Two groups of paradisiacal islands located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, rich with Polynesian culture, beautiful beaches, and marine life: how’s a person to choose?
I’ve been to Hawaii more times than I can count, and I recently returned from a trip to French Polynesia, where I visited Tahiti and Moorea.
I loved my trip to the South Pacific so much that I’m already planning a trip back to French Polynesia (and also Fiji!) later this year to visit some islands I missed.
I’m particularly hankering after Bora Bora, Huahine, Rangiroa, and Fakarava… and maybe the Marquesas, if time allows!
This post aims to take an objective look at the differences between Tahiti and Hawaii, two of the most popular vacation spots in Oceania, to help you pick the best option for your next trip.
Pick Tahiti for…
Affordability
It actually costs less to stay at a resort in Tahiti than a basic hotel in Maui!
Surprisingly, I found Tahiti a relatively affordable destination — at least compared to Hawaii, especially more popular islands like Maui.
While airfare to Tahiti is more expensive — I typically pay about $600 USD roundtrip for a flight to Tahiti and $300 USD roundtrip for a flight to a Hawaiian island — but you easily recoup that expense on day one or two of your vacation.
Note that these prices are based on flying out of San Francisco (prices are similar out of Los Angeles) — if you’re coming from, say, New Zealand or Australia, prices will be rather different.
Accommodations in Tahiti and Moorea are about half the price of similar accommodations in Hawaii.
I recently had to cancel a trip to Maui because I couldn’t find a single hotel or Airbnb under $500 a night!
Meanwhile, we stayed at a deluxe room in the Intercontinental with views of Moorea for $360 a night, and the guest houses we stayed at averaged out around $150 a night.
Food is also cheaper in Tahiti compared to Hawaii, about half the price on average.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
My divemaster in Moorea just casually sitting on the ocean floor to observe a white-tipped reef shark!
Tahiti and Moorea have some of the best shore snorkeling I’ve ever gotten to see, with extremely healthy coral reefs and an impossible to imagine number of fish swimming about.
The lagoon in Moorea with the blacktip sharks and pink whiprays are a particularly fond memory I have aboutsnorkeling in Moorea!
And when you go scuba diving, it gets even better — the diving in Tahiti and Moorea is unlike I’ve seen anywhere else in my years of diving experience.
I did eight dives total, four in Tahiti and four in Moorea, and I was constantly surprised by how beautiful the scenery was and how alive the oceans were. I can’t even count how many sea turtles I saw!
Meanwhile, while Hawaii has a handful of really memorable dives — manta ray night diving in Kona, the Molokini Back Wall, the Lanai Cathedrals — overall, it doesn’t hold a candle to the variety of reef life you’ll see on literally any dive in Tahiti.
We didn’t even get to go to the best diving islands, Rangiroa and Fakarava, and I still feel confident that Tahiti comes out on top when you compare Tahiti vs. Hawaii for scuba diving.
Plus, going back to the point before, diving in Tahiti is a fraction of the cost of diving in Hawaii.
An average two-tank dive in Tahiti costs around $90-120 USD, depending on how many you book, as you can get great savings packages if you buy several dives at the same time.
Meanwhile, a two-tank dive in Hawaii can cost around $200-400 USD, depending on where you go and with who. Even a one-tank night dive costs around $200 USD!
Less Commercialism
A benefit of less commercialization? Virtually all of Tahiti’s beautiful attractions are free!
My biggest takeaway from visiting Tahiti was that it is far less commercialized than Hawaii.
Yes, there are plenty of resorts — particularly on Bora Bora — but in general, I didn’t find it particularly built up or overly catering to tourists in a way that sometimes feels a bit “Disneyfied” in Hawaii.
Many parts of the Tahitian islands maintain that authentic, laid-back island feel.
Plus, it seemed like many people were deeply connected to their Polynesian culture through language, craftsmanship, dress, food, tattooing customs, and more.
Unfortunately for Hawaii, this is less the case — which is not to fault Hawaii or Native Hawaiians, but just to offer as a point of comparison.
My theory is that while both Tahiti and Hawaii are occupied/colonized lands, Tahiti is much further away from its colonial power (France) than Hawaii is, which is very actively occupied by the United States since its annexation.
As a result, Tahiti has been able to maintain more of its cultural authenticity, whereas outside influence in Hawaii has encouraged the commodification of many Hawaiian traditions, like hula dancing and luaus, creating an uneasy feeling of commercialization for me.
French Language and French-Polynesian Cuisine
Food in French Polynesia is a delicious blend of Polynesian cuisine and French cooking — like this mahi mahi and mussel dish with cream sauce and puff pastry!
This can be a pro or a con depending on how you prefer to travel!
I personally loved hearing French alongside Tahitian and having the chance to dust off my rusty French skills was very fun.
I also enjoyed the delicious French pastries that the many French living overseas in Tahiti and Moorea have brought over.
However, if language barriers make you antsy, this may be a reason to pick Hawaii vs. Tahiti because there is no language barrier in Hawaii.
That said, the language barrier I experienced in Tahiti and Moorea was rather minimal, as most people I encountered spoke English.
There was just a handful of times where my French was useful, but I imagine that changes once you leave the trio of most popular islands (Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora).
Overwater Bungalows
I didn’t get to stay an overwater bungalow… this time… but here’s hoping for next time!
French Polynesia is one of the ultimate honeymoon destinations and its overwater bungalows are a bucket list must for many.
French Polynesia is where the overwater bungalow was first invented, and you’ll find almost too many to pick from, with nearly 1,000 overwater bungalow suites in total spread across the Society Islands, the Island of Tahiti, and islands in the Tuamoto Atoll.
Bora Bora is the most popular spot for luxury resorts with overwater bungalows, and with good reason: white sand beaches everywhere you look, crystal lagoons, and views of the Mt. Otemanu virtually wherever you stay on the island.
Many of the overwater bungalow resorts in Bora Bora are set on their own private motus (islet chains) that surround the main island of Bora Bora, so they are extremely private since you can only access them by boat.
Hawaii, on the other hand, doesn’t have any overwater bungalows. So if this is a wish list item for you, you simply have to pick a Tahitian getaway!
Humpback Whale Snorkeling
Snorkeling with humpback whales is something you can only do in Tahiti and Moorea!
While humpback whales also visit Hawaii, only in Tahiti do you have the opportunity to swim with these gentle giants!
They visit between July and early November each year, and there are a plethora of tours that will bring you a safe distance for both you and the whale so you can observe them in the water without bothering them.
