Vacation to Beautiful Tahiti with miles of shoreline, dozens of resorts, French cuisine to die for – Tahiti has all the makings of a honeymoon destination. But beach bums often pass over Tahiti’s sands in favor of Bora Bora’s ivory shores. Despite its idyllic reputation and accessibility, Tahiti is more of an off-the-beaten-path stop than a romantic getaway. However, that doesn’t mean Tahiti should be ignored.
Leafy forests sit beside sandy shores, French crêpes are served alongside Tahitian poisson cru (raw fish). If there ever was a place that embodies the beautiful duality of the French Polynesian archipelago, it’s Tahiti. Here, the quirky, often chaotic atmosphere of the island’s capital, Papeete, rubs elbows with untainted natural beauty. In fact, Tahiti – the largest of French Polynesia’s 118 islands – is often referred to as two separate islands despite them being joined by a tiny land bridge. Tahiti Nui is the larger, northern section where Papeete can be found. Tahiti Iti (the smaller half) is less accessible, although many visitors make the trek here for a taste of seclusion. Just note that spending a week on either part of Tahiti will cost you quite a chunk of change. But travelers agree that the warm waters, the lush jungles and the luxurious resorts are worth the splurge. Visit The Best French Polynesian Islands here, The Most Beautiful Beaches in French Polynesia here, or visit us on Pinterest.
Tahiti Weather – Best Time to Visit Tahiti
The best time to visit Tahiti is between May and October. Temperatures are balmy year-round, but You will enjoy less humidity in Tahiti’s winter season. Tahiti really only experiences two seasons: Winter which brings less rain and pleasant temperatures while the summertime – November through April – can be quite hot and humid (especially December), not to mention rainy. But regardless of when you travel, you can expect hotel rates to be high.
May – October
The months from May thru October is Tahiti’s dry season. Average temperatures range from the upper 60s to the mid-80s, giving travelers ideal beach weather. Plus, the humidity is at its lowest. But this is peak tourist season and hotel prices are high.
November – April
From November to April is characterized by humidity, high temperatures and heavy precipitation. In fact, December and January see an average of about 12 inches of rain each month. On average, temperatures will climb from the low 70s to the high 80s. On the up side, hotel rates do tend to be lower this time of year.
The Best Tahiti Beaches
Maui Beach
The primary reason why so many Tahitian tourists flock to this stretch of shoreline is the sand: While many of the island’s beaches boast a volcanic black hue, La Plage de Maui dazzles in pearly white. Located on Tahiti’s southern shore, the clean, warm waters of the nearby lagoon are another draw. The water is unbelievably clear and the lagoon is shallow and calm. The beach’s snack bar serves up fresh seafood.
Papenoo Beach
Want an off-the-beaten path experience? This black-sand beach is little-developed, but what it lacks in amenities, Papenoo makes up for in solitude and natural beauty. The horseshoe-shaped beach beckons surfers with its consistent break, so bring a board if you’re so inclined. Plus, nearby natural wonders, including Arahoho Blowhole and a waterfall make this a great stop on a daylong excursion.
Taharuu Beach
Taharuu Beach is on Tahiti’s southern coast in Papara and characterized by its volcanic black sands, leafy green palm trees and its width. This beach is large, meaning there’s plenty of room to spread out and soak up the sun, and it’s framed by deep blue water and frothy white waves. Popular with families, locals and tourists, this beach has ideal swimming conditions and you may even see some surfers working on their skills.
Bain Lot Beach
If you’ll be visiting Papeete, a stop at Bain Lot Beach is a must. This beautiful beach is located a short walk from downtown, yet the beach retains its natural charm. Bain Lot is well-known for its unusual break, with waves crashing in both directions. That’s why it’s sometimes referred to as the “Ins and Outs” beach.
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Venus Point Beach
In 1769, Captain James Cook visited the black sand beaches at Venus Point to witness the transit of Venus across the sun. Today, the beach retains much of its natural splendor that Cook experience all those years ago, and is now home to a beautiful lighthouse. The lagoon is great for swimming and snorkeling. Plus, it’s one of the best beaches for watching the sunset.
Lafayette Beach
Tahiti’s well-known for its black-sand beaches, and one of the finest is Lafayette. Located just 20 minutes outside of Papeete, the capital city, the beach remains secluded and rarely draws crowds. This beach is a favorite for swimming and sunbathing. Plus, it’s located near the Pearl Beach Resort, which is home to a world-class spa.
