How to Spend Two Days in Tahiti

Admittedly, traveling to French Polynesia wasn’t really on my radar. I had never really thought much about it until a friend saw a flight from Los Angeles to Tahiti for under $500. We didn’t hesitate too long before booking a girl’s trip! Seeing that my home airport is Salt Lake City, I also had to book a positioning flight to get to LA. Even with that cost factored in, we got a great deal. To sweeten the deal, my sister and I arrived two days early and spent a day at Universal Studios Hollywood. We received a warm welcome in Tahiti (and I do mean warm because the airport is not air conditioned) by a band playing music.

Getting Around

If you plan on exploring Tahiti the best way to get around is by car. We rented our car from EcoCar Tahiti, which is across the street and walking distance from the airport. Although it’s important to note that you do have to walk up some concrete steps which might be difficult with suitcases. We had none since ours were lost, ha! EcoCar responded quickly to emails and the pick-up process was easy.

Where to Stay

It’s common for vacationers to stay overnight in Tahiti before heading off to their next destination. We wanted to explore Tahiti so we stayed 2 nights before going to Moorea.

You can stay in an overwater bungalow at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort And Spa or an oceanside resort like the Hilton Hotel Tahiti. For this portion of the trip we chose to book an Airbnb so our group of 4 could have more room to spread out. The convenience of having a kitchen and washer and dryer was nice.

What To See and Do In Tahiti

Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia and there is plenty to see and do. Since we only had 2 days we didn’t get to see everything we wanted to but here are 6 of the best things to do if you have limited time.

1. Snorkeling Boat Tour

We booked a snorkeling boat tour with Captain Benoit and really enjoyed it. The tour included turtles, coral and shipwrecks. The private tour lasted 3 hours and Benoit provided all of the equipment. The coral portion of the tour was my absolute favorite. We saw so many cool fish, coral and brightly colored clam.

2. Explore Papeete

Exploring the capital city of Papeete is a must do. You can walk along the waterfront or through the busy streets of downtown where there are lots of shops. My friends had custom pearl necklaces made at Blue Pearl on the main boulevard. I would also recommend stopping at an ATM for local currency, which is the Central Pacific Franc (‘XPF’). You will most likely need cash if you are going onto one of the other islands. Walk past the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Papeete and maybe pop into Les Rêves de Lucie for some pastries. The mini passion fruit cheesecake was delicious. The passion fruit was so fresh and vibrant. Other nearby places you can visit are Bougainville Park, Pā’ōfa’i Gardens, or the Pearl Museum.

3. Papeete Market

It seems like everything is a ‘must do’ but seriously the Papeete Market is a must do. This is the spot to find fresh produce, handmade souvenirs, flowers, pearls, flower crowns, and food. The market is open every day, but opens and closes early on Sunday (4:30am-9am).

4. Black Sand Beaches

Tahiti has a few black sand beaches that are worth checking out if time permits: Pointe Venus, Papenoo Beach and Taharuu Beach.

5. Fa’aruma’i Waterfalls

Getting to the Fa’aruma’i Waterfalls is an easy walk from the car park. The hike offers lots of beautiful foliage and flowers. Don’t forget to wear bug spray!

6. Arahoho Blowhole

After leaving Fa’aruma’i Waterfalls, make a quick stop at the Arahoho Blowhole. As the waves hit against the shore, a geyser-like eruption sprays water into the air. The lookout offers great views of the ocean.

Bonus: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple

We made a special visit to the Tahiti temple. The inside is not open to the public, unless you have a recommend (obtained from your local church leaders) but anyone is welcome to walk around the grounds. You can learn more about temples here.

Tips

On Sunday a lot of places are closed or have limited hours. We arrived on a Sunday evening and didn’t plan well so we ended up eating dinner at McDonald’s. On the upside, the Biscoff McFlurry was a 10/10.
Make sure to wear bug spray when you are hiking around, and don’t forget sunscreen too!
A lot of people in Tahiti know English but it’s helpful to know some words/phrases in French. We needed help at the marina but the security guards only spoke French.
If you need local currency make sure you stop at an ATM before heading off to the next island.

I highly recommend returning to Tahiti the night before your departure. We were coming from Moorea and it took quite awhile to secure a taxi once disembarking from the ferry. There are a lot of people needing a taxi and only a limited number of taxis. We stayed at the Hilton Hotel Tahiti and throughly enjoyed it. It was a nice change of pace to be at a nice resort.