 Polynesia is a somewhat arbitrary grouping of many islands in the central and southern Pacific Ocean. (The name is derived from the Greek for "many islands".)
CountriesOther destinations
UnderstandAlthough the term "Polynesia" originally included Micronesia and Melanesia as well, the region as it is understood today is generally bounded by a triangle connecting Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island. The term is more cultural than geographic, however; the indigenous peoples of these islands generally share a common anthropological origin, and some of them have traded with each other at various times in their histories. The period of exploration and colonization by European powers in the 18th and 19th centuries established foreign rule over many of these islands, some of which remain "overseas territories" (or similar designations) of European or American nations. TalkAlthough most of these islands have native languages which are still spoken, the colonial period introduced English, French, and Spanish as official and/or commonly spoken languages on various islands. Get in and aroundMost islands in Polynesia are separated from the continental land masses – and even from each other – by vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean. Consequently, air travel is usually the most effective means of reaching them and traveling between them. For those with sufficient time and perhaps a sense of adventure, it's possible to reach them by boat, such as a cruise vessel or a sailing ship. SeeItinerariesDoEatDrinkStay safeGet outWhere you might go next depends heavily on what part of Polynesia you're leaving from, but the neighboring island regions of Micronesia, Melanesia, or Australasia would probably be as accessible as anywhere.
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