10 Best Things to Do on Tahiti, French Polynesia
Before ever traveling to Tahiti, I was told more than once to not spend any time on the island, but rather, leave as quickly as possible to spend all my time on Moʻorea.
However, in this post, I am going to tell you why you should ignore that advice because Tahiti is a paradise in its own right, and if you get out to see it, you’ll find so many more amazing adventures than on the smaller sister island of Moʻorea.
All said, if you’re visiting both Tahiti and Moʻorea on one trip, I personally recommend planning for more hiking/ interior island adventures on Tahiti, while saving Moʻorea for more relaxing beach/ ocean adventures.
Do I Need A Rental Car on Tahiti?
That is an easy yes! Having the freedom to drive wherever and whenever you want will make your trip that much more enjoyable!
Additionally, there's no need for a 4x4 vehicle on Tahiti; instead, any cheaper, more fuel-efficient vehicle is more than sufficient.
International Travelers Only
One of my favorite travel hacks whenever I go abroad is SafetyWing's cheap nomad travel insurance. SafetyWing’s coverage works worldwide, and the long list of activities that they cover is pretty incredible!
Additionally, if you are traveling from outside of the country, I recommend iVisa.com for any travel-related documents because they are an honest, straightforward, and reputable company that has been a big part of the travel industry for a long time!
Hiking Checklist - French Polynesia
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in French Polynesia.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
10 Best Things to Do on Tahiti
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst.
1. Mont Aorai Trail
Distance 20.6 miles / 33.2 km
Mont Aorai is arguably the most beautiful hike on Tahiti, but that’s not without saying that the trail is considered, by some, to be the hardest hike on the island.
That being said, for those who are up for a long all-day/ multi-day adventure, you will definitely not be disappointed on the Mont Aorai Trail, granted that you catch it on a good day!
I say this and I didn’t even make it to the summit because of our lack of planning and we were running out of daylight. However, to be fair, we didn’t have the same information online that I’m sharing here.
Starting up the hill from the ferry terminal in Papeʻete, the trailhead begins right behind the O Belvédère Restaurant.
There is a large grass parking area adjacent to the restaurant, but that would require a 4x4 vehicle to drive the final stretch. Therefore, I highly recommend finding a parking spot before the restaurant on the side of the road if your car isn’t a 4WD. It’s no more than two minutes of extra walking.
When it comes to planning the hike, know Mont Aorai can be hiked in a single day, but it would be more comfortable if it was done in two.
Thinking back, I would have prepared differently by getting a much earlier start, and I mean at least an hour before sunrise because it is just that long of a trail!
All said, Mont Aorai will take you a full day if your goal is the summit. However, if you aren’t interested in summiting Aorai, getting to the viewpoint just past the second cabin is a must on its own!
Google Maps Directions: Mont Aorai Trailhead
5 Things To Know Before Hiking Mont Aorai
The hike can be broken up in three sections that will take you a similar amount of time to complete each.
The first is the trailhead to the first cabin. Then, the first cabin to the second cabin, and finally, the second cabin to the summit. Don’t think that you are close when you have reached the first cabin because there are many false summits in the way of the true summit. In fact, you won’t even see the summit until you are well past the second cabin. In any case, the trail isn’t too difficult to follow, but it’s extremely long with a few tricky washed-out sections.
The map on AllTrails has recently been updated since I hiked it.
When I first hiked it, we were going off of bad information, which contributed to our lack of preparation. However, now knowing that the total distance is 20.6 miles (33.2 km), I would have prepared differently. I also know now that I was only a mile away from the summit, but that’s to my own frustration. I will be back.
If you are going to start in the dark, I would recommend driving up the day before to find the trailhead, so that you can hit the trail as soon as possible on the day of your hike. The whole hike is an out-and-back trail, and if you plan on making the summit and back in one day, you will most likely start and end in the dark.
Personally, I would take the single-day option over spending the night in one of the cabins just to make the most of my trip and to hike lighter. That being said, if you are heading for the summit, don’t go without a working headlamp, 3+ liters of water, and food for more than one meal because I can almost guarantee that you will need all of it.
Finally, to have a much more comfortable hike than we did, I highly recommend following the hiking checklist provided below!
2. Lake Vaihiria 4x4 Adventure
Lake Vaihiria is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure, as this 4x4 excursion takes you into the heart of Tahiti, to French Polynesia’s only natural lake!
