Tahiti offers a variety of activities over 2-4 days.
In Papeete (1 day): central market early in the morning (5-7 am), waterfront walk (Place Vai'ete, marina, honour quay), Robert Wan Pearl Museum, Notre-Dame de Papeete Cathedral. In the evening: Place Vai'ete food trucks (steak-frites, grilled fish, Chinese dishes, crêpes — €10-15/person).
Tahiti Nui island loop (1 day, 114 km by car): head north-east from Papeete to Pointe Vénus at Mahina (15 km, Cook's 1769 landing site), the Arahoho blowhole, the Three Cascades of Faaurumai, then Tahiti Iti (Taravao, peninsula), return south via the Gauguin Museum (at Mataiea), the Vaipahi gardens, the Mara'a Grotto, the Museum of Tahiti and the Islands at Punaauia.
Tahiti Iti and Teahupoo (1 day): the wilder, more preserved peninsula. Visit the Teahupoo village, boat excursion to see the surfers from the lagoon (€80-120/person, supervised), quieter beaches (Maui Beach at Tautira), trek to the Vaiote valley (waterfalls).
Hikes: Fautaua Valley (3 h round trip from Papeete, spectacular 135 m waterfall), Mount Aorai (2,066 m, 8-10 h, demanding trek), Papenoo Valley (full-day 4x4 excursion to central Tahiti craters and waterfalls, €80-120/person).
Day excursions: Tetiaroa (Marlon Brando's private atoll, by boat 1 h or flying catamaran, €200-350/person, lunch on a deserted motu), humpback whale watching July-October (€100-150/person).
Read also
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