The most beautiful beaches in Tahiti

The idea of escaping the noisy and busy Papeete for a while makes me browse through a travel guide. On one page, I come across the most beautiful beaches in Tahiti. One, the black beach of Point Venus, is already familiar to us. But there is also a white beach, called Maui, that catches the eye. Without further ado, we rent a car and set off to explore the island and take a look at the most beautiful beaches on the island. The first beach on our list is Toaroto beach. It is located about seven kilometers south of Taina Marina. A parking lot and a green meadow with palm trees lie in front of the narrow strip of sand, which can be reached after a few steps. To get into the water, you have to cross a rocky ledge, which makes it much easier if you are wearing bathing shoes.

Toaroto beach, Tahiti

Further south is Vaiava Beach and Mahana Park. Both are rather small stretches of beach, although Mahana has a nice little restaurant offering cool drinks and good food.

Mahana Beach, Tahiti

We drive on to see the big waves of Teahupo'o. The waves are notorious among surfers and are the venue for this year's surfing competitions as part of the Olympic Games. But first we visit the De Mara'a and Mata Va'a caves, which are on the way to Taravao. The bay of Taravao is deeply indented and is considered by sailors to be a safe place in the event of a hurricane. It is precisely this aspect that makes the bay so interesting for us, as we might want to spend the next hurricane season in Tahiti. Atimaono beach is sheltered from a motu. The golf course is in the immediate vicinity and its clubhouse offers excellent cuisine. Taravao is the transition to the smaller island in the south-east of Tahiti. This is where the supposedly most beautiful beach in Tahiti, called Maui, is located. Whether it is the most beautiful is up to you to decide. Because of its size, it can quickly become overcrowded on the weekend, which makes it less beautiful. When we get there, there is plenty of space, and we enjoy the warm water.

Beach Maui, Tahiti

Now it's not far to the huge waves of Teahupo'o. The road ends here, and the place is very busy. Boundary posts are painted, plants are trimmed, everything is tidied up and paths are laid out. Catering tents are set up on the beach and the first surfers arrive. The small town is getting ready for the Olympic Games. The dress rehearsal will take place tomorrow when the Olympic flame is carried here. However, if you are expecting hotels here, you are far from it. The small guesthouses, called lodges, guarantee gentle tourism and that this place is reserved for surfers. Hosting the Olympic Games here is likely to be a logistical challenge that is not easy to overcome. The good thing is that afterward everything will be back to normal and nature will continue to make these "big waves" available to surfers.

Teahupo'o venue for the 2024 Olympic Games surfing competitions

We make our way home via the east coast. As expected, the coast here is much rougher. Only in the north-east does the protection of the outer reef come into play again. The valleys cut deep into the land and the rivers cascade down over various waterfalls. Due to the abundant water, the landscape is characterized by lush green foliage. In the north-east we reach the beach at Tiarei. Not mentioned in any travel guide, this is probably still one of the insider tips if you prefer light-colored beaches and waves. Point Venus is the exact opposite of Tiarei. Protected by the outer reef, the water is very calm. Ideal for families with small children. The water is shallow and the sand is black. A food truck and a restaurant provide refreshments at this historic location. Blight landed here with his Bounty and Cook to observe the transit of Venus. 

Point Venus, Tahiti

We meet up with our old friend Christer, whom we met in Panama and with whom we spent a few months in the Gambiers. We are delighted, and the afternoon is entertaining. After all, it's been another eight months since we last saw each other. There's a lot to talk about, and before we know it, it's time to go home again. But not before we've taken a look at the last beach, Lafayette. The beach is located east of Papeete on the outskirts of the city. It consists of black sand and is difficult to access from the road. There are virtually no parking facilities. It is therefore better to get there by bus.

As we are a little late, we arrive in Papeete during rush hour. This starts shortly before four o'clock and ends around seven o'clock. During this time, you can only get through Papeete with stop-and-go traffic. We will definitely bear this in mind next time. Until then, fair winds and keep a stiff upper lip.