I enjoyed whale watching in Oahu — but I can only imagine how much cooler it would have been from under the water if I was in Tahiti (unfortunately, I came too late this season for whale snorkeling!).
If you can time your visit for whale season, it’s the best thing to do in Moorea (though you can also do it in Tahiti!).
More Ethical Travel
At the time of update (May 2023), it’s worth noting that Hawaii (and in particular, Oahu) is undergoing a water crisis.
Native Hawaiians and Kama’aina (those born on the islands) have been asking travelers to refrain from visiting Hawaii until the water crisis is solved, as tourism is exacerbating the situation.
While tourism is certainly a large part of the Hawaiian economy, water is life: and while water is in scarce supply in Hawaii, perhaps it’s time to consider a vacation elsewhere.
There are also people from Hawaii who have the opposite opinion and don’t agree with asking people not to come to Hawaii. You can watch an opposing viewpoint here that makes some good points.
While there are certainly ramifications for visiting any location, particularly one so remote as a Pacific island, the reality is that the situation in French Polynesia is more sustainable at present and the infrastructure is more prepared for the level of tourism it receives.
This is not to shame anyone for their vacation choices, because I don’t have the right answers either — I visited Oahu and Kauai back in February 2022, before the water crisis got very loud but while locals were still expressing concerns about overtourism.
However, I do believe that at the time of writing, visiting French Polynesia is the more sustainable of the two options and has a less harmful impact on locals.
They currently receive about 300,000 tourists per year; compare this to Hawaii receiving around 9 million tourists per year!
That said, French Polynesia’s land mass covers about 1/4 that of Hawaii (despite having a geographic range nearly as large as continental Europe), so in proportion to its size, that’s the impact of about about 1.2 million tourists… still about 8 times fewer than Hawaii.
Waikiki is the most built up part of Oahu, with lots of nightlife to enjoy!
One thing Tahiti emphatically does not have is nightlife. It’s way more buzzy during the day, and it gets really quiet at night, even in Papeete, where there are very few nightclubs and bars.
While are a few bars in Papeete, it’s not comparable at all to Hawaii, especially in Honolulu, Oahu which has the most nightlife options in all of Hawaii, especially in Waikiki.
Some Hawaiian islands are sleepier than others, especially Kauai, so I’d opt for Oahu if you really want to experience some nightlife while you’re on your vacation!
Natural Beauty
Seeing the Na Pali coast from a helicopter is simply breathtaking!
It’s really tough to compare two island paradises, but if I had to, I think Hawaii has more variety in its geography and landscape.
Where else can you find the green turret-like spires of the Na Pali Coast next to the Southwest-looking Waimea Canyon and red dirt waterfalls on one island, and active volcanoes on the next?
Hawaii has two of the United States’ National Parks, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island and Haleakalā National Park on Maui.
Both are absolutely spectacular, especially the former if you are so lucky as to witness volcanic activity during your stay!
While Tahiti has a lot of beauty, such as the Papeno’o Valley and Fa’aruma’i Waterfalls, these don’t quite compete with what Hawaiian islands have to offer.
Beaches
Yes, Hawaii really does have its own green sand beach!
This is a tough pick, because I did enjoy the beaches on Tahiti and Moorea, but I don’t think they compare to Hawaiian beaches overall.
Hawaii has some truly spectacular beaches like the black sand beaches and green sand beaches of the Big Island, as well as white sand beaches on Oahu like Lanikai Beach and Hanalei Bay.
Meanwhile, the two Polynesian islands I visited, Tahiti and Moorea, didn’t have the best beaches.
They did lead out to crystal clear waters and beautiful reefs, but the sand was lack-luster and not the most enjoyable to relax and sunbathe on.
I didn’t get a chance to visit other Polynesian islands that may have been beaches, like Bora Bora, Rangiroa, or Tikehau, though, so this is only my point of view based on the islands of Tahiti that I was able to visit.
No Need for Passport for Americans
No need for passports for Americans to visit Hawaii! Just a driver’s license or ID card will do.
If you’re American, one great thing that tips the favor to Hawaii vs. Tahiti is that you don’t need a passport to get there!
If you’ve been dragging your feet on getting your passport or getting it renewed, Hawaii is an easy option to get your tropical island fix without a bureaucratic headache.
However, this is only relevant for Americans and those with green cards — if you’re European, for example, French Polynesia may be the better alternative because passport control is extremely simple there since you technically are not leaving France!
Hiking
You can hike volcanic craters in Hawaii, but not Tahiti!
While you can go hiking in Tahiti, there are far fewer options and they aren’t as impressive as the options for hiking in Hawaii.
There are a variety of bucket-list worthy hikes in the Hawaiian islands, from the pillbox hikes of Oahu to the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast (a trekking bucket list item if there ever was one!) to the volcano hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
There are some hiking trails in Tahiti and Moorea and some of the other volcanic islands in the Society Islands, but there are fewer options and they aren’t as well-maintained as Hawaiian trailheads.
What Is My Pick Between Tahiti or Hawaii?
Despite the longer travel time (about 2 hours more) and need to grab my passport, Tahiti beats Hawaii over and over again for me.
There’s a reason why I canceled a 10-day trip to Hawaii and swapped it out for a trip to Mexico instead, but I’m still planning to visit French Polynesia for a few weeks later this year.
Plus, French Polynesia has more of what I look for when I travel: cultural authenticity, underwater magic, and delicious food.
I also still feel like I have so much more of French Polynesia to discover, whereas I’ve been to every one of the four major islands of Hawaii at least once by now.
The few drawbacks that Tahiti does have don’t actually bother me, so I’ll pick Tahiti time and again over Hawaii.
That said, I can see who Hawaii might be better for — American families with young kids who prefer the ease and comfort of chains and familiar brands.
But as a solo traveler or someone who travels with my partner or friends, Tahiti is the way to go for me!
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Many people think of French Polynesia and their minds immediately go to honeymoons in an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora, but there’s so much to Tahiti than just that!
Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia and it has just a little bit of everything that French Polynesia has to offer — so much so that it’s absolutely worth dedicating a few days to Tahiti.
This Tahiti itinerary will help you make the most of this gem and hopefully help you see why it’s an integral part of any French Polynesia itinerary.
You see, the island of Tahiti itself is much more than just a layover for international flights between your origin and Tahiti’s more popular neighbors in the Society Islands.
One of the best gems in the South Pacific, any trip to French Polynesia should dedicate a few days to the main island of the Islands of Tahiti.
We’re talking black sand beaches, towering waterfalls in lush tropical landscapes, food trucks slinging fish so fresh they often don’t even bother cooking it.
