5 Days In Tahiti Itinerary
Day 2: Hiking in Tahiti
What Tahiti lacks in white sand beaches, it makes up for with its lush and mountainous interior. The best way to experience this paradise is on foot with one of the hikes mentioned in this section or by heading inland on a guided 4X4 tour (see day 5). There are many “proper” hikes in Tahiti, but most should be done with the help of a guide. The exception is the following hikes which can be done on your own as they are marked, though not advised during the wet season or after strong periods of rain. In-depth information about these and other hikes can be found in the Tahiti Travel Guide.
For the next three days of this Tahiti itinerary, you’ll need to have your own wheels. Scooters are an option, but for a safer ride, renting a car is a better option.
Easy: Fautaua Valley Hike
Fautaua Valley is “just behind” central Papeete, so this is a convenient hike if you’re looking for a half-day experience. If you’re not hiking with a guide, you must purchase a permit at the city hall (maire de Papeete | 600 XPF).
The hike begins with an easy walk along a path that’s used by the utility company as well as by city residents who come here after work to do sports. After a few minutes, you’ll see to your left signs pointing out to a small ancient Polynesian ceremonial site (marae).
After a short walk, the trail splits. If you turn left and cross the bridge, you’ll head on a trail that leads to the top of the Fautaua Waterfall. It’s a more challenging hike, but the views are worth it.
If you keep heading straight, the wide trail will enter the rainforest and become narrow as it takes you deep into the valley. You’ll ford the river a few times and eventually reach the Fautaua Waterfall. Go for a dip, take a break, and enjoy the sounds of the cascading water and the birds.
Since this is just a half-day hike, spend the rest of the afternoon at nearby Point Venus black sand beach (see day 4 itinerary for more info). You can also head further up the west coast to Plage PK18 and grab lunch in Punaauia.
Moderate: Faraura Valley Waterfall
The majestic Faraura Valley lies on the east coast of Tahiti. Though you can hike this trail on your own, it does involve crossing a river several times, so you need to be confident, have offline access to the trail map, and keep watch for the cairns that mark the crossing points.
After hiking through the humid and dense rainforest, you’ll reach the lower waterfall. This is as close as it gets to the Garden of Eden, at least in my mind. It’s a great spot for a picnic lunch and don’t worry if you didn’t pack your swimsuit…
Challenging: Mount Aorai Hike
How does climbing the third-highest peak in Tahiti sound? The hike to the summit of Mount Aorai is one of the best hikes in French Polynesia. In fact, Tahiti offers some of the best hiking opportunities in the South Pacific Islands. The hike up to the summit of Mount Aorai can be done without a guide, though do take extra care. I highly recommend reading the fine details about this challenging hike in the ‘hiking’ section of the Tahiti travel guide. You can summit Mount Aorai in one day, but it will be a very challenging task, requiring a very early departure and clear skies. Even if you don’t make it to the top, this hike offers the finest views of Tahiti. You can also split the hike into two days and overnight in one of the shelters.
The trail starts from the top of the Belvedere lookout point, the best place on land to get a bird’s eye view of Papeete, its surrounding mountains, and the neighboring island of Moorea. You then begin the very wet 6km ascent to the first refuge hut. You’ll walk through a proper rainforest, and chances are you’ll be the only one there.
After a few hours of climbing, these are the views that await you. Not bad ah? You better hurry up though, because starting at about 9-10 am and climaxing at noon, clouds begin to close in on you and there’s not much to see until the next day.
It is possible (but not advisable) to summit the peak in one day and then sleep in one of the huts. Whatever it is you do, take extra care on this slippery track and bring an extra pair of socks – because you’ll be soaking wet!
If you’ve brought a change of clothes, celebrate your hiking achievements at the Belvedere Restaurant with a meal or at least an ice-cold pint of Hinano Beer. You should be back in the car by early afternoon, and it’s really up to you how to spend the rest of your day.
Tahiti is a hiker’s paradise, with many trails to choose from in all levels of fitness. Check out this useful website for additional hiking opportunities in Tahiti. Some of these hikes must be done with a local guide for your safety.