Teahupoo Beach
Teahupoo Beach is the center of Tahiti’s surfing world, as surfers from around the world flock here for the legendary waves. This isn’t a beginner break, by any means. Waves regularly break at 6- to 9-feet, with some even calling it the deadliest break in the world. Even so, it’s a beautiful spot for sunbathing and each August, the Billabong Pro Tahiti surf competition is held here, a must-see for visitors.
Mahana Park Beach
On the west side of the island, you’ll find the manicured Mahana Park and its namesake beach. Although it looks like white sand, Mahana Park Beach is made up of tiny white pebbles. The beach rarely draws traffic, making it the perfect place for a quiet afternoon picnic. Plus, there’s a near-shore reef, which is home to more than 200 variety of fish.
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Maeva Beach
Maeva is another beach a stone’s throw from Papeete. The horseshoe shaped white-sand cove looks out over aquamarine waters; it’s a stunning location for an afternoon of sunbathing. Maeva is also home to several resorts, offering a shore break for charter guests. Plus, Maeva offers some of the best sunset views on the island.
Toaroto Beach
White-sand beaches are somewhat of a rarity on Tahiti, but if that’s what you’re looking for, head to Toaroto Beach. The beach is one of the island’s best stretches of white sand, and its protected waters are perfect for snorkeling and swimming. There’s also a nearby park, which makes this a favorite family destination.
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Best Tahiti Restaurants
Urban Cafe $11 – 30
European & vegetarian friendly. TripAdvisor Ratings Telephone: 689 40 83 39 99 Menu Web: Urban Cafe
Hei Restaurant $30 & Over
French & European TripAdvisor Ratings Telephone: 689 40 43 77 14 Web: Hei Restaurant
Le Grillardin $30 & Over
French, European & Gastropub TripAdvisor Ratings Telephone: 689 40 43 09 90 Web: Le Grillardin
L’O a La Bouche $30 & Over
French, European & healthy TripAdvisor Ratings Telephone: 689 40 45 29 76 Menu Web: L’O a La Bouche
Meherio Tahitian Bistro $11 – 30
European & Polynesian TripAdvisor Ratings Telephone: 689 40 41 01 10 Menu Web: Meherio Tahitian Bistro
Best Tahiti Nightlife
Le Rétro
Le Rétro is full of attitude and atmosphere and is a great place to watch the world go by while sipping an espresso. It also serves a great selection of cocktails and juices. Telephone: 689 40 42 86 83 Web: Le Retro
Le Paradise Night
This is the classic, slightly kitsch Pape’ete bar-disco. Playing international tunes, it attracts a mixed crowd of Polynesians and French. Telephone: 689 40 42 73 05 Web: Le Paradise Night
Morrison’s Café
Upstairs in the Vaima Centre is this popular spot for a drink. There’s a pleasant, loung feel. Telephone: 689 40 42 7 61 Web: Morrison’s Cafe
Les 3 Brasseurs
This congenial brewpub has excellent micro-brewed beer on tap and a constant stream of locals and tourists wanting to sample it. Cover bands perform here at the weekend and you can also chow on some good French-style pub grub for lunch and dinner. Telephone: 689 40 50 60 25 Web: Les 3 Brasseurs
Hi Leah Rae,
Your recommendation of winters from November to April made me realize that Tahiti is located South of Equator. A little Google search reveals that the closest country is New Zealand. But such a beautiful place!
teahupoo Beach with its high breaks is so exciting. Never have seen such high breaks.
Definitely it’s on my list now. Your recommendations comes handy in planning and completely enjoying the trip.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Rohit
It’s quite interesting to know that there are beautiful places like this in Tahiti. Thanks to your article for getting me exposed to this beautiful places. Another interesting thing is the fact that their restaurants are really not expensive. It is certainly a fun place to go on a vacation.
Yes, Tahiti is great! I appreciate you taking the time to leave me comments, thank you.
I liked your article on Tahiti. I like reading about the different times of year to visit Tahiti and the different weather. The beaches look amazing. I like seeing and hearing about the beaches to pick which ones to visit when you go. Reading about the food at the different restaurants and knowing the price range makes it easy to choose where to eat and how much your evening will be. Your articles are amazing.
Thank you so much Carol. I am glad you enjoyed your visit to Beach Travel Destinations.
I had no idea that there was a place could tahti ,but the post has thought me a lot, and
I think this article is very informative and it will help a lot,I will like to ask if you are the owner
of the island or is there a single owner of the island or is tahti a place where people live in or is it for vacation purposes only
The heart and soul of the South Pacific, Tahiti is the largest in a chain of islands that make up French Polynesia. The name can either refer to the main island or the entire destination. Commonly referred to as The Islands of Tahiti, French Polynesia is a collection of 118 islands and atolls scattered across an impressive nautical surface area the size of Western Europe. Still, these tiny islands—many of which remain uninhabited—make up a total landmass of only 1,600 square miles. So, Tahiti is part of French Polynesia which is part of France. I sure wish I owned such a beautiful chain of islands 😀 I would live there for sure! French people live here, and they depend on tourism as part of their economy.
