Come on an Adventure with Us!
Welcome to Paradise
French Polynesia is one of the most iconic and pristine tropical destinations in the world and there is no better way to experience the turquoise lagoons than on a yacht! With us you will have epic adventures, try new things and even relax supported by other parents (that’s us)!
Between island hopping we offer loads of activities you can opt in or out of such as: snorkeling, hiking, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, beach visits, land excursions, sailing lessons, meditation and free diving. We can also organize other excursions like scuba diving or swimming with the humpback whale. As a bonus for kids we offer a Reef Ranger Program: an activity based booklet for kids to deepen their understanding of French Polynesia, and the ocean.
You really can not do a cruising vacation in French Polynesia at a better price point. Included in the price are all the activities done with us and your food, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. You are responsible for activities led by other providers, your round trip flights to French Polynesia, and alcohol (you can pre-buy, purchase on board, or BYOB from duty free).
Our home is your home, we live aboard this catamaran with our 2 kids and we’re all in for this adventure with you. Come shake things up, have some fun, and explore this beautiful earth that you live on!!
Imagine relaxing, having the time of your life, doing exceptional things, without having to do any research, planning or arranging
Designed to Explore is a family business running inclusive family friendly trips based on three core principals.
ONE: The boat life experience, you participate in all aspects of boat life from sailing and the joy of watching glorious sunsets from the water to helping on deck and cooking in a tiny kitchen.
TWO: Our best travel experiences have been when we meet a local person and they invite us to something unexpected and great, we are the locals and you are the travelers we pick up and bring to do something wonderful!
THREE: A trip with friends (that’s us!). It’s like you’re going on vacation with your besties (that happen to be full of insider knowledge) and the boat is the unbelievable airbnb we’ve rented. We share the experience and make the memories together.
Sailing charters, especially in French Polynesia, are supremely expensive and can feel like check the box tours, our trips are completely unique: you live boatlife and have a lot of fun with new besties!
Who
These trips are for families and family friendly people who long to shake things up and do exceptional things. With Designed to Explore you have the unique chance to experience a totally different way of life and explore with a like-minded adventure family one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
What
An Island hopping adventure retreat of your dreams.
When
We run trips year round take a look at our available trips and let us know if you need different dates.
Why travel with us
Cruising is a great choice especially with a family because your home base moves with you as you move from one epic destination to the next. Traveling with another family has another amazing perk that the kids can be occupied with each other while the adults have a moment, which doesn’t often happen on a family vacation. You’ve never had a trip like this before!
So much to explore…
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![Clear blue water with people swimming, surrounded by palm trees and lush greenery.]()
Fakarava
Mythic. Remote. Unspoiled. Come get off the beaten path and feel like you have the world to yourself. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Fakarava atoll is the second largest in French Polynesia and home to many rare species of birds, plants and crustaceans.
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![Aerial view of a lush green island surrounded by blue ocean and coral reefs, with mountains and clouds in the background.]()
Moorea
Only 10 nautical miles from Tahiti, Moorea is a geographical marvel and her beauty is often compared to that of Bora Bora. With 8 rugged mountains rising from within her pristine lagoon, there’s fun waiting by land and by sea. Don’t miss Humpback Whale season from August to October when these gentle giants stop by with their calfs on the way to Antartica.
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![A tall, green, pointed mountain surrounded by blue water and sky.]()
Bora Bora
The one and only Bora Bora is perhaps the most famous island in the world and a living embodiment of paradise. With the iconic Mount Otemanu towering over the impossibly turquoise lagoon it’s easy to understand why this has become a bucket list destination for people around the globe. Come see what all the fuss is about in a way few get to experience.
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![Aerial view of a beach with shadows from palm trees, turquoise water, and a boat anchored near the shore.]()
Raiatea & Taha'a
A place of history and legend, Raiatea the “Sacred Island” is regarded as the birthplace of Polynesian culture and home of the Gods. Boasting lush landscapes for hiking, empty motus for relaxing and spiritual sites to explore there is just as much to experience on land as at sea. Taha’a the “Vanilla island” shares the lagoon and is renowned for pearl farms, vanilla plantations, serene beaces and coral gardens. There is something for everyone here!
