tahiti surf travel

Choose the islands of your itinerary

Keep it simple!

French Polynesia can appear as a "complex" destination because it is composed of 118 islands scattered on a territory as large as Europe. Most people coming to Tahiti wish to make the most of their trip by visiting as many islands as possible, even if it means spending only one day on each island.

A 3 days stay per island is a good standard as to take enought time to discover the place. Every move from an island to another will take you at least half a day. (check-out + airport transfer + flight check-in + flight + baggage + hotel transfer + hotel check-in = at least 4 hours )

Which island?

To make things clear, you may say that:

The Windward Islands (Tahiti & Moorea) are very developed for hiking, various activities, and one can find almost everything including orginal things including Paint-Ball, Karting, Paragliding etc. ...
The Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Maupiti) are more touristic islands, meaning that you will find the perfect honeymooner services and a variety of Robinson Crusoe-wannabe excursions but much less out of the beaten tracks activities than in Tahiti and Moorea.
Tuamotu Islands (Rangiroa, Tikehau, Fakarava, Manihi etc...) are islands with fewer touristic infrastructures. Not understand this is jeopardizing your trip if your are looking for renewed walks and countless activities but it is the true paradise of scuba-diving, surfing and getting a tan.

Polynesia geography for dummers

Having a general overview of every islands shape and structure will help you figure out what you can or can not do in each archipelagos.

Society Islands (both Leeward and Windward Islands) are said to be "high islands". This means that there are composed of a big central mountain surrounded by a plain ending up on thebeach. A lagoon separate the central part of the islands and the coral reef. Passes are scattered along the reef barrier in which you can dive or surf.
Tuamotu Islands are older islands and the central mountain has completely disappeared in the lagoon. Only the coral reef remains and the motu, small islands, are the emerged part of the atoll. Motu usually have a peak below 5 meters/15 feet above sea level.
Marquesas Islands are much younger. They mostly look like a volcano and the lagoon is hardly never formed around the island. The shoreline is very steep and there is much less plains compared to Society Islands.

What about surfing?

Most of the time, Tuamotu waves' myth and Teahupo'o marketing drains a lot of surfers who should stick to intermediate waves to go on really "hardcore" surf spots, even if those spots are not really consistent along the year.
A good trip preparation will keep you out of trouble and will have you surf almost every day. What you should know :

There is hardly no beach break in Polynesia but in Tahiti, especially on north coast. Those beach breaks are really the best choice for beginners.
Most reef breaks of Society Islands can be paddled to, without a boat (between 15 and 45 minutes paddle)
In the Tuamotu Islands, you may find only one pass and find out that its orientation make the spot surfable only few months a year. Although, those reef coral are usually a quick paddle away from the beach, compared to Society Islands

Thus, in case you're thinking of a surf-only-trip, you should probably consider concentrating your trip on Tahiti and Moorea since the surf spots density is higher - plus you can surf almost every day if you are keen on switching coast.

Best surf trip duration

Although the swell is pumping all year long, a 2 weeks trip is minimum to get some unforgettable sessions.

Tahiti

Room starting 0 USD package from 4 persons per night - Browse accommodations in Tahiti
Cruises starting 389 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Tahiti
rentals starting 124 USD package from 4 persons per night - Browse rentals inTahiti
activities starting 6 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Tahiti

Moorea

Room starting 13 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Moorea
Cruises starting 479 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Moorea
rentals starting 124 USD package from 4 persons per night - Browse rentals inMoorea
activities starting 31 USD package from 1 persons per night - Browse activities in Moorea

Fakarava

Room starting 19 USD package from 5 persons per night - Browse accommodations in Fakarava
Cruises starting 479 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Fakarava
activities starting 71 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Fakarava

Huahine

Room starting 0 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Huahine
Cruises starting 479 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Huahine
rentals starting 123 USD package from 5 persons per night - Browse rentals inHuahine
activities starting 41 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Huahine

Room starting 14 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Raiatea
Cruises starting 85 USD per person & per night- Browse cruises in Raiatea
rentals starting 76 USD per person & per night - Browse rentals inRaiatea
activities starting 65 USD package from 1 persons per night - Browse activities in Raiatea

Taha'a

Room starting 65 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Taha'a
Cruises starting 479 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Taha'a
activities starting 47 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Taha'a

Bora Bora

Room starting 39 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Bora Bora
Cruises starting 479 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Bora Bora
rentals starting 149 USD package from 4 persons per night - Browse rentals inBora Bora
activities starting 97 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Bora Bora

Maupiti

Room starting 27 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Maupiti
Cruises starting 609 USD package from 8 persons per night- Browse cruises in Maupiti
activities starting 65 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Maupiti

Rangiroa

Room starting 19 USD per person & per night - Browse accommodations in Rangiroa
Cruises starting 479 USD package from 6 persons per night- Browse cruises in Rangiroa
activities starting 91 USD per person & per night - Browse activities in Rangiroa