Best Beaches in Tahiti

In Tahiti, wherever you go, you will not be very far from a beach. Also, almost all beaches are suitable for diving, snorkeling and fishing. There are both public and private beaches in Tahiti. If you are staying in a hotel or resort with an access to a private beach, you are lucky. If not, you will still have abundant choices of public beaches, which are as lovely. If you would like to visit all beaches by yourself, get a map, rent a car or a scooter and start right on. The helpful locals will willingly direct you to the next beach at every stop. Here is a list of five best beaches in Tahiti.

Lafayette Beach

Located on the less crowded Eastern coast of Tahiti and facing the Matavi Bay, Lafayette is one of the best black sand beaches in Tahiti. The Tahiti Radisson Plaza resort is located right on this beach.

Papenoo Beach

This beach located in the North coast is another black sand beach. Also, if you are a surfer, you will probably prefer this beach to others because of the slightly more turbulent water.

Plage de Toaroto

This half-mile long white sand beach, located on the western coast is quite near the hotel Meridien. You can do snorkeling here as the water is shallow and the marine life is extremely rich. The dining experience in the restaurant Le Carre, on a wooden deck right on the beach, is quite breathtaking.

Venus Point Beach

At Venus Point on the east coast, you should visit the picturesque black sand beach which has an added attraction in the form of a tall, white lighthouse and a park. Interestingly, Venus Point is the place from where Captain Cook observed the transit of the planet Venus in 1769.

Pirae Beach

On the eastern coast, you will find another nice beach in suburb of Pirae. This one is also a black sand beach and is located near the Royal Tahitian Hotel.

What to Do in Tahiti?

A paradise can probably be defined by a place, which holds the same attraction for all people, in spite of their age or cultural differences. Tahiti is a perfect paradise in the sense that everybody will have something to do over here. Here is a list of the 5 must-do activities in Tahiti.

Shark feeding:

In Tahiti you will get to witness shark feeding, for the waters around the islands of the French Polynesia are full of toothy sharks. Rangiroa, an atoll near Tahiti is probably the best place for shark feeding, where you need to stand in shallow water to see sharks taking food from the hands of an expert diver.

Scuba diving:

If the color of the ocean around Tahiti disappoints you for being not so perfectly blue as the picture postcards, your heart will surely lift as soon as you dive under it. The water is so crystal clear and pollution free that you will not fail to see even the tiniest dot on a small fish. Kids as well as adults will enjoy diving equally, especially with the impossibly colorful fish and beautiful coral reefs for which this part of the Pacific Ocean is famous.

Getting married:

Tahiti is one of the most popular choices for honeymoon couples or for couples, married for a long time, wanting to renew their love life. There is a very interesting activity that will definitely attract you if you are planning such a romantic vacation. In Tahiti, you can get married in a beautiful Tahitian ceremony completed with a priest giving you traditional Tahitian names.

Circling the island:

You can tour the island by the 117 km road that circles it and gives you many glimpses of the lush green rain forest, waterfalls, beaches, museums, ruined temples and other beauties of Tahiti.

Visiting the spa:

Tahiti is also famous for its spas. No vacation can be complete without a relaxing spa massage amidst the fragrance of tropical flowers, ending with a body wrap of banana leaves, leaving all your muscles soothed and relaxed.

Tahiti: The Island Paradise

There are often some very demanding tourists who want to get the best of everything: fluorescent green sea beaches, blue lagoons, mountains covered with lush rain forests, an untainted, interesting local culture and wonderful climate at any time in the year - at one go. If you are one of them, no place will seem more perfect to you than the earthly paradise of the island of Tahiti, the biggest island in the group of French Polynesian Islands, in the Southern Pacific ocean, between Australian and American continents.

The ultra-romantic image of Tahiti has been fostered by the ancient whispered tales among sailors of an island-Eden in the Pacific, the idea of Tahitians as ‘noble savages’ with their uncorrupted simplicity and natural wisdom, the canvases of Paul Gauguin wild with tropical colors and the images of thatched overwater bungalows. The best thing about Tahiti is that the greedy hands of commercial developments are yet to mar the picturesque beauty of the island. The skyline is free of high-rises and signboards, the beaches are free of noisy tourists, the local people free of guile and connivances.

