Product info
Papeete eSIM plans
| 1GB prepaid eSIM · 7 days | $10.49$10.49 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 2GB prepaid eSIM · 7 days | $20.49$10.24 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 3GB prepaid eSIM · 14 days | $30.49$10.16 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| Ohayu recommends5GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $49.99$10.00 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 10GB prepaid eSIM · 30 days | $99.49$9.95 / GB | Buy eSIM |
| 20GB prepaid eSIM · 90 days | $198.99$9.95 / GB | Buy eSIM |
Plan details
How much mobile data you need
What's the best eSIM for Papeete?
A stopover – 1 GB
Maps, a hotel transfer, messages home.
Two weeks island-hopping – 3 GB
Moorea, Bora Bora, the Tuamotus.
Honeymoon fortnight – 10 GB
Photos and video calls home.
Working remotely – 20 GB
Tethering across a long stay.
Coverage and network
Coverage on Tahiti and beyond
French Polynesia mobile networks
Vini, the OPT subsidiary, is the dominant operator and has the widest reach across the archipelagos; Vodafone Polynesia covers the populated islands. Papeete and the Tahitian coast road are properly served. The further you go from the main islands, the more coverage becomes a question of which atoll you are standing on.
Papeete and Tahiti, specifically
- Papeete, the waterfront, the market: Reliable 4G, 5G in parts. Fine for everything you would normally do in a small capital.
- The coast road around Tahiti Nui: Covered essentially all the way round - about 120 km of road with settlements along it.
- Tahiti Iti and the Fatu Hiva side: Thins out. Teahupo'o has coverage in the village; the trail beyond the road end does not.
- The interior: Papenoo valley and the crater road across the middle of the island have long unserved stretches. 4x4 tours go out of range.
- Inter-island flights and ferries: Nothing over open water. The Moorea ferry is short enough to hold at both ends and drop in between.
French Polynesia, not France
This plan covers French Polynesia - Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and the main islands. It is billed as its own destination, not as part of France.
How to install eSIM
Connected in 3 steps
- 01
Buy before you fly
Choose your data plan before your trip.
- 02
Download & install
Log in to your account, tap your eSIM, and follow the on-screen instructions.
- 03
Land & activate
Activate when you arrive in French Polynesia. Turn on roaming for the eSIM and it connects to a local network.
Before you buy, make sure your phone supports eSIM — see Ohayu compatible devices list or dial *#06#. It's a free request to your phone's settings. If you see the EID number — your phone is eSIM-compatible.
Arriving in Papeete
Airport Wi-Fi at Faa'a
Tahiti-Faa'a has free terminal Wi-Fi, which matters more here than at most airports because international flights land at antisocial hours and the SIM counters are not always open when you clear customs.
Side by side
Papeete eSIM Comparison
Indicative comparison based on publicly listed French Polynesia plans as of August 2026. Competitor pricing and policies change - check their sites for current terms.
Frequently asked questions
Does my French or EU plan work in French Polynesia?
No - and this is the mistake that catches people out. French Polynesia is a French overseas collectivity that sits outside the European Union, so EU roam-like-at-home does not apply here. A French or EU plan will either not work or bill as full international roaming. You need a plan issued for French Polynesia specifically, and it is worth checking that before you board a flight this long.
Where to buy a SIM card in Papeete?
Vini has offices in town and there is a Relay in the airport that sells their SIMs, plus a Vodafone store at the airport. Local prepaid comes with a +689 number. Opening hours are the practical constraint - long-haul arrivals often land before the counters open.
Which islands actually have coverage?
Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea and the other populated Society Islands are served. The Tuamotu atolls and the Marquesas are much thinner - some atolls have a single cell near the village and nothing elsewhere. If your itinerary includes a remote atoll, plan on being offline for that leg.
eSIM not working in Papeete?
Over open water between islands there is no coverage at all, and the interior valleys have long gaps. On the coast road, check Ohayu is your data line with roaming enabled, then cycle Airplane mode. Chat and support@ohayu.com are open 24/7.
