Our guide to Tahiti’s beaches

I’m back at the keyboard, making the most of my holiday in Canada to write another article about Polynesia. Today, I’d like to talk about the beaches of Tahiti. They are much less famous than the beaches of Moorea, Bora Bora, or the outer islands—and that is understandable—but Tahiti still has some beautiful beaches. During the six years we lived there, we had time to explore plenty of them. So here is a practical guide to the island’s different beaches, which I hope will help you plan your stay.

Although relatively few travelers choose to spend much time on the island itself, there are many things to do and see in Tahiti. Among the highlights are inland hikes, discovering the Teahupo’o wave, crossing the island through the Papenoo Valley by 4×4, and even whale watching in season.

To make things easier, I’ll start with the beaches along the west coast, heading out from Papeete. And if you’re passing through the capital, a visit to the market in Papeete is a must.

This is the side of the island where you’ll find Tahiti’s white-sand beaches, even though there are not many of them. It is also the coast to choose if you want to enjoy the sunset. Overall, this side has more lagoon-protected areas, and the beaches are often calmer than those on the east coast.

This is one of the first small beach areas you come across as you leave Papeete and head toward Punaauia. It is not really a wild, natural beach, since it sits inside a landscaped park, but it is still a pleasant place to stop. The park is spacious and works well for walking, jogging, picnicking, or relaxing with family. Along the seafront, you’ll find a white-sand beach area protected from the open ocean. It may not be the beach of the century, but it is close to town and very practical.

Between this beach and the next one, around PK15, there is a very nice place to stay: the former Manava Suite Resort Tahiti, now known as Te Moana Tahiti Resort. We stayed there for two nights and share our full opinion in a dedicated article.

Known as “PK15,” in reference to the kilometer markers that count the distance from central Papeete (PK0), Toaroto was clearly one of our go-to beaches. For us, it was the first real beach close to town. There is a small parking area, public showers, and a sandy beach facing the sunset. To the right, you’ll see the overwater bungalows of the former Hôtel Méridien, which is now closed but also had a lovely stretch of beach.

This beach is very popular, especially with popa’a and residents living around Punaauia, although it is not my personal favorite. It is well laid out, with a few places to eat nearby, even if there are not many picnic tables. The sand is light, similar to PK15, and you can also enjoy the sunset from here.

If you’re looking for a nice walk in the area, consider the Vaitavere walk, which starts in Punaauia.

This is a small beach with light sand mixed with pebbles, right next to Mahana Park. The area is well equipped, with showers, toilets, table tennis tables, a pétanque court, a volleyball court, and more. The beach itself is small, but it is perfect for cooling off or dipping your feet in the water.

This is one of our favorite beaches on the west coast. It is similar in spirit to PK15 or PK18, but feels more local, less developed, and less touristy. It is also a great spot for sunsets, and parking is usually easy.

This is one of Tahiti’s classic surf beaches, well known on the island because it is accessible even for beginners. It is often considered one of the best places to learn to surf in Tahiti. The beach has black sand, a large parking area, showers, and a small snack bar. Depending on the conditions, it is not always the best place for a quiet swim, but it is definitely worth stopping here to watch the local surfers.

I don’t think it is the most beautiful beach on the island, but we often stopped here to get some fresh air and walk along the seafront. The very large parking area makes access easy, and the view toward the peninsula is beautiful.

Not far from there, at PK47.5 on the mountain side, you can try a great activity: a quad bike tour into the interior of Tahiti. As always, the link above gives you our honest opinion of the experience.

A little farther along, at PK49, you’ll also find the Jardin d’Eau de Vaipahi (Vaipahi Water Garden), a lovely and peaceful forest visit that makes a nice change from the beach.

Finally, just before reaching the peninsula, at PK51, you can also visit the Harrison Smith Botanical Garden, a great place to discover local flora.