Wow, how amazing does that look. You just added a new item on my bucket list. That Maui Beach looks awesome! All of the beaches look amazing.
Or Toaroto Beach to do some great snorkeling. I love to snorkel and that water looks perfect. My wife and I like to travel so we appreciate your articles. Thank you keep em coming.
Tahiti is amazing! I am glad you enjoyed your visit to my Tahiti guide. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
I heard about Tahiti, but I didn’t know much, now I found out more.
It would be a dream vacation for me, if I could win as much as possible.
Wonderful and good beaches for swimming and snorkeling, which I didn’t know about.
The video is wonderful, I wrote it down for dream images, for getting out of melancholy.
I didn’t know you were from France, from French Polynesia.
Dreamy quiet places, but we also have to take into account the season: winter or summer, I would prefer winter when it is more quiet and the prices are lower.
Respectfully
Vasile,
Very true, and I think you would find any time you visit to Tahiti is going to be fabulous!
I’ve always dreamed to visit Tahiti…I never had the opportunity to do so, and I am French! Here in France, Tahiti is synonymous with exoticism, beautiful beaches of white sand, beautiful women with flowers necklaces…and beautiful traditional dances. I also like mono, which is the local coconut oil of Polynesia. You just gave me an idea for my next post!
Great, and yes who doesn’t dream of going to Tahiti? And what the French believe about Tahiti is spot on. I hope you can vacation to beautiful Tahiti soon!
Tahiti looks so beautiful and someday I hope to visit there. Many years ago, I vacationed in Fiji and had an amazing time. But I was at a place with volcanic sand which was not what you typically think of for the South Pacific. It’s great to read your article and see where the hot spots are to go in Tahiti. If I ever go there, I would want to stay in a thatched hut over that incredible azure water. I’ll have to bookmark this page and come back in the future. Thanks for the recommendations.
Oh, Tahiti is wonderful. So many beautiful beaches and plenty to do. And yes, volcanic beaches are pretty amazing, something everyone should see and experience. Thank you, Lee, for visiting Beach Travel Destinations and taking the time to leave me comments.
Another beautiful description bringing one close to nature. I just read your article on Tahaa french polynesia. Good enough the best time to visit both tahaa and tahiti is between May and October and their temperatures are very similar. Are they close to each other? And the hotels, where best do you think one can take abode
They are close to each other, and about a 45 minute flight from Tahiti to Tahaa.
Thank you very much for such a detailed review post about Beautiful Tahiti. I’ve never actually been there. Because I had heard that the climate there is very cold. I realized it was true after reading your post. Especially the fact that there are many beaches is the biggest thing. Please continue posting like this. Also, thank you very much for your recommendation.
You are very welcome! Tahiti is never cold, lol. I wonder where you heard that. This is a tropical climate with many wonderful warm beaches 🙂 You would enjoy!
Tahiti is a destination that I would never consider going on vacation. But after reading this article, it makes me curious. The photo looks beautiful and also the video looks great. Maybe for next year… It could be a great destination to put on my bucketlist for sure.
I wish the prices were also stated in euros instead of dollars. But that is a minor thing.
Yes, they don’t give a Euro option for pricing. I am glad you enjoyed and hopefully a Vacation to Beautiful Tahiti in in order soon!
Tahiti really is just one of the most magical places on Earth. Obviously lots of people have discovered the beach getaways of Tahiti’s which is evidenced by the high hotel prices year round. Interesting they only really experience two seasons and that you recommend the winter season or traveling. Teahupoo Beach looks so cool. I cant believe it has 6-9 foot wave breaks. it would be really cool to go check out the surfers at this beach. Also Mahana beach looks beautiful. The water is just crystal clear and it looks barely disturbed by tourists. Do all of these beaches receive a fair amount of foot traffic year round or are you still able to find secluded beach areas anywhere in Tahiti?
There are places in Tahiti that get less foot traffic. A part of the Tuamotu Archipelago,Tikehau is a secluded beach covered in pink sand. Tikehau itself translates to “peaceful landing” and is perfect for taking it easy and relaxing. Don’t forget your snorkel gear when you visit. There’s even more beauty under the water. Home to a variety of fish, Tikehau is a great spot for snorkelers to enjoy. This would be where I spend my time. I live on a crowded beach, and it’s appeal got lost a long time ago, LOL