That being said, Lake Vaihiria is only one of the countless amazing views that you will get to see when you venture into the middle of the island, making this adventure one of the best things you can do without having the hassle of off-roading in your own rental vehicle.
3. Vaimahuta/ Faʻarumaʻi Falls Trail
Compared to the Mont Aorai Trail above, Vaimahuta/ the Faʻarumaʻi Falls Trail is a much easier and more accessible Tahiti adventure.
In any case, most websites will point out the popular Vaimahuta Falls that you see in the photo here, but what most don’t menion is that you only have to walk a little further down the trail to easily find three more!
Faʻarumaʻi Falls Trail
As you walk back toward the parking lot, you might notice a little faint trail on the right side with a sign telling you that it’s closed.
You can probably guess, but this is where the two other less popular waterfalls can be found, and the waterfalls are no more than a 10-15 minute walk, depending on your pace.
Personally, I would say the risk is minimal for not following the rules, but I may be biased because there was no one to enforce the sign when I was visiting.
Google Maps Directions: Vaimahuta/ Faʻarumaʻi Falls
4. Papenoʻo Valley Tour
The Papenoʻo Valley Tour is one of the most amazing things to do on Tahiti, but that’s not without saying that Papenoʻo Valley is one of the island’s most popular adventures, meaning they will sell out!
For this reason, advanced planning is highly recommended if you want to see this insanely beautiful valley, and the guides recommend booking at least two weeks in advance!
5. Fautaua Valley Trail (Secret Falls)
The Fautaua Valley Trail was a very different adventure than what we had expected, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way!
To see what I mean, click here to Google Image “Fautaua Valley Waterfall”, and notice how not one of the photos on Google is the secret waterfall that we found in the photos below! This is how I know that we didn’t make it to the popular Fautaua Falls.
In any case, I can only tell you about my adventure in the valley, but if you choose to visit, you might decide to make one different turn and have a completely different better or worse adventure than we did. Although, I can’t imagine that the more popular Fautaua Falls was better than the secluded waterfall that we found!
The Permit, Gate, and Parking for Fautaua Valley
Fautaua Valley is located right in backdrop of Papeʻete at the very end of Avenue Pierre Loti.
You are required to obtain a permit in order to hike in Fautaua Valley, but being that we were visiting over the New Years holiday, the town hall was closed, so we decided to go without it and said we would figure it out when we got there.
The trailhead/ parking lot for Fautaua Valley begins at an industrial area. There is a gate for the valley/ trail that I believe the permit was supposed to contain the codes to open, but fortunately for us, when we were ready to begin the hike, the gate to the dirt road suddenly opened, so we were able to walk right through. If it hadn’t opened, we were going to have find our way around.
That being said, I imagine that if we had a permit, we could have driven a little further, but even then, the dirt road wasn’t great for our little car, so it was probably was better that we walked the extra mile.
Google Maps Directions: Fautaua Valley Trailhead
Hiking in Fautaua Valley
[Screenshot these Instructions]
At first, you will walk past an area of industrial buildings on the left, but it isn’t until you come to the first trail sign that you are going to have to make your first decision.
Since none of us could read French, we decided to continue on the main path, but there is a bridge at this point that crosses the river. That may be the difference of us finding the hidden waterfall versus the one in the photos. I couldn’t tell you what’s over that way but, I’d love to know from someone that could tell me. I actually think the waterfall that we found by going straight was better when comparing photos to what we expected to see from the Google images.
If you choose to continue straight, you are on the same path as us for the waterfall in the picture above.
Then, after a little while, the path turns into a normal stream hike, with a few crossings here and there. If you come to a set of stairs on the right side of the stream, then you are on the same path that we took.
A short while after this, you might start seeing a few different side trails, and at one point, the stream splits to the left. However, we stayed with the main stream since it was flowing much more significantly.
After that second split on the left, there shouldn’t be anymore before you reach the main falls.
Finally, once you reach a bigger than normal rock in the stream, you are about two minutes away and should start seeing the waterfall!
When we visited, we spent somewhere between 2 to 3 hours here, soaking in the sun and going for a swim in the big pool below because there were no other people around!
When you hike back out, make sure you find the trail on the left side that will take you back down the steps mentioned previously.
In my experience, the hike should easily be less than two hours for the average hiker to make it to the waterfall that we found, but if you attempt any other trail, I honestly couldn’t tell you what to expect.
All said, when you make it to the dirt road from the beginning, be on the lookout for mango and avocado trees lining the road!
