shallow draft for the Bora Bora and Taha’a lagoons, stable in the trades.
- Choose a motor yacht if: you want speed across the Society Islands, more onboard amenities, or you’re heading to the Marquesas.
- Gateway: arrive internationally via Tahiti (Pape’ete) for a focused one-week Leeward Islands loop.
- Best season: May to October, with steady 15–20 knot southeast trades and lower humidity.
- Cost: catamarans run roughly $29,000–$96,000/week; motor yachts $25,000–$420,000/week, plus expenses.
- Fuel reality: motor yacht APA runs 30–35% vs 20–25% on a cat — fuel is the gap.
For most guests chartering the Society Islands, we recommend a crewed sailing catamaran or power cat over a motor yacht. The shallow draft gets you into the inner lagoons and reef anchorages at Bora Bora, Taha’a and Moorea that a deep-keeled motor yacht has to admire from outside, and the wide deck living suits days spent snorkelling off the back of the boat.
We only steer guests toward a motor yacht when speed, onboard amenities or the longer Marquesas passages genuinely change the trip. Both are valid here — French Polynesia, unlike the Maldives, has a deep and well-supported catamaran fleet. The question is which one fits your itinerary, not which is “better.”
Marcelle Hailwax, Charter Broker at DMA Yachting
The core tradeoff
Lagoon access vs distance covered
This is where the choice flips. The Society Islands are built around shallow, reef-protected lagoons, and a catamaran’s draft lets it anchor close to the motus where a 40m motor yacht simply can’t go. For a lagoon-led trip — Bora Bora, the coral gardens of Taha’a, the bays of Moorea — the cat wins clearly.
A motor yacht earns its place on distance and pace. Covering Raiatea to Huahine, or pushing out to the Tuamotu atolls of Fakarava and Rangiroa, is faster under power, and you arrive with energy to dive the passes rather than having spent the day sailing. If your week is about ground covered and onboard comfort between stops, the motor yacht is the honest answer.
Which one fits you
| Option | Best for | Not ideal for | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sailing catamaran / power cat | Lagoon snorkelling, families, two couples who want indoor-outdoor living and reef anchorages | Long open passages, guests wanting a full superyacht amenity list | $29,000–$96,000/week |
| Motor yacht | Speed between islands, the Marquesas, larger groups wanting jacuzzi, toys, full crew service | Tight inner lagoons, fuel-conscious budgets | $25,000–$420,000/week |
A family with teenagers who’ll be in the water all day, or two couples who want to anchor off a motu and swim before breakfast, are catamaran guests. Browse the catamaran fleet or the power catamarans if you want cat stability with motor-yacht pace.
A group that values formal service, a jacuzzi on deck, and the range to take in the Marquesas leans motor yacht. Those guests should look at larger luxury yachts and at yachts with a jacuzzi.
Susannah Deehan, Charter Broker & CYBA Member at DMA Yachting
The cost gap, honestly
Base weekly rates overlap, but the running cost doesn’t. A sailing cat’s APA — the advance kitty for fuel, food and harbour fees — typically runs 20–25% of the base rate. A motor yacht’s runs 30–35%, almost entirely because of fuel. A motor yacht burns far more than a sailing cat, and while visiting yachts get duty-free fuel in Tahiti, fuel used while chartering is invoiced at the full taxed rate.
Plan to add 25–50% onto the base rate for your all-in budget either way, once you include provisioning, moorings, the 5% charter licence tax and crew gratuity of 15–20%. The good news: French Polynesia charges no VAT on charter fees for international visitors. If you’re working to a number, our yachts under $100k and under $60k lists are the right starting point.
Boats that fit this trip
On the catamaran side, the boats that suit this trip are stable, shallow-draft four-cabin platforms that handle the Society Islands lagoons well — easy water access, comfortable deck living, and a draft that lets them anchor close to the motus. These suit groups wanting reef anchorages and snorkelling over a long-range superyacht itinerary.
We’ll match you to a specific boat against your dates and group, and confirm its current rate and licence before you commit. Whatever you pick, crew quality matters more than yacht condition for whether the week works — that’s the single most reliable predictor we have. See the live French Polynesia fleet or, if diving the Fakarava passes is the priority, the yachts with scuba diving onboard.
Thomas Merlier, Charter & Sales Broker at DMA YachtingFAQ
Is a catamaran or motor yacht better for Bora Bora?
A catamaran. The Bora Bora lagoon is shallow and reef-bound, and a cat’s draft lets it anchor close to the motus and snorkel straight off the boat. A deep-keeled motor yacht stays in deeper water and tenders you in, which works but loses the on-the-lagoon feel.
When is the best time to charter French Polynesia?
May to October, the dry season, with steady 15–20 knot southeast trades, lower humidity and minimal rain. July and August are peak and fill earliest — book six to nine months before you sail, and up to a year ahead for those two months.
Where do I fly into to start a French Polynesia charter?
You’ll arrive internationally through Tahiti (Pape’ete), the main gateway. From there you connect onward to your embarkation point in the Leeward Islands — Taha’a, Bora Bora, Huahine — which makes for a tighter, better one-week route.
When should I choose a motor yacht over a catamaran?
When you want speed between islands, a fuller list of onboard amenities, or you’re planning the Marquesas — the longer passages and exposed coastlines there favour a motor yacht’s range and comfort over a cat.
How much more does a motor yacht cost to run?
Mostly in fuel. Expect an APA of 30–35% on a motor yacht versus 20–25% on a sailing cat. A motor yacht burns far more fuel than a cat, and chartering fuel is invoiced at the full taxed rate in French Polynesia.
More yachts available in French Polynesia
Motor yachts
Catamarans
Plan Your French Polynesia Charter With Real Experts
Tell us how you like to travel and our charter team will hand-pick the right crewed yachts, dates and route — no obligation.
Our Top French Polynesia Recommendations
We put these shortlists together because most travellers don’t need to weigh up every yacht on the water — just the handful that consistently get this kind of trip right. Each guide below digs into the boats, the best months to go, and the trade-offs worth knowing before you book.
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