And that’s just what’s on land: you can’t forget the stunningly clear waters, home to an array of vivid coral garden landscapes and all sorts of marine life for divers and snorkelers alike.
It’s the largest island of French Polynesia and it has just a little bit of everything this massive island nation has to offer.
Why wouldn’t you have the best time in Tahiti?
This Tahiti itinerary covers what to do in 3, 4, or 5 days on the island.
I’ve front-loaded this Tahiti itinerary with all the best things in do in Tahiti first, so that if you only have 3 days in Tahiti, you won’t miss the highlights.
If you have more than 3 days in Tahiti (I personally spent 5 days in Tahiti), then you can add on even more epic experiences.
You can also grab some French pastries nearby if you want coffee and some pastries for breakfast.
I recommend Le Palais Patisserie which is a little bit outside of downtown Papeete or Les Rêves de Lucie which is closer to Papeete Market.
Coffee, pastries, and fresh fruit: truly the best way to start the first day of your Tahiti itinerary!
Head to the Grottes de Mara’a.
On this road trip of Tahiti, we’ll be moving counter-clockwise, starting with Tahiti’s more populated West Coast and ending the day along the East Coast.
One of my favorite places on Tahiti’s West Coast are the beautiful Grottes de Mara’a, a stunning cave sheltering a beautiful turquoise blue pool of water.
Unfortunately, as inviting as the pool of water looks, taking a swim is prohibited for safety reasons!
The garden path leading up to the cave is stunning, and the face of the cave is beautiful as well.
Fern crawls down all over the rock before the cave’s entrance while water trickles down from above, creating a peaceful sound of light rainfall and prismatic rainbows as you look up to the sky.
This is one of my favorite places in all of Tahiti and a great way to spend about 30 minutes.
Take a peaceful walk in the Vaipahi Water Gardens.
One of the best things about taking a road trip around Tahiti is that you’ll find many of its loveliest attractions are free!
The Vaipahi Water Gardens are one such free attraction, full of beautiful flowers and home to a stunning waterfall that you can easily walk to, less than 10 minutes away from the parking lot.
After admiring the waterfall, you can continue walking around the gardens, or you can use this as a departure point to take one of the three hiking trails that depart from here.
You can hike the Vaipahi Great Loop (5 km, about 2 hours), the Vaipahi Small Loop (2.7 km, about 1 hour 15 minutes), or the Vaipahi River Trail, (1 km, about 35 minutes).
If you want to see more botanical gardens, you can continue onward to the Harrison Smith Botanic Garden, but I don’t think it’s necessary.
Head down to Tahiti Iti to end at Plage de Tautira for lunch.
As part your road trip, you should make your way down to Tahiti Iti, the smaller peninsula at the southern part of Tahiti.
Drive all the way down to Plage de Tautira to enjoy one of Tahiti’s most scenic vistas: a stunning display of natural beauty where few tourists ever make it!
From the beach, you can look back to see three waterfalls in a row, all flowing against a backdrop of jade-green mountains, as well as the mouth of the Vaitepiha River and the valley it creates.
Grab a bite to eat at Roulotte Ahlan Tautira (roulotte means ‘food truck’) and either a smoothie or a virgin piña colada at Te Anuanua Bowl.
Check out the Fa’aruma’i Waterfalls.
On an island full of waterfalls, it’s hard to assert which one is best, but I’d argue that it’s the trio of waterfalls called the Fa’aruma’i Waterfalls on Tahiti’s quiet east coast.
Just off the main road, you’ll find a parking lot and then it’s a quick 5-minute walk through a stunningly lush green landscape to the first waterfall.
You’ll have to double back to where you started and walk about 10 minutes more to reach the other two waterfalls, which are unbelievably beautiful.
Give yourself about an hour to enjoy these waterfalls and the hike at leisure.
Watch the waves at the Arahoho Blowhole.
One unique place to visit along the East Coast is the Arahoho Blowhole which was created by a lava tube hundreds of thousands of years ago.
As the lava cooled, it formed a tunnel along the sea’s edge.
Now, when waves are particularly strong, the lava tube creates a “blowhole” effect — water shoots into the air dramatically, like what you’d see from the spout of a whale!
The height of the spout varies depending on the wave strength, but it can blow as high as 30 feet during high tide with large waves!
Watch surfers on Tahiti’s East Coast.
My first time surfing was my last, but I still love watching surfers do their thing. It’s beautiful and artful and epic!
One of the best places to watch surfers is at the Baie de Papeno’o.
There’s another spot just a bit south of the Ta Pahi Point that is unmarked but is also popular with surfers.
Stop at Point Venus for sunset.
Home to a beautiful light house and a black sand beach with a picture perfect view of the island of Moorea right in front of you, Point Venus is a must-visit at sunset.
Bring a beach towel, some snacks, and get ready for one of the most stunning sunsets you’ll ever see!
Enjoy the local cuisine of Papeete for dinner.
Papeete has a ton of wonderful restaurant offerings, from food trucks to fine dining.
You’ll find an array of food trucks at Viate Square in downtown Papeete, as well as numerous restaurant offerings.
Our favorite place we ate at in Papeete was L’O A La Bouche.
We had beef tartare, mahi mahi with Tahitian vanilla and coconut sauce, papio with passionfruit and ginger sauce, and a trio of crème brûlées.
It was the best meal we had in all our 10 days in French Polynesia and best of all, it didn’t break the bank too hard at only $55 USD per person, which is what I’m used to paying for far less in the Bay Area!
Day Two of Your Tahiti Itinerary: Whale Watching, Snorkeling, and/or Diving
Go snorkeling with humpback whales, if the season allows.
One of the most memorable things to do on a Tahiti itinerary is swim with the humpback whales!
Approximately from July through early November, the humpback whales migrate through Tahitian waters, where they mate, birth, and raise their young.
I suggest going with a small operator who keeps ethical whale watching and wildlife interaction practices at the forefront of their mind.
This tour operator has a good reputation, it came recommended by our dive operator in Moorea.
Their tours depart from a more remote part of the island, so you won’t be crowded by other tours (and more importantly, the whales won’t be crowded by you!).
Remember that Tahiti and Moorea are one of the few places in the world where you can snorkel in the water with humpback whales.
Keep this so by listening to everything your local guide tells you so that you can interact with these whales in a safe and ethical manner.
Humpback whales are not dangerous and do not eat humans.
Still, just like with any wildlife, don’t interfere with their natural habitat or natural behaviors by interacting with them.