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![Sunset over a tropical beach with palm trees, rocky shoreline, and calm water.]()
Huahine
Huahine is all the more special because it is often overlooked. In addition to her irrefutable beauty, Huahine offers a bit of everything, a truly authentic taste of Polynesian culture, pearl farms, deserted beaches, spectacular coral gardens and even the best beach side bar.
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![Underwater coral reef with various colorful corals and marine life.]()
Tikehau
Love to snorkel? Meaning ‘peaceful landing’ this pink sand atoll is renowned for its snorkeling and diving and has a higher concentration of fish than any other lagoon in the archipelago according to Jacques Cousteau!
Trip Schedule
Accomodations
Sélavì (pronounced: c’est la vie) is a fully off-grid adventure catamaran designed to take you safely and comfortably to places most people only dream of seeing. We make electricity from the sun, desalinate the water that surrounds us for drinking and collect rainwater for showers and dishes. Designed and built by Fountaine Pajot in France, Sélavì is a 46 foot long Bahia model renowned for its balance of comfort and sailing abilities.
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to rest
With 2 double cabins, 1 attached single and 1 hallway bunk available, there is space for up to 4 adults and 2 children to retreat to at the end of an adventure filled day. All double cabins feature ensuite bathrooms including showers. Every cabin features an operable window and an overhead hatch for ventilation and stargazing from bed.
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to connect
Socialize. Read a book. Eat a delicious freshly cooked meal. With indoor and exterior covered seating options, no matter where you choose to relax you will always be treated to panoramic views of the beauty that surrounds you.
For those who are interested, we offer a daily morning meditation and breathwork practice to prepare your mind for an glorious day. -
to explore
Whether you choose to dive off the bow or descend the swim steps into the crystal clear water at the stern, there is no question that the magic happens on the deck. Lie on the trampoline and marvel at the rays as they glide below you or grab a paddleboard and catch the technicolor sunset before dinner; there are endless adventures to be had.
Pricing
Pricing
Our mission is to make these trips accessible to as many people as possible by delivering cooperative options that help reduce cost. Our pricing has two components: a cabin fee based on double occupancy, and 2 levels of service to choose from.
children <2 free
single cabins at 50%
Cabin
Base rate
$650/day
double occupancy
2026 Booking Promotion
$550/day
double occupancy
+
Food & Fuel
Chef
shared sous-chef & cleanup
$120/day
children under 2 free
ages 2-12, half off
per person
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Our onboard chef will be in charge of preparing your meals so that you can rest and don't have to stress!
Responsibilities: you'll be in the Sous Chef rotation, which means you can help chop vegetables, set the table and clean up.
We recommend this option for budget conscious families with small children, or those who don’t enjoy cooking for a crowd but don’t mind lending a hand to keep things running smoothly.
Retreat
no shared responsibilities
$195/day
children under 2 free
ages 2-12, half off
per person
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Ideal for those who want to get away from all responsibilities, have limited time, are traveling with small babies, or are celebrating a special milestone like a honeymoon, birthday or anniversary.
Responsibilities: You won't be on any crew rotation, so you can fully focus on your other activities.
Cost Comparison
The Moorings
$1,600/day
double occupancy
Biggest charter company in French Polynesia. Permitted sail area limited to Leeward Society Islands.
Sunsail
$760/day*
double occupancy
* food not included
Food for skipper and guests not provided. It is your responsibility to source and transport food to boat as well as cook all meals.
Dream Yacht
$1,020/day
double occupancy
Trips only offered in Bora Bora
Take Me to French Polynesia!
Getting there
Where is French Polynesia anyways?
and how do I get there?