Here is a charming little beach that we loved taking the kids to. And when I say little, I really mean tiny: it is narrow and right next to the road. The setting is not the wildest or most idyllic on the island, but the white sand and turquoise water are beautiful. The barrier reef is offshore here, which helps explain the color of the lagoon. If you arrive early in the morning, you may be able to enjoy the area in peace and quiet. During the day, especially on weekends, it gets busier. Right next door is the restaurant “La Plage de Maui,” with a lovely view of the lagoon. It is not the cheapest place, but the food is good. Remember to book if you want to be sure of getting a table.

When I say Teahupo’o Beach, I mean the small beach area at the very end, after you cross the wooden bridge at the end of the road. We used to go there for picnics. There is not much to do here besides admire the scenery and relax, but the setting is beautiful. Be careful in the water: stonefish are often mentioned in the area, so water shoes are a good idea.

A few words about the beaches on the east coast. Here, you’ll mainly find gray or black sand beaches, and they are often more exposed to the elements, especially swell and currents. Be careful when swimming, because there are fewer lagoon-protected areas on this side of the island, and you can really feel the difference.

In my opinion, this is the first real beach you come across as you head east from Papeete. It is not a beach we went to regularly, but it is there, and it is usually quiet. The beach has black sand, and as the name suggests, the tomb of King Pomare V is located behind it. There is a parking area, so access is easy.

A little anecdote: this was the first beach we went to just after restrictions were lifted in June 2020, during the Covid-19 period. It is not an exceptional beach, but it is popular with surfers, with fine black sand and outdoor showers set slightly below the road level. Just note that it is right by the road.

This beach is often referred to by the name of the hotel next to it, although that name has changed several times over the years. We often came here as a family for a late-afternoon drink at the hotel, enjoying the pool area and the view over the sea. The black-sand beach below is not private and can be reached via a small path from the Taharaa roundabout, just before the climb of the same name, on the left-hand side when facing the sea. Swimming can be a little demanding depending on the conditions, but it is a pleasant place for a walk and a breath of fresh air. It is usually not too crowded.

Although we lived in different places around Papeete, Arue, and Pirae, Pointe Vénus Beach was our go-to spot for six years. We loved going there after work, in the late afternoon, and almost every weekend to get some fresh air and swim with the kids. It is a peaceful place, even though it can get crowded on weekends. The black-sand beach is wide, so you can usually find a quieter spot. At first glance, the water may look less spectacular than on the west coast, but it is actually beautiful. You can eat on site, and there are snack bars set back from the beach. The late-afternoon light is a real highlight.

This is a small black-sand beach that is popular with kitesurfers. Depending on the conditions, the sea can be quite rough, so be careful.

There are not many beaches on the east coast, especially between Mahina and the peninsula. Ahonu is a roadside black-sand beach without any major standout feature, but local surf lessons are sometimes organized there.

Located near the famous Arahoho Blowhole, this small black-sand beach offers lovely views of the surrounding coastline. The beach is small and often not very crowded.

Nothing very specific here either: it is a large black-sand beach typical of the east coast, ideal for a stroll. At the end of the beach, you reach the entrance to the Papenoo Valley, an excellent starting point for exploring the island’s interior and discovering beautiful waterfalls.

Here is another small black-sand beach. What makes this one useful is the park behind it, where you can sit down, eat, and take shelter if it starts raining.

I’ll end this article with this beautiful beach. I have a real soft spot for this place, because it gives you the feeling of being almost at the end of the world—or at least at the end of the island. From the beach, you can see the surrounding mountains and the Vaitepiha Valley. There are showers, a few tables, and a playground / pétanque area.

There you have it. I hope you enjoyed this article on Tahiti’s beaches and that it gave you a good overview of the spots to discover. If you are still here, feel free to let us know which beaches are your favorites and whether you know any other small beaches. I know there are more in theory! And if you are planning your trip, take a look at our detailed guide to where to stay in Polynesia.

See you soon,

Written by Sylvain PONS

From 2015 to 2021, French Polynesia was our home, with Mélanie and our children. I'm happy to share my experience and advice to help you organize an unforgettable stay in French Polynesia, based on my in-depth knowledge of the territory.

Despite our care, a mistake may have slipped into this article. If you find any, please don't hesitate to let us know so we can correct it as soon as possible and keep our information up-to-date!