Admire them from a distance and if you’re lucky, you may even get to hear their unique whale song while you snorkel with them!
This site is home to three wrecks, and beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish have made their home around the wreckage, creating a beautiful contrast!
Alternately: Scuba dive by morning, snorkel with whales by afternoon.
We dove four times in Tahiti and each dive was incredible, with unique sights on each that differentiated it from the last.
Beautiful and healthy coral, an abundance of tropical fish, and many sea turtles were three of the things all dives had in common.
But we also got to see all sorts of different underwater landscapes, from shallow reefs and underwater springs to undulating valleys of coral to steep coral walls.
Day 3 of Your Tahiti Itinerary: More Diving or Trip to the Papeno’o Valley
Option 1: Do more scuba diving or snorkeling.
The priority of our Tahiti itinerary was scuba diving, so we structured our itinerary around that.
Overall we did two days of two-tank dives and felt like we only scratched the surface of what diving in Tahiti had to offer!
If you can’t dive but want to get back in the water, this snorkeling tour is run by the same operator who also runs the whale watching tours, and it comes highly recommended by local dive shops in the area.
Option 2: Go for a 4×4 tour of the Papeno’o Valley.
For a tour that — literally — goes off the beaten path, take a 4×4 safari through the stunning Papeno’o Valley.
This road crossing through the interior of Tahiti is no longer maintained, so it’s only accessible by a 4×4… and there are very few, if any, 4x4s available as rental cars in Tahiti.
The Papeno’o Valley’s inaccessibility is exactly what makes it one of the most scenic parts of Tahiti!
Without any other tourists crowding the way, you’ll see countless waterfalls, colorful tropical plant life, scenic lakes, and landscapes that look straight of out the Jurassic Park movie.
I recommend this 4×4 Island Crossing tour to show you the parts of the island that you can’t access with your own car!
Day 4 of Your Tahiti Itinerary: Day Trip to Moorea
Head to Moorea bright and early.
Moorea is definitely worthy of several days (we spent 5 days on Moorea) as there are so many great things to do in Moorea.
However, if you only have time for a day trip, you can absolutely make the most of it because the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea is so easy!
Head to Gare Maritime and book a spot on the Tahiti-Moorea ferry — there are departures approximately every 30 minutes to an hour.
Option 1: Snorkel on Temae Beach
One of the best ways to spend your day trip to Moorea would be spending the day at the public beach of Temae Beach.
This is one of the best snorkeling spots in Moorea and it has some of the most amazing off-shore snorkeling (no need for a boat or tour!) that I’ve ever seen.
Plus, Temae Beach is located very close to the ferry so it’s a cheap and easy taxi.
Just be sure to arrange your pick-up from your taxi driver too, because it’s hard to get a taxi at Temae Beach itself.
There’s a good food truck at Temae Beach that serves delicious poke bowls as well as coffee, etc.
Also, be sure to bring your own snorkel gear because there’s nowhere to rent snorkel equipment if you don’t have it.
You will definitely want snorkel fins too because the reef is a bit far out and you’ll need your fins to swim that far without tiring yourself out (and you should still be a decently strong swimmer or bring your own floatation device)
Option 2: 4×4 Safari Tour of Moorea
Our safari tour in Moorea was great, but we didn’t get much in the way of views!
Another option is that you can go on a 4×4 safari tour of Mooreathat will bring you to all the most famous spots on the island.
I suggest you book the afternoon tour to give yourself enough time to get to and from Moorea from Tahiti!
This tour will take you to Moorea’s best lookout points, Magic Mountain with views of Ōpūnohu Bay as well as the Belvedere.
It will also take you to a vanilla plantation where you can sample some local jams and products as well as the pineapple fields of the Rotui factory (Moorea is known for its pineapples).
On board a cute little catamaran with a net to relax on, we first went to a beautiful lagoon where there were lots of black-tipped reef sharks and sting rays!
This was an incredible place to snorkel and is different from many other snorkel spots in Tahiti where you won’t see rays or sharks in such large numbers.
We truly lost count of how many we saw!
After we went to another snorkel spot, between two motus (small islets) where there was beautiful coral and lots of fish to ooh and ahh over.
We got to enjoy fresh fruit, juice, and rum along the tour in between our destinations!
Day 5 of Your Tahiti Itinerary: Pick Your Final Adventure!
Option One: Go canyoning and hiking through lava tubes.
Photo Credit: Manawa
While you probably think of lagoons, coconut trees, and white-sand beaches when you think of Tahiti, there’s more to Tahiti than just that.
Like Hawaii, Tahiti was formed by volcanic activity, leaving behind many hollowed-out lava tubes you can explore, the most famous of which are in Hitiaa.
You can take a full-day lava tube & canyoning tour where you hike through dark lava tubes with nothing but a headlamp for light, then swim and canyon through pools, and rappel down waterfalls!
If rappelling down waterfalls seems too scary for you, you can just pick the hiking option which does not include any rappelling/abseiling!
Another possible way to spend your final day in Tahiti would be taking a boat excursion around Tahiti Iti leaving from Teahupoo, the place with the biggest and baddest waves in Tahiti!
This tour starts in Teahupoo, and includes places you can only visit by boat because the road doesn’t go any further!
You can visit Vaiau River, Vaipoiri Cave, the Te Pari Cliffs, and a secret lagoon snorkeling spot right off a sandbank, all in a quiet and little-visited corner of Tahiti!
If you are looking for a traditional Tahitian guesthouse experience, we loved Fare Rearea in Papeete.
The location is perfect: central enough to walk to many places, but also having its own dedicated parking so we could always find a spot for our car after a long day of diving or exploring.
Our private studio room had its own little outdoor kitchenette and garden area, and the property itself had a fantastic pool and daily breakfast that were really lovely.
We stayed for a few nights in a guesthouse, but we also wanted a little taste of the resort experience, so we chose to stay at the Intercontinental Tahiti for our last two nights.
We stayed in a deluxe room with a view of Moorea and it was stunning and spacious, with a beautiful balcony perfect for taking in the sunset.
The hotel’s amenities were great — we loved the hotel restaurant, the infinity pool, the house reef you could snorkel at, and the lagoonarium where you could snorkel with colorful fish in an enclosed area.
The Intercontinental is home to the only overwater bungalows in Tahiti island proper, so if that’s on your bucket list, this is the place!
Still, even if you just stay in a typical hotel room, it’s a fantastic and unforgettable experience.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Obsidian black sand beaches, hundred-foot tall waterfalls, canopy-covered mountain peaks: there’s no shortage of beauty on the island of Tahiti.