With the breathtaking loveliness of the warm tropical beaches you will also get all first-class modern amenities that your heart may desire. You can either go for scuba diving or fishing in the lazy waters of the Pacific Ocean, dance the night away with the ever-smiling, lovely Tahitians or simply hike around in search of those numerous scenic views of haunting beauty that Paul Gauguin made his life’s work to render to his canvases.

If you feel a bit more adventurous, you can go for surfing or better still, shark feeding into the sea. If you are with kids, you will surely not want to miss visiting the natural dolphin habitat in the water and swim and play with the delightful creatures. In any French Polynesian island, the warm water of the ocean will caress and invite you all year long. You will never need to wear a wet suit.

Best Sites to See in Tahiti

People who visit Tahiti usually come to see the relaxing beaches along the azure sea against the backdrop of a most dazzlingly blue sky you can find anywhere in the world. However, Tahiti has more to it than oceans, beaches, scuba diving and surfing. With its rich cultural heritage and the unique geographical formation of the island, Tahiti along with the other islands in the French Polynesia has many other attractions to offer. I have discussed below five best things to see in Tahiti.

Harrison Smith Botanical Garden:

The rich diversity of tropical plants is displayed in the beautiful Harriet Smith botanical garden. A trip to this place enlightens us to the fact that Tahiti is the home of numerous species of orchids, other than the fragrant flowers for which all tropical countries are famous. The beauty of some of the plants and flowers will leave you spellbound.

Waterfalls:

Tahiti boasts many waterfalls in the lush green setting of the volcanic mountains on which the island is centered. Some of these are accessible by cars while others need hiking to reach them. You can bring swimsuits and enjoy taking bath under the cascading water of the streams. Faarumai, Vaiharuru, Vaimahutu and Topatari are some of the well-known waterfalls.

Archaeological Sites:

There are many archaeological sites, which consist of the ruins of ancient temples or maraes, amidst the picturesque beauty of the Tahitian inlands. The Papenoo valley also contains a lot of ruins as well as waterfalls. This will give you a chance to explore the rugged mountains and the lush rain forest of Tahiti closelt. It is advisable to take a guide in such tours.

Pearl Museum:

Tahiti has a Pearl Museum, the only one in the world of its kind, which has a wide collection of pearls and oysters.

Lagoonarium:

The Lagoonarium in the South coast is an underwater aquarium, which displays an amazing variety of marine species including shark, tortoise, moray eels and colorful tropical fish. You can also view shark-feeding here.

Best Attractions in Tahiti

Tahiti offers a number of attractions such as beaches, scuba diving, museums, nature tours, surfing and so much more. You can also visit the island of Moorea, (accessible by ferry service) with lovely white beaches and an added attraction – the coral reefs. Rangiora, the second largest atoll in the world with a turquoise lagoon in the middle, is also a short flight away from Tahiti. However, here are the five best attractions in Tahiti itself.

Overwater Bungalows:

If you visit Tahiti and do not stay in one of the overwater bungalows even for a single day, you are going to lose the best thing about staying in Tahiti. These small bungalows are built on wooden platforms above the ocean water and sometimes have glass floors making you feel as if you are standing on the ocean.

The City of Papeete:

The capital of the French Polynesia, Papeete, which literally means ‘water bucket’ and where the traditions and modernity of Tahitian culture coexist, is vibrant with life. The central market of Papeete, Le Marché is a must-visit to get a glimpse of the local life as well as the heaps of exotic fruits and vegetables. Also, don’t forget to have dinner from les roulettes, mobile vans that offer traditional delicacies in low prices.

Gaugain Museum:

The famous post-impressionist painter Paul Gaugain made Tahiti his home until his death. This museum pays a tribute to the painter and has a collection of sketches, paintings and memorabilia of the painter.

Venus Point:

Many explorers, including captain James Cook anchored their ships near this place, which now boasts an old lighthouse, a beautiful black-sand beach and a lush green park. The name Venus Point came from Cook’s observation of the transit of planet Venus from this point.

Cruise Ships:

With natural jagged edges, which are helpful for anchoring, Tahiti is a wonderful place for sailing. One unique attraction of Tahiti is the sailing experience in a luxurious yacht, catamaran or cruise ship over the deep blue water, a dream-come-true for every romantic.