# French Polynesia yacht & catamaran charter: prices, season and licence > French Polynesia yacht charter prices 2027: catamaran averages by month (€5,009–10,592/week), best months, licence rules, 7-day route. Sourced. URL: https://catamaranindex.com/french-polynesia/ Last updated: 2026-10-27 Author: Catamaran Index editorial team Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora and Huahine share protected lagoons; most charters start from Raiatea. *Last checked: 27 Oct 2026. All prices in euros as published by the source. [Download the data (CSV)](https://catamaranindex.com/data/prices-2026-10.csv).* ## Key numbers - **French Polynesia: €5,009 to €10,592 per week** (cheapest month January, most expensive July) ([12 Knots](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026) - **Catamarans listed:** 77 in French Polynesia on 12 Knots (bareboat or crewed) - **In detail:** [Catamaran cost by month, all-in and per person](https://catamaranindex.com/french-polynesia/catamaran/) ## Catamaran price by month | Month | French Polynesia avg. weekly cost | |---|---:| | January | €5,009 | | February | €5,811 | | March | €7,493 | | April | €9,399 | | May | €9,284 | | June | €9,450 | | July | €10,592 | | August | €10,317 | | September | €10,209 | | October | €9,777 | | November | €7,473 | | December | €6,773 | Source: [12 Knots: Catamaran charter in French Polynesia (Tahiti)](https://12knots.com/en/yacht-charter/destinations/oceania/tahiti/catamaran-charter/), checked 27 Oct 2026. 12 Knots calculates each monthly figure from all qualifying weekly price records (53 unique boats in French Polynesia) for departures in the current and following calendar year. Asking prices before discounts and extras. ## Yacht charter prices by boat type Catamarans are our flagship, and the only type with a monthly public price series. For the others we show what we can verify and say so when we can't. - **Catamaran (bareboat or crewed):** see the monthly table above. - **Sailing yacht / monohull:** We have not yet found a public, dated monohull average for French Polynesia that we can verify, so we don't show one. Monohulls are generally cheaper than catamarans of similar length; see [catamaran vs monohull](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/catamaran-vs-monohull/). - **Motor yacht:** we have no verified price average for French Polynesia. What we can source is the cost structure: Helm puts the APA at around 35–40% of the charter fee for motor yachts ([Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa), checked 27 Oct 2026). See [catamaran vs monohull vs motor yacht](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/catamaran-monohull-motor-yacht/). - **Gulet:** we have no verified price average for French Polynesia. Ask operators for a fully inclusive quote. - **Skippered:** add a skipper at roughly €150–300 per day depending on destination ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026), i.e. about €1,050–€2,100 for 7 days, plus the skipper's meals. See [bareboat vs skippered](https://catamaranindex.com/compare/bareboat-vs-skippered/). - **Crewed (skipper + cook/host):** usually quoted with an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA) of around 25–35% of the charter fee for sailing yachts and catamarans ([Helm](https://www.helm.yt/article/what-is-an-apa), checked 27 Oct 2026), and a customary crew gratuity of 10–20% ([Worth Avenue Yachts](https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/explore/charter-terms-and-conditions/), checked 27 Oct 2026). ## Season and best months Tahiti Tourisme describes a dry season from May to October and a wet season from November to April ([Tahiti Tourisme](https://tahititourisme.com/en-us/travel-planner/tahiti-weather/), checked 27 Oct 2026). Charter prices track this: highest in July–September, lowest in January. Monthly figures are 12 Knots' published "average weekly cost" for catamarans in French Polynesia. They mix bareboat and crewed listings and all boat sizes, and they are asking prices, not final transaction prices. Cheapest months to go: [January](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/january/), [February](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/february/), [December](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/december/). Compare every destination month by month: [where to sail by month](https://catamaranindex.com/where-to-sail/). ## Licence requirements Sources differ. Anchor says no licence is required by law in French Polynesia, only a sailing résumé ([Anchor (formerly Helm)](https://www.anchor.yt/article/bareboat-licences), checked 27 Oct 2026), while The Moorings lists Tahiti among regions requiring formal certification ([The Moorings](https://www.moorings.com/experience-guide/level-3-sail), checked 27 Oct 2026). Ask your operator. Full comparison: [sailing licence requirements by country](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/sailing-licence-requirements/). ## Sample 7-day route 1. Raiatea (Uturoa) 2. Taha'a 3. Bora Bora 4. Taha'a (west coral garden) 5. Huahine 6. Raiatea The Bora Bora and Huahine legs are open-ocean crossings; plan them on settled days. This is an editorial example to show what a week can look like, not a navigation plan. Your charter base will brief you on distances, anchorages and conditions. ## Typical extra costs The Globe Sailor's September 2026 figures for a catamaran in French Polynesia ([The Globe Sailor](https://www.theglobesailor.com/blog/what-it-really-costs-to-charter-a-yacht), checked 28 Oct 2026): | Item | Amount | |---|---:| | Fuel budget, per week | €210 | | Port fee, per night | €62 | | Mandatory extras (incl. final cleaning) | €620 | | Security deposit (refundable) | €4,000 | The source's table does not state a period for every column: fuel per week and port fee per night are our reading, based on the article text. Plug these into the [cost calculator](https://catamaranindex.com/tools/charter-cost-calculator/) to get a full weekly budget. ## Compare and book We may earn a commission if you book through these links, at no extra cost to you ([disclosure](https://catamaranindex.com/affiliate-disclosure/)). - [Click&Boat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/clickandboat?dest=french-polynesia&pos=dest-cta): Boat rental marketplace (bareboat, skippered and day trips). - [SamBoat](https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=french-polynesia&pos=dest-cta): Boat rental marketplace (bareboat, skippered and day trips). - [Searadar](https://catamaranindex.com/go/searadar?dest=french-polynesia&pos=dest-cta): Yacht charter search across charter companies. Day trips: [GetYourGuide](https://catamaranindex.com/go/getyourguide?dest=french-polynesia&pos=daytrips) · [Viator](https://catamaranindex.com/go/viator?dest=french-polynesia&pos=daytrips) ## FAQ ### How much does a yacht charter in French Polynesia cost per week? It depends on the boat type, the month and whether a crew is included. The type we can price with public data is the catamaran: €5,009 to €10,592 per week in French Polynesia (12 Knots' average asking prices, updated October 2026). We have no verified average for a sailing monohull here yet. We have no verified averages for motor yachts or gulets, so we don't show any. Fuel, marina fees, a skipper and, on crewed yachts, the APA come on top; see [how much a yacht charter costs](https://catamaranindex.com/guides/how-much-does-a-yacht-charter-cost/). ### How much does a catamaran charter in French Polynesia cost per week? According to 12 Knots' monthly averages (updated October 2026), the average weekly asking price for a catamaran in French Polynesia ranges from €5,009 in January to €10,592 in July. These averages mix bareboat and crewed boats of all sizes and exclude extras such as fuel, marina fees and a skipper. ### What is the cheapest month to charter a catamaran in French Polynesia? January has the lowest average weekly price in our source (€5,009). The three cheapest months are January, February, December. ### Do I need a sailing licence to charter a boat in French Polynesia? Sources differ. Anchor says no licence is required by law in French Polynesia, only a sailing résumé, while The Moorings lists Tahiti among regions requiring formal certification. Ask your operator. ### How many charter catamarans are available in French Polynesia? 12 Knots listed 77 catamarans in French Polynesia (bareboat or crewed) when we checked on 27 Oct 2026. That is one platform's inventory, not the whole market. --- Affiliate disclosure: some links are affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See /affiliate-disclosure/.