… And that’s not counting Tahiti’s pristine coral reefs and the amazing variety of marine life they shelter.
While many people skip over Tahiti in favor of more popular islands of Tahiti such as Bora Bora, I think Tahiti is the perfect place to spend several days.
In this post, I’ll show you just why Tahiti is worth visiting: mix and match these 33 top things to do in Tahiti to find the best way to enjoy your Tahiti vacation according to your own style!
This guide to Tahiti includes all sorts of different things, from water activities to 4×4 tours through otherwise inaccessible valleys, featuring all the most beautiful places in Tahiti along the way.
You can read this guide to make your own itinerary, or you can read my 3 to 5 day Tahiti itinerary to get an idea of how to structure your trip (and add on anything else you want along the way).
You can also see a post where I organize some of the top things to do in a Moorea itinerary.
Where is Tahiti?
One of the largest and most famous South Pacific Islands, the island of Tahiti is the main island of French Polynesia.
Tahiti is home to the capital city of Papeete, the most populated island in French Polynesia.
Approximately 27,000 people live in Papeete itself, and about 137,000 people in the metro area of Papeete.
Tahiti is part of the Windward Islands, the eastern group of the Society Islands. Its neighboring islands include Moorea, Mehetia, Tetiaroa, and Maiao.
The larger group of islands which Tahiti belongs to is called the Society Islands, which includes Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea, Maupiti, Tahaa, Maupihaa, Manuae, and Tupai.
There are four other island groups which are part of French Polynesia the Tuamoto Islands, the Austral Islands, the Marquesas Islands, and the Gambier Islands.
How Do You Get to Tahiti?
Several airlines serve Faa’a International Airport(PPT), the only international airport in French Polynesia.
If you want to go to any other French Polynesian Islands, you’ll have to pass through Tahiti first!
Most major airlines leave either from California (SFO or LAX) if you’re coming from the United States, or New Zealand (AKL) if you’re coming from Oceania.
French Bee, United, Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, Air Calin, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, and Latam Airlines are the airlines that serve Tahiti.
The Best Things to Do in Tahiti
Swim with the humpback whales of Tahiti.
If you visit Tahiti during humpback whale season, you can’t miss the chance to swim with these gentle giants!
From roughly July to October each year (and sometimes into early November) the humpback whales migrate to the waters around Tahiti: it’s the perfect place to mate, birth, and raise their babies.
One of the most memorable activities you can do in Tahiti is go swimming with humpback whales.
To make sure your whale watching is ethical, I suggest going with a small operator.
The tour I’m recommending is run by a small operator with a great reputation on the island, in a remote part of the island where there are fewer operators so you won’t be crowded by other people.
Very few places in the world allow you to do this, but Tahiti is one of them where you can actually snorkel in the water with these incredible creatures!
Your local guide will make sure you interact with these whales safely and ethically, keeping a safe distance for everyone.
Humpback whales are not dangerous, but as with any wildlife, you shouldn’t mess with their natural habitat by interacting with them: just admire them from a distance.
If you’re lucky, you may even get to hear their unique whale song from underwater!
When I went whale watching in Oahu, I learned that the whale song is the same between all the whales, but it changes each year: they pick a new tune that they like, and they all use it in unison! Pretty cool, right?
Make sure you add this to your Tahiti itinerary if you’re visiting in whale season!
Eat delicious local foods at Tahiti’s many food trucks.
An essential part of experiencing Tahitian culture is joining the locals and tourists alike at a food truck (locally called a roulotte).
These food trucks serve up delicious fresh and often rather healthy food for affordable prices.
Of course, with all the crystal clear waters around you, it’s no surprise that many of the food trucks in Tahiti feature incredible seafood!
One of the most famous Tahitian dishes is poisson cru, which is French for raw fish.
The freshly sliced raw tuna is served with thinly julienned vegetables like raw onion and carrots, and doused in delicious coconut milk!
Other popular dishes you’ll see served at the food trucks in Tahiti and Moorea include seafood brochettes (kebabs), fish burgers, tuna ceviche, tuna carpaccio… you name it, there’s probably a tuna version of it!
You’ll find food trucks all over Tahiti and Moorea, but the most popular place in Tahiti is Viate Square.
Splurge on a fancy night out in Papeete’s best restaurants.
While Tahiti’s food trucks are incredible, Papeete also has some great fine dining options where you can have an incredible meal at a reasonable price, especially compared to U.S. food prices (which is my point of comparison).
My partner and I had an incredible meal at L’O A La Bouche. We started with some of the best beef tartar we’ve ever had, and then followed it up with a seafood course each.
She had the mahi mahi with Tahitian vanilla and coconut sauce, and I tried the papio (a local fish) with a passionfruit and ginger coulis. Both were incredible!
We ended the meal with a trio of crème brûlées, including pistachio, Tahitian vanilla, and chocolate.
It was certainly a meal to remember, and at just $55 per person including drinks, it was a great deal!
Explore the fresh tropical fruits at Papeete Market.
One thing I really like when traveling to tropical places is seeing what sort of unique tropical fruits you can find!
You’ll find all sorts of fresh produce at the Papeete Market (Marche de Papeete), including star fruit (carambole), breadfruit (ulu), taro, and more.
Best of all, the produce is really affordable for the quality and freshness!
Besides tasty fresh produce, you can also get some beautiful Tahitian souvenirs here.
Go canyoning in Tahiti’s lava tubes.
Photo Credit: Manawa
While everyone’s mind goes to sun-drenched beaches and coconut trees when thinking of Tahiti, there’s plenty of things to do in Tahiti for more adventurous travelers!
A can’t-miss activity for adrenaline seekers is the Tahiti lava tube full-day tour, where you go hiking through dark lava tubes, canyoning in beautiful waters, and rappelling down waterfalls in Tahiti’s rugged interior.
Because Tahiti — much like Hawaii — was formed by volcanic activity, there are a number of lava tubes located all over the island, but the most famous for exploring are in Hitiaa.
Together with your canyoning guide, you’ll explore several lava tunnels with a headlamp before reaching an impressive area where there are also waterfalls and pools to jump into — all this in an underground cave structure!
After exploring the lava tubes, you can explore a river, swim in the waterfalls, and even get the chance to try
At the exit of the lavatubes, you will follow a beautiful river with waterfalls where you will be able to swim. The second part of the trip is done in the middle of a luxuriant vegetation with magnificent landscapes.
The canyoning option allows you to discover the lavatubes of Tahiti in a more technical way with abseiling.
