Dreaming of waking up in paradise one day? Tahiti is the gateway to paradise islands like Bora Bora, Moorea, or Maupiti.It is a mandatory stop for all international flights, so you will have to start and finish your trip here. More than two-thirds of the population of French Polynesia live on the island, so be prepared for bustling activity and dense traffic, where we have often been stuck in a jam. Nevertheless, you can get inspired by our TOP 10 attractions.
Detailed Google map with attractions
Detailed map of our points of interest[/caption>
Practical tips
- Flights – read our summary article on how to get cheap flights from Europe to Tahiti French Polynesia – tips and tricks
- Where to stay – the island offers plenty of accommodations, but if you want to stay near the best beach with underwater world, we recommend staying at Vaiava Beach.TIP: Our accommodation: Pension Te Miti
- Transport – the island may be only 60 km long, but since the main road only runs around the perimeter, the distances add up. If you want to see all parts of the island, renting a car is a must. The best prices were offered by Eco Car – Tahiti.
TOP 10 attractions
1. Vaiava Beach
Although Tahiti is mainly known for its black sand beaches, you can also find beautiful beaches with white sand here. For us, the absolute top spot with white sand and stunning underwater world is Vaiava Beach. Easy snorkeling will reward you with a coral garden and an infinite number of colorful fish just a few meters away. Don’t forget to bring a waterproof camera or underwater case for your phone. In the evening, wait for the sunset over the island of Moorea and you will be amazed by the colorful spectacle. And we thought nothing could impress us after Bora Bora.
2. Milan Rastislav Štefánik Memorial
Milan Rastislav Štefánik traveled to Tahiti in 1910 to observe Halley’s Comet. He journeyed by ship from the French port of Le Havre to New York, traversed the United States, and then traveled by another ship to Tahiti. Just imagine the distances and over a month of traveling. The construction of Štefánik’s monument above Papeete, at the location where he had an observatory, was arranged by František Kele’s expedition in 1994. Originally, the monument was a pylon made of natural volcanic stone and taller, but during landscaping it was lowered and painted white. Ľuboš Fellner even secured the naming of the area with the monument as “Résidence Štefánik,” along with a commemorative stamp dedicated to Štefánik for the anniversary of the Czechoslovak Republic.
TIP: The memorial is currently located in a fenced military area, so you can only visit with a bit of luck and by asking one of the employees (as we managed to do).
3. Robert Wan Pearl Museum
The best souvenir from Tahiti is the black “Tahitian” pearls. At the pearl museum of trader Robert Wan, you will learn about how pearls are formed and how these rare souvenirs were traditionally harvested. His private collection also includes the largest Tahitian pearl in the world. Pearls are classified from Perfect to A, B, C, and D, and are judged based on five criteria – luster, smoothness, color, size, and shape. The Tahitian pearl is the only naturally “black” pearl, although the color is not actually black. And as for the prices? We saw a pearl there for €427,381 🙂
TIP: When making a purchase, ask for a certificate of authenticity to ensure that your pearls will be of the highest quality.
4. Waterfalls in the Faarumai Valley
Tahiti is rich in picturesque waterfalls, but by far the most popular are the three waterfalls known as Les Trois Cascades or Faarumai. You can reach the first waterfall, Vaimahuta, in 5 minutes. We were lucky as a documentary was being filmed here and traditionally dressed children were performing. You can trek through lush rainforest to reach the second and third waterfalls. During our stay, this area was closed. The site of the three cascades is the source of many ancient legends waiting to be discovered during your visit.
GPS route:https://www.strava.com/activities/7282832731
5. Vaipahi Water Gardens
Vaipahi Water Gardens are located on the mountain side of the southern coast of Tahiti. This place, which is a sacred site for its purifying sources, offers a beautiful walk in the botanical garden at the bottom as well as two hiking circuits. It’s a delight for hikers – the paths lead among gurgling, meandering springs and streams. After a short hike, there are picnic spots available with a fabulous view of the lagoon.
GPS route:https://www.strava.com/activities/7277894401
6. Lafayette Beach
Lafayette Beach is one of the most popular Tahitian beaches. This public beach, located in the bay in front of the Pearl Beach resort, is rarely crowded and is a great spot for swimming. It offers about 800 meters of sparkling black sand. A wonderful place for those looking to escape the crowds, with the eastern side of the curved beach framed by cliffs and lush greenery.
7. Lighthouse at Pointe Vénus
Pointe Vénus is the northernmost point of Tahiti. It was here that Captain James Cook recorded the transit of Venus across the sun in 1769. The Phare de la Pointe Vénus lighthouse was built 99 years after Cook’s visit. From this spot, we also have a lovely story of a local waving us over to follow him. We thought he might ask for money since we were tourists, but instead, he just wanted to chat in English and improve his skills 🙂
8. Eglise Saint-François-Xavier Church
Small churches are usually unplanned stops, but at this one ancient church with dramatic mountains in the background, we simply had to stop. The stone church from the 19th century is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier.
9. Sunset Viewpoint
Near our accommodation, we discovered this unofficial viewpoint offering a perfect view of the sunset over Moorea Island. It’s not a traditional viewpoint. You just have to find the right spot along a winding road to park your car. If you’re lucky and the weather is nice, you might even see something resembling a halo above the island.
10. Taharuu Beach
Taharuu Beach is another beautiful black sand beach on the south coast of the island. The black shore kissed by the white tongues of the Pacific Ocean with green dramatic mountains in the background somewhat reminded me of Hawaii. The amount of young people on this beach proved it to be a perfect paradise for surfers as well.
If you haven’t read all of our articles about French Polynesia, be sure to do so. It’s worth it. For us, it was an amazing experience that we will remember for the rest of our lives. It was truly worth embarking on this longer, but ultimately perfect journey to paradise.
