Activities in Tahiti: What to do on vacation

Tahiti is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but due to its remoteness it still remains untouched and wild. This is one of the 118 islands of Polynesia, where tourists most often land, but immediately fly to explore other islands such as Bora Bora and Moorea. Don't make this mistake: take the time to get to know Tahiti! So that you don't miss anything, we have collected the main attractions of Tahiti: beautiful natural places, hikes, exotic excursions, entertainment and activities.

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Waterfalls and hot springs

Visit the magnificent waterfalls and hot springs in Tahiti. For example Fafaru, Waipo’o and Te Wairoa waterfalls. The three Fa'aruma'i waterfalls are located on the east coast, just a 5-minute walk from the magnificent 80 meter waterfall!

Teva I Hot Springs on the South Coast of the island is an ideal place for relaxation and tranquility. And “Trou du Souffleur” is an amazing corner next to three waterfalls: a natural hole in the rock from which powerful waves erupt. Vaipahi Water Garden or Harrison Smith Botanical Garden offer beautiful walks of tropical beauty.

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Mount Aorai

You can conquer it without a guide, but with good sports training. It is the third highest peak in Tahiti (2066 meters). Here you will find quite steep climbs and several transitions with ropes. But what magnificent panoramas! The trail is well marked. This hike can be done in one day if you are in very good physical shape and set out at sunrise. Or two, spending the night in a shelter.

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Diving with sharks and killer whales, whale watching

From late July to early November, whales approach the islands to breed in Polynesian waters. Sometimes they can be found off the coast of Tahiti and can then be seen directly from a boat or even underwater on a snorkeling excursion! The best place to go for this experience is the neighboring island of Mo’orea. Conditions there are better and there are many more whales. And for adrenaline seekers, Tahiti offers a unique diving experience with sharks and killer whales. Certified divers can participate in these excursions where they can observe these powerful sea creatures in their natural environment.

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Visiting the Marae Temples

Explore the archaeological sites and temples of the Marae, which are testament to the rich history of the island of Tahiti. Spend time exploring ancient reliefs, stone statues and archaeological remains that will teach you about the island's unique culture.

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Surfing legendary waves

Tahiti is famous for its world-class surfing spots. Surf enthusiasts can test their skills on the legendary waves at Teahupo’o and Taiapa. These places attract surfers from all over the world. Teahupo’o is the queen of waves and is very dangerous to play with.

If you are not a surfing expert, just watch the wave. Teahupo’o Beach is located south of Tahiti. This is a very famous place because every year one of the stages of the World Surfing Championship takes place here, as well as other international competitions. The local wave is one of the most terrible and dangerous in the world! If you're lucky, you'll get there during the competition and leave with a lot of impressions.

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Jungle Hiking and Trekking

Tahiti boasts the most beautiful scenery and convenient routes in all of Polynesia. High peaks, lush valleys and waterfalls! To discover these places, you will have to go with a guide because some of the trails are not marked and can be dangerous. But some hikes are still accessible to everyone without a guide thanks to good markings.

Explore the island's dense tropical jungle and make your way through tracks with waterfalls and crystal clear rivers. This will allow you to immerse yourself in the nature of Tahiti and enjoy the unique beauty of the landscapes. For example, Loti Falls in the Fautaua Valley can be discovered without a guide, an ideal walk of about 14 km round trip. A well-marked trail crosses the forest and follows the flow of the river. But on Te Pari a guide is required. This trail is located at the end of a peninsula where the land is completely wild and untouched and the hike can be quite dangerous. Many passages line the rocks and provide an opportunity to admire the power of the waves. But be careful: there were cases when high waves simply swept people off the cliffs. Ideally, spend two days on the trail.

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Visit the capital Papeete and the local market

It is impossible to visit Tahiti without discovering Papeete, the capital of Polynesia. This large city of over 26,000 people isn't particularly pretty, but it still has a certain charm.

Stroll along the promenade to discover the port, the city center and its streets, lined with plenty of street art. Check out Paofai Gardens for breathtaking views of the neighboring island of Mo’orea.

To feel the spirit of the island, go to the municipal market - a must-visit place in Tahiti. It takes up an entire city block! You will find everything: decorations, fresh fish, tropical fruits at low prices, freshly squeezed juices, local dishes prepared in front of you. There you can risk tasting national dishes - raw fish, maa tinito, a dish of red beans and pork.

To visit the Papeete market, try to arrive as early as possible, from 5 am. The stalls are crowded, locals come for fresh fish, vegetables and exotic fruits. Part of the market is also dedicated to flowers, handicrafts and souvenirs. The biggest market day is Sunday.

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Discover black sand beaches

The beaches of Tahiti are different from the beaches of Bora Bora or other Polynesian islands. Most of them boast black volcanic sand. It is much softer and warmer than white, and the beaches provide the opportunity to enjoy beautiful panoramas. There are several beaches on the island of Tahiti, but we advise you to discover three. There are others, but less developed or less easily accessible.

• Pointe Vénus. In addition to being a beautiful stretch of black sand coastline, it is a headland that is home to a lighthouse. From here you have a beautiful view of part of the western coast of the island. The landscaped coastline offers: parking, showers, toilets, picnic tables and even a protected swimming area. This is a very popular beach among Polynesians, almost deserted on weekdays, but very lively on weekends.
• Tautira beach. Located on the northern coast of the peninsula, the beach offers several amenities: showers, tables, a petanque area and even games for children. This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Tahiti. But it is located very far from Papeete and its remoteness makes visiting difficult. You will find wildlife and magnificent mountain views.
• Taharuu Beach. Charming beach on the west coast. True, swimming there is difficult due to the waves and strong currents, but this makes it a very popular place for surfers. Therefore, we advise you to take a photo stop or walk there. Nobody bothers you to watch the surfers, sunbathe a little and have a snack.