One of my favorite parts of my trip to Tahiti was driving all the way from Tahiti Nui (Big Tahiti) to Tahiti Iti (Little Tahiti), the little peninsula at the southern coast of Tahiti.
We drove all the way down to Plage de Tautira, where we enjoyed one of the best views of Tahiti.
You could see all its natural wonders in one vista here: three waterfalls lined up in a row against a backdrop of rough, jagged green mountains, and a river creating a valley through it. It was stunning!
There was also a phenomenal snack bar at Plage de Tautira where we enjoyed some of the best grilled fish we had in our entire time!
Admire the Vaipahi Water Gardens.
Home to a beautiful waterfall, the Vaipahi Water Gardens are a lovely place to take a stroll through Tahiti’s flora.
There is a waterfall here that you can easily walk to, and then you can continue your walk either on one of the many hiking trails that departs from here or stay on flat ground and explore the large lake filled with water lilies.
There are three hiking options here: the Vaipahi Great Loop, which is 5 km and takes about 2 hours, the Vaipahi Small Loop, which is 2.7 km and takes about an hour and 15 minutes, or the Vaipahi River Trail, which is 1 km and takes about 35 minutes.
Take in the three stunning Faarumai Waterfalls.
Vaipahi is just one of many beautiful waterfalls in Tahiti! The most stunning waterfalls in my opinion are the trio at Faarumai, located on the east coast of Tahiti.
It’s quite easy to access these waterfalls: simply put Faarumai Waterfalls in the GPS and head to the end of the road, where you’ll find a parking lot.
The first waterfall is just a 5-minute walk through the tropical forest. The other two are located in the opposite direction, about 15 minutes from where you began.
All in all, it’s pretty epic that you can see three stunning waterfalls in less than an hourlong hike, including plenty of time to stop for photos!
Admire the beauty of Tahiti’s grottoes.
One of my favorite places on the west coast of Tahiti were the quiet, peaceful grottoes of Mara’a (Grottes de Mara’a on Google Maps).
I was surprised by the beauty of this little site that few people seemed to be visiting!
The walk through the dense foliage was stunning, and when we arrived at the cave, it was even more stunning than I could have imagined.
Imagine an isolated cave with ferns crawling all over the rock as a trickle of water cascaded over its face, creating rainbows, and an inviting deep turquoise pool in the cave.
Unfortunately, there’s no going for a refreshing dip here: it’s strictly prohibited for safety reasons, so don’t be that person.
Explore the Papeno’o Valley by 4×4 tour.
One of the most incredible parts of Tahiti is completely inaccessible with your standard rental car in Tahiti.
The interior of the island used to have a road passing through, but it no longer is maintained.
For that reason, you’ll need to book a guided 4×4 tour if you want to check out the Papeno’o Valley — and once you realize what you’ll see on a tour there, you’ll certainly want to!
But its inaccessibility makes it one of the most scenic parts of Tahiti, practically untouched by tourism: you’ll see so many waterfalls, scenic lakes set amidst lush valleys, tropical flora, and Jurassic-era looking landscapes everywhere you look.
I recommend this 4×4 Island Crossing tour to show you the parts of the island that you can’t access with your own car!
For a unique spot to visit in Tahiti near the Faarumai Waterfalls, don’t miss the Arahoho Blowhole.
This natural geological phenomenon was created by a lava tube which cooled and formed a tunnel hundreds of thousands of years ago.
Now, when there is a particularly strong wave, the lava tube will form a ‘blowhole’ similar to what you’d see from a whale: seawater shooting up into the air dramatically.
Typically, the water spout only is a few feet high, but it can spout up to 30 feet in height during storms and/or high tide!
Stay in an overwater bungalow at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort.
That is the Intercontinental Tahiti, which is located on the west coast of Tahiti with a beautiful view of Moorea.
We stayed here for two nights — though in a room facing the ocean and not in an overwater bungalow — and we thought it was epic!
I’ve also stayed in an overwater bungalow in the Maldives before, and it was an unforgettable experience (although the price tag is similarly unforgettable).
While I didn’t get the chance to do this in Tahiti this trip, I hope to return to French Polynesia soon and check out some overwater bungalows!
We did swim over to the snorkeling in front of the Motu Bungalows and can confirm that it’s excellent!
While staying there, we also spoke to a couple staying in one of the Motu suites and one of them said they saw a spotted eagle ray swimming past as they were sitting on their balcony!
Just down the road from the Vaipahi Water Gardens is the Harrison Smith Botanical Garden, home to groves of palm trees, colorful hibiscus bushes, and hundreds of other tropical flora imported from the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
On one side, you can look out to the ocean, to the other, you can look behind and see the mountains of Tahiti: that’s part of what makes this botanical garden so special.
Once a private land owned by an American, the botanical garden fell into disuse, but it was restored by the tourism office in 2017 and has been getting a beautiful glow up ever since.
Best of all, admission is free!
See the exterior of the (now-closed) Paul Gauguin Museum.
The French painter Paul Gauguin was one of Tahiti’s most famous — and controversial — residents.
The Paul Gauguin Museum was dedicated to his work, but it closed in 2013 and shows no signs of reopening.
While Gauguin was a talented artist, you can’t overlook his personal transgressions, especially when you’re talking about his work in the context of Tahiti — where he had several child brides, potentially as young as 11.
This museum, closed for years with no plans to reopen, seems frozen in time struggling with this same question.
That said, if you’re already visiting the Harrison Smith Botanical Gardens, this is right nearby and you can check out the grounds and the beautiful (but abandoned) Japanese-inspired architecture of the museum.
Visit the spectacular Ta Pahi Point.
One of the most beautiful places on Tahiti’s East Coast is Ta Pahi Point.
Raising more than 70 feet above the sea, you can look on one side and see the island of Moorea and Point Venus — to the other, you’ll see Hiro’s Rock and the black sand beaches below it.
This is also a great place to stop and watch the surfers around sunset!
Go snorkeling in Tahiti’s pristine blue waters.
We mostly dove while we were in Tahiti — because really, once you start diving, it’s hard to settle for snorkeling — but when we did snorkel, we were wildly impressed!
When we stayed at the Intercontinental we snorkeled their house reef and we were wildly impressed — it was some of the best off-shore snorkeling we’ve ever done!
We saw an uncountable number of colorful tropical fish, but more excitingly, we also got to see a day octopus, a moray eel, huge anemone gardens with clownfish (including babies!), and triggerfish.
If you’re staying at the Intercontinental, you can definitely enjoy snorkeling in front of the bungalows or in the enclosed lagoonarium if you feel uncomfortable in the open ocean.
