Black Sand & Surfing: Tahiti’s Best Beaches

Maui Beach is a rare white sand beach in Tahiti. It can get very crowded on weekends, but is peaceful during weekdays. It located right on the road but has shallow swimming, making it perfect for kids, as well as deeper spots for adults and some DIY snorkeling off the reef.

If you need to hone your surfing skills, no worries, Tahiti has some fabulous beginner breaks plus warm water! Tura’i Mataare Surf School offers private and small group surf lessons to anyone over the age of 5-years. The 3 hour and 30 minute lesson aims to help you master the basic techniques before you venture to multiple surfing spots along the western coast of the island. The company picks up from all the hotels, and rates include transport. If you already know what you’re doing and just want to ride the best waves for when you’re visiting Moana Surf Tours in Punaauia can provide guides or put together any combination of surfing, lodging and boat.

Tahiti’s East Coast is filled with surf spots, both reef and shore breaks off black sand beaches, and also has some of the best consistent beginner waves on the island. At PK 14.5 you’ll find Papenoo, which is an excellent spot for beginners with long and not very hollow waves. Two other starter waves can be found at the shore breaks at PK 12.5 and PK 13. They are accessed just off the road and are best when there is a northern swell. At PK7 you’ll find Lafayette Beach, which has easy access from the road. The shore break here produces some powerful waves and a shallow bottom – not best for beginners. The best spot to ride is by the river mouth. At Point Venus (PK 10) you’ll find a right-hand reef break that is one of the best on the island, but again not for beginners.

Tahiti Iti, Tahiti‘s smaller sister island that’s connected to the main island at the southeast coast, is home to one of the most famous surfing waves in the Pacific, Teahupoo. This powerful reef break most certainly should not be attempted by anyone but the best surfers—a fall means being dragged by the current across the sharp coral right below the surface. That edge of drama makes for a tense but enjoyable afternoon of observation (from the beach). The left break is best between April and October. The Billabong Pro competition is held here August.

On Tahiti’s west coast, the area around Punaauia town has some lovely stretches of black and white beaches between PK10 and PK15. This is considered Tahiti’s gold coast of sorts, as it is home to some of the most expensive real estate on the island, and also boasts stunning views across the water to Moorea -- try to stay for at least one sunset. You’ll also find some good shore surf breaks along this strip of sand and for divers the St Etienne Drop-Off just off the Punaauia reef is a wonderful wall dive.