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Visit Heiva

If you have the opportunity to travel to Tahiti in July, we highly recommend visiting Heiva. This is an annual festival that lasts for almost three weeks.

Here you will immerse yourself in Polynesian culture, see tamure competitions, dances, songs and traditional local sports. This is the island's biggest event!

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Trip to Belvédère de Taravao

Taravao is a city located on a plateau connecting the large island of Tahiti (Tahiti-nui) and its peninsula (Tahiti-iti). In the middle there is this passage between two areas of the island. Take the time to travel to Belvédère de Taravao and you'll have the opportunity to enjoy stunning views of the peninsula.

Climb Mount Orohena

Climbing Mount Orohena (2241 meters) is only for the most experienced and knowledgeable people. The intense trek requires preparation, as well as a minimum of three days of travel. But the view is simply incredible: in clear weather you can see the neighboring archipelagos. Climbing Mount Orohena is a great way to see Tahiti, but also one of the most challenging.

Drive around Tahiti

We recommend driving around the island of Tahiti Nui in a clockwise direction so that the sun is with you. On the East Coast, you can watch the surfers at Papenoo. On the East Coast you will see a very photogenic place with hundreds of palm trees, a pretty stone church or the beautiful Paea Town Hall. Finally, you can make a detour to the city of Taravao to explore the peninsula, the other part of Tahiti's “G8”.

The top part of this eight is the largest and most developed, known as Tahiti Nui. You can drive around it in about 2 hours. But you'll need much more time to discover the many natural attractions that are easily accessible from the road. You can visit a Polynesian temple, discover fantastic panoramas or admire beautiful caves and waterfalls. These landscapes are very different from other archipelagos, so we highly recommend you visit Tahiti Nui to discover another facet of Polynesia. Take a day for this trip.

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Explore the Lava Tubes

The interior of the main island of Tahiti is home to magnificent landscapes. Don't miss the huge lava tubes created by nature over 800,000 years ago! They were formed by flows of hot lava, and the water of the millennium expanded the passages. Today they appear as large caves that can be seen on canyon hikes or boat walking tours. Rivers still flow through these lava tubes. Plan a day for this adventure. There are several such places on the island, but only two tunnels are open to travelers. You can get there by SUV, it's a long drive. It will take at least one day.

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Take part in water sports

There are many water activities in Polynesia, but some of them are the most exciting and accessible in Tahiti! Here you will find the best places to learn to surf (with just one lesson you can usually get on a board). It's also a great place to dive to shipwrecks or among gray sharks and sea turtles. And renting a jet ski is almost a guarantee that you will swim with dolphins! Tahiti is also the best place to practice wakeboarding, or wa’a, the Polynesian canoe. Finally, it is very easy to rent kayaks and paddle boards or even a giant paddle board for paddling around the lagoon.

• Jet ski tours. These tours allow you to see the huge mountains from the sea, the city of Papeete with its large port, as well as beautiful beaches and picturesque cliffs. They are organized both in the lagoon and on the ocean. Lagoon tours allow you to take a dip in the gorgeous turquoise water and meet a variety of animals, such as stingrays and pods of dolphins! It's great fun to fly through the sea on a jet ski, surrounded by dolphins who come to have fun in the waves.
• Scuba diving: For walks with fins, masks and snorkels, you should choose PK18 beach in Puna’auia. The reef is accessible from the beach and boasts beautiful corals.
• Wa'a (Polynesian canoe): This small boat consists of a main hull and a single outrigger located on the side. It is the main sport in Polynesia. It is quite difficult for the average tourist to try this activity, but try your luck on the PK15 Puna’auia beach side (an ideal place with calm seas and a microclimate where the weather is almost always sunny). They let you rent wa'a and teach you how to use it correctly. You can also rent kayaks and paddles for an hour to sail around the lagoon calmly. Please note that it is quite rare to find such a service in Polynesia.

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Fly over Tahiti and its mountains by helicopter or paraglider

During your trip to Polynesia, we recommend that you take at least one flight to admire the islands from the sky. If you choose Tahiti for this activity, you will be able to discover fantastic mountain scenery! The view of the lagoon is impressive, but the interior of the island is perhaps even more interesting.

You can book a helicopter tour to explore the valleys, ridges and peaks. A helicopter flight is a great experience in the heart of the mountains. Flights depart from Fa'a'ā near Papeete. You can book flights of 10, 20 or 30 minutes. We advise you to spend at least 20 minutes in order to have time to penetrate into the very heart of the valleys. The most interesting show is here! You can see the diversity of this wilderness area with its many waterfalls and steep ridges. The view is truly mesmerizing and allows you to observe natural spaces that are inaccessible on foot or by car. The return voyage will allow you to discover the turquoise waters of the lagoon, separated from the dark blue part of the ocean by a coral reef.

Even rarer in Polynesia, travelers can paraglide in Tahiti! This allows you to fly over the mountains of the west coast before landing on the beach.

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Tahiti is full of incredible magical places, the beauty of which will take your breath away. Don't miss the opportunity to touch this treasure, which has not yet become mainstream!