You can also do a snorkeling tour like this one, which brings you to a snorkeling site called The Aquarium that features three wrecks and all the coral life and fish that have sprung up around the wreckage.
Note: Be careful when booking activities — many snorkeling activities are set on Moorea, Tahiti’s sister island, so double check that your activity is departing from the right island!
If you want to try something unique instead of your average snorkel, you can up the ante and try sea scootering.
You’ll still have your snorkel and mask, but instead of swimming, you’ll be zooming around by holding a powered motor that will bring you swiftly through the water with ease.
This tour also covers The Aquarium snorkel site, so it’s a matter of whether you want a more traditional snorkel experience or if you want to have some mechanical assistance and speed!
Whichever tour you see, you’re likely to see all sorts of fish but also possibly sting rays and small (harmless!) black-tipped reef sharks.
Dive Tahiti’s beautiful reefs with colorful fish and turtles galore!
While we loved our snorkeling, scuba diving in Tahiti was definitely the highlight!
We dove four times during our stay and all were incredible in their own way.
We dived in Moorea as well and we found that excellent as well — it’s hard to compare the two, but Moorea did slightly edge out Tahiti, but only by a nose!
We saw all sorts of things: unique plankton formations (seen above), spiny rockfish, black-tipped reef sharks, hawksbill and green turtles, barracudas, and so much more.
But even just the topography of the dive sites we saw in Tahiti were incredible, with the underwater formations of valleys and coral walls and even underwater water sources spouting cold water from a vent!
Take in the sunset at Point Venus.
There are quite a few great spots in Tahiti to catch the sunset, but I think one of the best is at Point Venus, where there is a lighthouse and a public beach.
Get there before sunset to check out the historic lighthouse, then set up a little picnic with a view of Moorea to watch the sunset!
Admire Tahiti’s beautiful black sand beaches.
Tahiti is known for its stunning black sand beaches, due to its origins as a volcanic island.
While there are many black sand beaches, a few stand out: Lafayette Beach, Papenoo Beach, which is a great place to watch surfers, the beach at Point Venus, and Taharuu Beach which is shown above.
Sun yourself on Tahiti’s white sand beaches.
While the black sand beaches are beautiful, they’re not very comfortable for sitting on… the soaring temperatures and the heat-absorbing black sand does not make for a good combination!
Luckily, Tahiti does have a few white sand beaches worth mentioning that are more pleasant for sunbathing.
One of the best white sand beaches in Tahiti is Vaiava Beach, which also happens to have an excellent snorkeling area. A few others are Maui Beach on Tahiti Iti and ToarotoBeach which is closer to Papeete.
There are even more white sand beaches on Moorea, such as Temae Beach (pictured above) if you really want some white sand beach time!
Take a day trip to Moorea.
I will readily say that Moorea deserves more than just a day trip from Tahiti… in fact, we dedicated 5 of the 10 days of our French Polynesia itinerary to just our Moorea itinerary!
That said, if you only have a day trip, you can absolutely make the most of it because the ferry from Tahiti to Moorea is so easy.
You could spend the day relaxing and snorkeling on Temae Beach (one of the best snorkeling spots in Moorea!) or you can go on a 4×4 safari tour of Mooreathat will bring you to all the most famous spots on the island.
Tip: If you’re not staying overnight in Moorea, book the afternoon tour to give yourself enough time to get to and from Moorea from Tahiti!
While I’m not a surfer, I love watching surfers do their thing — I find it really peaceful and amazing.
There are lots of places on the East Coast of Tahiti that have great waves and lots of surfers at all times of day, particularly in the afternoon before sunset.
We found a few great spots to watch surfers were around the Bay of Papeno’o (Baie de Papeno’o on Google Maps) and just a bit south of that, on the other side of Ta Pahi Point.
For more surf-watching, Teahupoo on Tahiti Iti is famous for its big waves, but we didn’t have time to check it out on this recent trip to Tahiti, unfortunately!
Learn more about the island at the Museum of Tahiti.
Unfortunately, the Museum of Tahiti and its Islands is temporarily closed for renovations, and it’s not clear on the website when it will reopen.
When it’s open, though, it should be well worth a visit!
You’ll find everything from historical Polynesian artifacts that show the rich history of this islands to work from contemporary Polynesian artists.
Check out the historic marae of Tahiti.
Did you know there are ancient ruins on Tahiti?
These sites, called marae, are the remnants of Polynesian settlements and give a glimpse into how people lived on the islands many centuries ago.
The two more interesting and well-preserved marae are found on the west coast of the island, not far from each other.
Don’t miss checking out both Marae Ta’ata and ‘Ārahurahu Marae if you’re interested in learning more about the culture and history of Tahiti, and not just seeing its beaches and marine life!
Take a romantic sunset cruise.
Getting out on the water is one of the best ways to appreciate Tahiti’s stunning geography, with its tall mountain peaks that are hard to appreciate when you’re on the island itself.
You can also get a closer view of Tahiti’s sister island of Moorea, which is even more beautiful as you approach it on the water.
If you want to have a romantic evening activity during your time in Tahiti, a sunset cruise is a fantastic idea for you and your loved one.
This cruise includes pick-up and drop-off, a complimentary sunset cocktail, and a beautiful 1.5-hour cruise where you relax on a stunning lagoon with views of Tahiti and Moorea both.
Best of all, the boat is limited to 12 guests, so you’re guaranteed an intimate, romantic atmosphere for a date night you can never forget!
Spend some time enjoying downtown Papeete’s sights.
I spent three days in Papeete and while I’m happy to have spent the time there, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s not exactly a big bustling capital!
There still are a few sights worth seeing in downtown Papeete, generally clustered around the main Vaima Shopping Center in town.
It’s worth taking a short walk around downtown Papeete to check out the following sites: the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Marina, the Town Hall (Mairie de Papeete), Place Vai’ete, and Pā’ōfa’i Gardens.
Part of what makes travel so interesting for me is not just the destination’s landscapes and activities, but its people and everyday culture.
I enjoyed Papeete for the simple fact of getting to see the place where many Tahiti locals live, shop, and play!
Try delicious French pastries.
Since Tahiti and its islands are a French territory, the French influence is undeniable everywhere you look, from the language to downtown Papeete’s architecture to the food.
That means that when you visit Tahiti, you get a taste of two cuisines in one place: the delicious Polynesian cuisine that showcases bountiful local seafood and tropical ingredients as well as traditional continental French cuisine… as well as tasty fusions of both!
While you absolutely should try local Tahitian food, it’d also be a crying shame to be technically on French soil and not eat all the delicious French pastries your stomach can fit.
