Maupiti Travel Guide
Things To Do & Places To See In Maupiti
This section of the Maupiti Travel Guide highlights all of Maupiti’s top sites and experiences.
The Incoming Flight to Maupiti
If you’re flying to Maupiti from Tahiti, you’re in for a real treat. The 55-minute flight is the most scenic commercial flight in French Polynesia, flying low over all the main islands in the Society Islands group. The flight begins with a short swing around Moorea, followed by aerial views of Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, and Bora Bora. The final approach to Maupiti takes you around the entire island. Be sure to sit on the right side of the plane on the incoming flight and the left when departing. Have your camera ready at all times!
Vaiea Village
The only village in Maupiti is tightly tucked between a vertical cliff and the turquoise lagoon. A picturesque sight as you arrive by boat from the airport, it’s also a good idea to explore on foot (it won’t take very long). Simple homes line the main road, with gardens full of fruit and tropical flowers. Most homes have a small grave in the front yard, a tradition in Polynesian life though not that common in French Polynesia.
The village itself is the center of commercial & social life. During the day, locals drop their kids off at school before heading out to catch some fish. As the sun sets, youngsters play some volleyball while the older folks play a round of petanque. It’s a very simple and beautiful life in Vaiea.
No matter how simple a house can be in Maupiti, it will always have a very well-kept garden. Residents take great pride in their garden, so you’ll almost always see someone working the yard. An interesting thing to look out for is the occasional grave in the front yard. In the absence of a local cemetery, residents often resort to burying their loved ones on the property. This gesture can only be seen these days in very traditional Polynesian islands such as Samoa and Maupiti.
As you might expect, you’ll find a bunch of small food shops and snacks selling mostly sandwiches around lunch and dinner. Just in front of the municipal building and the pier, you’ll find a small covered market open on weekdays until about noon. In my experience, I found this opening schedule only to be loosely followed, so don’t depend on it. There’s not a huge variety on sale, but you will find some fruits and vegetables, fresh coconut, and baked goods (mostly fried). Note that fruits and vegetables are sold in bulk.
Mount Teurafaatiu Hike
Impossible to pronounce, the challenging hike to Mount Teurafaatiu (380 m) will be one of the highlights of your visit! It’s one of the best hikes in French Polynesia. The steep trail snakes its way along the cliffs overlooking Vaiea, with incredible views of the village, lagoon, and the airport from way up above.
The view from the rocky summit will live in your memory for eternity. From up here, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of Maupiti. The colors of the lagoon from up here cannot be described in words. It’s a good spot to observe the strange patches within the lagoon that are created by the shifting sand and the coral. On a clear day, you’ll see Bora Bora in the far distance. There’s a very good chance you’ll have the summit all to yourself, so prepare to stay here for a while, as you really won’t want to leave!
Logistics: coming from the village, look for steps heading up the hill just past Tarona Restaurant. Follow the trail that’s impossible to miss unless overgrown with vegetation. Arrows and ribbons will point you in the right direction until a set of ropes lead to the summit. Allow 60-90 minutes to go up and 30 minutes to go down. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, bring more water than you think you’ll need (at least 2L per person), sunscreen, and a hat – as the summit is just bare rock and you’ll want to stay there for hours! If you’re lucky, you can find an open shop once you get back to the main road but don’t count on that. Even if you think you cannot hike to the summit, it’s worth hiking a small section for the views above the village.
Marae Vaiahu
The only marae (ancient Polynesian temple) on the main island. Compared to the ones you’ll see on other islands (especially Huahine, Raiatea, and the Marquesas), there’s nothing too impressive about this one but the mud crabs who have taken over.
Scenic Lookout
You’ll reach this scenic lookout on the way to Tereia Beach if coming from the main village. It’s the highest point on the main road from where you can enjoy beautiful views of various sections of the island. It’s also my favorite spot for watching sunsets in Maupiti.
Tereia Beach
Tereia Point splits this part of the Maupiti into a murky beach marked by fishing boats on one side and the prettiest beach on the main island on the other. Tereia Beach has a “far section,” which seems to be reserved for guests of Maupiti Residence and Pension Espace Beach. The “near” section is a public beach where you’ll share the space with locals, especially after school hours, on weekends and holidays.
Most sections of the beach are very shallow, so they’re great for chilling and for small children. Small areas are quite deep and exciting to explore with a mask and snorkel. As far as dining, Snack Chez Mimi is great for local dishes, sandwiches, and drinks. From Tereia Beach, you can round the corner in low tide and find yourself a hidden cove beneath the shade of tamanu trees. Teriea Beach marks the starting point for the lagoon crossing by foot to Motu Auira.
Motu Auira
Visiting Motu Auira is the #1 activity on my list of the top things to do in Maupiti. I often visit this remote part of the island several times during a single visit to Maupiti. Getting to Motu Auira is part of the fun, having to cross the shallow lagoon from Tereia Beach on foot for about 20 minutes. This is what Moses must have felt like, only instead of Pharaoh’s army chasing you, it’ll be a few stingrays and sharks that you’ll see along the way.
As you make landfall on the motu, you are faced with the option of heading right and exploring the lagoon side or heading left to round the bend after a few minutes and explore the off-the-grid reef side. If it’s your first time here, venture slightly along the lagoon side to get a taste of what living in paradise probably feels like, but don’t stick for too long because the reef side is where the real magic happens.
