Tourists stop too little in Tahiti itself. What a mistake! You have to get out of Papeete and its gridlocked roads to discover Tahiti’s best beaches, often covered in black sand, which are worth the detour. Just like Club Med in Mauritius.
Most “local”: Pointe Vénus beach
First a bit of history. It was in this bay, the town of Mahina, that James Cook landed in 1767 to calculate the distance between the Earth and the Sun, the famous “transit of Venus”.
The beach is located in the very north of the island and is only about twenty minutes from Papeete by car or scooter. Its black sand (beware, it’s hot) is spectacular and there are very few tourists. At Pointe Vénus every weekend mainly Tahitian families meet, celebrate in rhythm (waves) and their music resonates to the fullest. There are few waves and you can walk quite a distance, a strong point when you are with children. Forget snorkeling, the bay is not as transparent as the lagoon, but still very pleasant. On the day we went there, dozens of children were dancing in front of Santa who was giving them presents… November 27th. The celebrations start early in Tahiti.
Then stop by the food truck “Iaorana” (we call it a trailer here) that offers food, not Tahitian, but delicious, “racion de papas” (fries covered with thin slices of beef, cheese sauce). yourself, reach for a fresh coconut.
Pointe Venus Beach© Grégoire Le Bacon
The “most surfer-friendly” beach: Taharuu
This is perhaps the favorite beach of the locals. It is located in Papara in the south of the island and is ideal for sunbathing or swimming. A word of caution to beginner surfers, don’t worry here, you can catch a few waves without hitting a reef. The beach welcomes locals, tourists, surfers and even fishermen.