Downtown Papeete has some of the best French bakeries — we loved Les Rêves de Lucie and Le Pālais Pātisserie and stocked up on pastries there during our trip! On Moorea, we loved Carameline.
Note: While I did enjoy getting to eat French food while in Tahiti, it’s important that visitors don’t take for granted that French Polynesia is and has been impacted by the hurtful legacy of colonialism, and the question of if and when French Polynesia should become independent are important matters close to the heart of many Polynesians, without one uniform answer across the board.
Explore the street art of downtown Papeete.
Papeete has some great street art that is well worth keeping an eye out for while you’re exploring the downtown area.
A few pieces that I really liked were the following:
The octopus metal sculpture piece on the side of the ART’GRICULTURE building
The above pictured portrait near the Territorial Assembly building on Rue de Dr. Cassiau and Ave. du General de Gaulle
A piece meditating on immigration and identity in the Vaima Mall near the Karaaji restaurant.
Drive the coastal road around the island of Tahiti.
One of the coolest things to do in Tahiti is circumnavigate the island by car — it takes less time than you’d think, and there’s so much to see that just requires quickly pulling over off the main road!
One thing to consider when driving around Tahiti is that the west side is far more developed whereas the east side is a lot more rustic, and the roads match that!
If you think there’s a chance that you might be driving in the dark, do the east side first — the roads there are very dicey to drive at night, with almost no lights, zero reflector strips, and winding roads!
We learned this the hard way so you don’t have to!
If you plan to do a road trip in Tahiti, I recommend you read my guide to renting a car in Tahiti first — it has a ton of helpful hints in it!
Shop for your very own Tahitian black pearls.
French Polynesia is famous for its Tahitian black pearls, although as an interesting fact, the pearls are actually not found on the island of Tahiti!
They are typically sourced from outer Tahitian islands, such as the Tuamoto Islands, in lower-lying coral atoll archipelagos.
These pearls are famous because they only come from one particular oyster found in very few other places in the world: the Tahitian black lip pearl oyster (its official name is the Pinctada margaritifera).
Many shops all over Tahiti specialize in pearls so you won’t be hard-pressed to find one!
Take a helicopter tour over the island.
Tahiti is impressive no matter which way you slice it, but the best way to appreciate the magnificence of this stunning island is to see it from above!
We were unable to rebook because group helicopter tours are only available on weekends (private tours are available on weekdays).
It’s something I hope to be able to do on a repeat trip to Tahiti for sure, because Tahiti’s landscape reminds me a lot of Kauai’s Na Pali coast, which was the most memorable helicopter tour I’ve ever been able to do — and I’ve helicoptered over the Grand Canyon!
Judging by the landscape of Tahiti that I did get to see, I’d bet that a helicopter tour of Tahiti is just as impressive, if not more so, than a helicopter tour of the Na Pali coastline of Kauai.
There are 10-minute, 20-minute, and 30-minute helicopter tour options available — I recommend at least the 20-minute version so you can see the Papeno’o Valley and Orohena Mountain.
If you prefer your adrenaline to take place on the water, jet skiing in Tahiti may be the perfect activity for you!
Personally, I’ve never tried jet skiing and it’s never called to me — I prefer to be under the water than on it! — but it’s definitely a popular thing to do in Tahiti.
There are 30-minute, 1-hour, and 2-hour day tours as well as a 1.5-hour sunset tour to pick from.
You may even get the chance to see dolphins and jet ski alongside a pod of them during your trip!
Teahupo’o literally means “to sever the head” or “place of skulls” in Tahitian — a macabre name befitting one of the deadliest waves in the world.
The waves of Teapuho’o are no joke and are only meant for advanced surfers. While they only measure 7-10 feet on average, they can surge up to 20+ feet during storms.
But that’s not the only reason the waves are so dangerous — they’re located above a shallow reef, which creates consistent “hollow” waves that are particularly precarious, despite having that beautiful barrel look.
That said, your average traveler to Tahiti can still enjoy seeing the waves of Teapuho’o, located at the western edge of Tahiti Iti.
We stayed at two places in Tahiti and can recommend them both highly.
Which one you should choose depends whether you prefer a guesthouse experience or a resort experience!
Guesthouse Pick: Fare Rearea
I loved Fare Reareain Papeete — the location was so central that we could walk to many places we wanted to eat at, though parking at the guesthouse was easy when we needed it.
The lush garden and pool and kitchen area were great to relax in, and our private studio room was incredible, with our own private terrace with an outdoor kitchen and garden.
While we didn’t stay in an overwater bungalow this trip, we wanted a little taste of the resort experience and chose to stay in the Intercontinental Tahitiin Faa’a.
We stayed in a deluxe room with a view of Moorea and it was stunning and spacious, with a beautiful balcony perfect for taking in the sunset.
The hotel’s amenities were great — we loved the hotel restaurant, the infinity pool, the house reef you could snorkel at, and the lagoonarium where you could snorkel with colorful fish in an enclosed area.
Swimwear, including high-coverage swimwear like sunsuits/swim leggings/rash guards or other things to wear under a wetsuit for snorkeling, kayaking, diving and other water activities. If diving, you may want to bring your own wetsuit. I was fine in a 3mm, but I typically wear a 5mm.
Reef safe sunscreen, so you can protect Tahiti’s beautiful marine ecosystem (I love Stream 2 Sea).
Swim coverup, so that you can easily transition between swimwear and being public-ready. I had two, because one would often be damp — my monstera print one and my white sheer lacy coverup.
Mosquito repellent, because Tahiti and Moorea’s mosquito population is no joke!
Afterbite care, because no matter how good you are with mosquito repellent, you will end up with some bites! This interesting afterbite healer doesn’t use any chemicals but instead uses heat to stop the itching.
GoPro, to capture all of your underwater adventures (with dive housing and filters if you’re diving too!). The Hero 11 is the newest and most up-to-date version.
Your own snorkeling gear, so you have the freedom to snorkel at any beach you choose — many beaches don’t have snorkel shops with gear rental nearby. I have a TUSA mask and TUSA snorkel set, and IST fins.
Rain jacket, because Tahiti will have the occasional downpour and you don’t want to get caught off guard! I brought my Patagonia Torrentshell.
Packable sun hat and baseball caps, because sun protection should come first from your hat and second from your sunscreen!
Travel insurance, because let’s face it — Tahiti is a pricy trip and you don’t want anything to go awry while you’re there! I used SafetyWing for a policy that cost just $18 for a 10-day policy.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