6. Teahupoʻo Surf Break [April - October]
Teahupoʻo is the world-famous surf break and black sand beach on the south shore of Tahiti, and while you can make the trip to visit the beach, the real experience is on the water!
By this, I mean that the world-famous waves are truly only accessible by a private boat. Therefore, if you happen to be visiting during the right time of year (May-August), watching the professional surfers up close with the beautiful mountains in the background is easily one of the best things that you can do on Tahiti!
Google Maps Directions: Teahupoʻo
7. Vallée Pu Falls Trail
All the adventures that I’ve listed thus far requires at least some level of hiking, but Vallée Pu is one waterfall that you can actually see from the main road around the island!
By this, I mean that the whole adventure will only take about ten minutes or less from where you park.
In any case, be sure to have the Google Maps app and the island pre-downloaded; the waterfall is not on Apple Maps.
Vallée Pu Falls Directions
Drive to the Tahiti Glace Papara.
From here, face the mountains and take the road almost directly across the street but to the right, that leads into the valley.
On Google Maps it will be the longest of the three roads that goes back into Vallée Pu, but if you take the wrong road, go back and find the longer one. There’s no point in making the walk harder for yourself when it should be a very easy adventure.
Park before you start driving through the canopy of trees. The road gets much worse after this point.
Finally, to get to the waterfall, simply follow the road upstream for a few minutes until you make it. It should take no time at all, and when we visited, we were the only ones there!
All said, the residents in the valley were very nice to us and even told us where to park, so that we didn’t damage our car.
Additionally, you will want bug spray because if you are not in the water, the mosquitos can be bad!
Google Maps Directions: Vallée Pu Falls Trailhead
8. Plage Vaiava Beach
Plage Vaiava is an amazing west Tahiti beach that’s widely known as a great snorkeling spot from the shore.
However, I personally think that it’s no match for snorkeling in Moʻorea, but if you aren’t planning to go there on in your trip, be sure to get in the water at Plage Vaiava.
Something to note is that the majority of the sharks you may encounter are reef sharks, and if you mind your own business and keep your distance, they should as well!
Google Maps Directions: Plagu Vaiava
9. Plage de Taharuu Beach
Plage de Taharuu is a beautiful black sand beach on Tahiti’s south shore that makes a great spot for both enjoying the water and catching sunset.
However, know that the black sand can get very hot by midday, which is why I recommend visiting toward sunset.
In any case, Plage de Taharuu is one of the few spots on Tahiti that’s not protected by the island’s outer reef. Therefore, you may see some surfers and bodyboarders, and it’s important to be careful when swimming in the shore break.
Google Maps Directions: Plage de Taharuu
Snorkeling Advice
Before flying to the French Polynesia, buy your own quality mask and snorkel. There will be more than one opportunity where you will be snorkeling/ diving during your trip.
If you rely on rental masks, you will be given an uncomfortable one that has been used thousands of times, along with a chewed-out snorkel. Take it from someone who lives in Hawaiʻi; bring your own Mantis mask and snorkel! They are the best and most comfortable masks on the market, by far!
10. Private Tahiti Tour
One of the best things about booking a private tour is being on your own schedule and getting to learn about the island from your own local guide!
For this reason, I love these two customizable tours, which are great for whichever side of the island that you might be more interested in seeing.
Why Am I Recommending These Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Visiting Other Islands
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing French Polynesia adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
As a whole, French Polynesia is one of the safest international destinations that one can visit, as most safety concerns center around outdoor-related activities, aside from petty theft.
By this, I mean that common sense and a general awareness for your surroundings is the key to staying safe when exploring any island. However, when it comes to hiking and swimming in the ocean, visitors need to be more cautious. Don’t treat hiking in French Polynesia like trails on the U.S. mainland or even Hawaiʻi. The mountains are more rugged, the heat is muggier during their summer, and the trails are less traveled in every way.
That being said, always be prepared with sunscreen, plenty of water, and bug spray for any hike. I can promise that you will want all three.
In addition, the calm ocean waters that surround a large number of the islands can give a false perception of safety, and all to often, visitors drown in 'seemingly' safe conditions, which is why it‘s important to avoid swimming alone and refraining from entering the water when the conditions are questionable.
Above all else, the locals are very nice, and I‘ve never had any negative encounters when exploring French Polynesia, as the islands are truly a very safe place to travel!
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official U.S. State Department website.
U.S. Department of State: French Polynesia
Disclaimer
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