Motui Auira: The Lagoon Side
Several families live on the lagoon side in large plots of land dominated by coconut palms and barking dogs. Respect their private property and do not venture inland beyond the beach. Beware of aggressive dogs and carry a branch or a coconut to keep them in check.
There is a small stretch of lagoon beach devoid of settlement, so if you don’t want to face the dogs, simply head back when you start seeing the houses. Notice the fishing boats raised above the waterline, one of the signatures of Maupiti. This is to minimize salt damage.
The snorkeling in the lagoon side is not exceptional because the water is almost always murky. Curious snorkelers will find attractive “coral forests”, with corals patches resembling miniature bonsai trees.
Motu Auira: The Reef Side
The magic of Motu Auira begins when you “round the corner” and head in a seemingly straight direction as far as the eye can see. The sand is blindingly white and soft, the lagoon radiates in shades of blue, and it seems you’re the only one here. As you continue the walk, the main island will disappear behind you, and there’s nothing but the sound of breaking waves on the barrier reef to remind you that you’re still on an island in the middle of nowhere. On a clear day, you might be able to see Bora Bora in the far distance.
Don’t try to circle Motu Auira because it is very large, but walk until you think you’ve found the right spot. I personally always like to base myself next to a shallow natural pool from which a row of boulders extends to the lagoon.
The water here is crystal clear, with healthy coral and lots of tropical fish. If you’re extra lucky, you might even see a reef shark or perhaps a sea turtle. What especially amazed me were the colorful shells found throughout the reef. Some of them were radiating with colors of sapphire blue, deep purple, and bright green. Locals come here during the day and spend hours catching and cleaning them for dinner.
Visiting Motu Auira will be a day you’ll never forget. Be sure to check out both sides of the motu!
Logistics: bring everything you need for the day. This includes snorkeling gear, waterproof bags (for the crossing – just in case), plenty of water, sunscreen, sandals, hat, locks, etc. Food can be bought from Snack Chez Mimi, which is also where you’ll start crossing. The lagoon should be shallow enough to cross there and back at all times but just double-check at your pension. While on the motu, stick to the beach.
Haranae Petroglyphs
Signposted off the main road a few hundred meters north of the village. The petroglyphs themselves were a little tricky to find, at least in my case. Follow the track until you see a large rock with modern-looking carving – this is not it. Continue walking about halfway to the blue pumping station and enter the dry river bed to your left. You should be able to spot this turtle.
Palais de la Mer
An odd-looking structure made entirely of coral rock and shells. This museum is close to the petroglyphs along the main road. It’s open weekdays from 9:00-10:30 am and from 3:00-5:30 pm.
Diving With Manta Rays
Seeing manta rays from up close is one of the top things to do in Maupiti. These magnificent creatures hang around an area known as the ‘cleaning station’ (see map), where small fish feed off the parasites that hang around the wings of the mantas. Think of it as ‘nature’s car wash’.
You can experience this spectacle by snorkeling as part of a lagoon tour or from up close as part of a scuba dive. Book a dive with Maupiti Diving if they’re still around, but inquire about visibility (if possible) before finalizing your dives. The depth at the manta ray cleaning station is around 8-10 meters, so your bottom time is over one hour. Therefore, one dive is enough.
Maupiti Lagoon Tour
Together with the hike to the summit of Mount Teurafaatiu and the magical day on Motu Auira, the lagoon tour in Maupiti is a day you’ll never forget. Unlike the lagoon tours on other more visited islands in French Polynesia, the Maupiti lagoon tour is as low-key as the island is. All pensions offer their version of the lagoon tour, with full-day lagoon tours also including a BBQ lunch on a sandy motu. If your hosts aren’t planning lagoon tours during your visit, book a spot with Sammy Maupiti Tours.
Manta ray cleaning station
The lagoon tour usually begins at the manta ray cleaning station, a relatively deep section of the lagoon where adult manta rays come for a quick cleaning session by the lagoon fish. Your guides are experts in tracking them down, but you might need to be patient and fully cooperate with your captain. If the visibility is good, the experience of swimming next to these gentle giants is memorable.
The coral garden
The next stop is usually at the coral garden near the manta ray cleaning station. While the current is sometimes strong, this is the best snorkeling spot in Maupiti. This might be the first time you see the famous colorful shells that are abundant in Maupiti’s lagoon.
Picnic lunch on the motu
No lagoon tour in French Polynesia is ever complete without a BBQ lunch in a paradise setting. Most tours head to one of the motu (islets) at the mouth of the only entrance into Maupiti’s lagoon. Give the crew a hand in preparing lunch if you want to learn the ins and outs of Tahitian cuisine or explore the motu and pinch yourself once in a while.
Logistics: Full-day lagoon tours should cost around 8000 XPF per adult. They usually depart between 8:00-9:00 am and return between 3:00-4:00 pm. Operators try to spread departures and visits to the manta rays cleaning station to avoid congestion. Wear reef shoes and bring a mask, snorkel, fins, sun protection, rashguard, underwater camera, and dry clothes for the motu.
Here’s a look back at this magical day out in the lagoon.
What’s Next?
I hope you’ve found this Maupiti Travel Guide useful. Check out these recommended guides for more information about Maupiti and French Polynesia.
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