Getting there
There is only one international airport in French Polynesia which makes getting here relatively straight forward. You will fly into Papeete, the Capitol City on the island of Tahiti. If your trips doesn’t begin from Tahiti you will either take a connecting flight from the same airport or take a short cab ride to the ferry terminal. Here is a list of direct flights to Tahiti and associated travel times:
Paris (via Seattle, San Francisco or LA): 22 hours
Los Angeles – Papeete: 8 hours
Seattle – Papeete: 10 hours
San Francisco – Papeete: 8 hours
Honolulu – Papeete: 5 hours
Tokyo – Papeete: 11 hours
Auckland – Papeete: 5 hours
If you happen to live in one of the cities with a direct flight to Papeete then getting there will be a breeze. For everyone else you will have a connecting flight. At the time of writing a one way ticket from San Francisco to Papeete can be found for $330.
Where is it?
French Polynesia is comprised of over 100 islands and atolls and is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Sharing a time zone and common ancestry with Hawaii, French Polynesia sits 1,200 miles south of the equator and is parallel to the northernmost part of Chile.
FAQs
FAQs
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Absolutely! Our children were 10 months old and 5 years old when we moved aboard and we have customized many safety features including netting around the entire perimeter of the boat and baby gates at the steps and cockpit. Single Berths are ideal for kids as they can open directly into their parent’s double cabins (½ price regular cabin rates).
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All people are welcome aboard! We love the energy and freedom that a couple or an individual can bring to the boat! But we are a family so it is important that you enjoy being around kids.
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Seniors have found the boat to be an enjoyable environment for a vacation. Mobility around a large catamaran is easy due to its stability, standard steps (no ladders!) and easy entry and exit to beds and dinghies. The minimum mobility requirement is the ability to go up a swim ladder at your local pool.
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Potentially, Yes! As part of the Green Coco Co-op ethos we aim to create community and connection by sharing experiences with others. If you have a large enough group (2 cabin minimum) you will have the boat all to yourselves.
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Our trips are participatory in nature which means everyone who is able helps around the boat to make the journey a success. This includes helping to put in and take out water toys, tidy your own cabin and bathroom, and being part of the sailing crew. Furthermore depending on the trip option you chose you may have either cooking, sous-chef or cleanup responsibilities on rotation. If you choose the retreat option you will have no obligations whatsoever. That being said if you feel inspired you are more than welcome to lend a hand with other tasks like sailing but you are by no means obligated.
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Not always. Part of what makes Green Coco unique in what we offer is that we aim to deliver true adventures and to blur the line between us as hosts and you as guests. We as a group create our experience together, communally, which makes us wholly different from the typical, canned, check the box tours. We want the experience to be as fresh and exhilarating for us as it is for you so we will often explore new places together.
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One magical thing about French Polynesia is that every island is surrounded by a coral reef creating a calm inner lagoon. The character of the water is so different that Polynesians refer to the water in the lagoon as dead and in the ocean as alive. Then there are atolls which are giant rings of land that form a huge inner lagoon, like a saltwater lake. Some trips never leave the lagoon or do so only briefly so if you're concerned about seasickness we would recommend a trip like this. Catamaran’s are also fairly stable as compared to traditional sail boats, but seasickness can effect anyone no matter how experienced they are at sea. Luckily there are some preventative measures that you can take to help reduce your risk. Send us a note and we are happy to share all our recommendations with you.
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Yes! French Polynesia is renowned for its safe and welcoming atmosphere. The islands' strong sense of community and friendly locals mean you can enjoy this stunning place without worry.
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Cancellations made 12 months or more before trip start date will be refunded at 90%.
Cancellations made between 12 and 6 months of trip start date will be refunded at 60%.
Cancellations made between 6 and 3 months of trip start date will be refunded at 30%.
Cancellations made less than 3 months before trip start date will not be refunded. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance such as DAN to cover costs related to cancellation or changes.
Designed to Explore will not be held responsible for flight or ferry cancellations affecting your trip.
If Designed to Explore is forced to cancel your trip for any reason you will receive a full refund.
A 20% change fee will apply if a change is requested between 12 and 6 months of trip start date.
A 40% change fee will apply if a change is requested between 6 and 3 months of trip start date.
*Payment plans available upon request.