Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Papeete, Tahiti

Tahiti's must-see main island.

Ready to splurge on accommodation? Overwater bungalows are a common sight at Tahiti resorts.
Ready to splurge on accommodation? Overwater bungalows are a common sight at Tahiti resorts.

Papeete is the capital city of Tahiti, in French Polynesia. Relatively easy to reach from the West Coast, it's an eight-hour nonstop flight from LAX.

Upon arrival at Tahiti's Faaa Airport, we were greeted by Tahitian vahines (women) who gave the traditional tiare flower to place behind our ears: left ear if you're taken, right ear if you're available (or behind both if you're undecided). Also present in the arrivals area were Tahitian musicians and a dancer, creating a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle we left behind in L.A.

Exploring Papeete

Papeete is a modern, cosmopolitan city with a blend of South Pacific and European influences. Being a French territory, sidewalk cafes, upscale boutiques, pearl shops, and fine French cuisine are common.

Sponsored
Sponsored
The capital's main market, Marché de Papeete.

Papeete's picturesque waterfront is home to its cultural centers, cruise ship piers, and ferry docks to its sister Island Moorea. Just a few blocks form the pier is Papeete's colorful two-story open air public market, Le Marché , where locals and visitors come to shop. Here you'll find everything from fresh seafood and produce to local handicrafts, clothing and souvenirs. It's best to visit in the early morning when it is bustling with activity.

We opted to stay just outside of Papeete at the Le Meridien, which has a nice little beach and sand bottom swimming pool. We splurged for one of the overwater bungalows (top), perched over the lagoon with crystal-clear waters and a stunning view of Moorea. From our outdoor deck we could feed the tropical fish teeming over the coral reef just outside of our bungalow. It was idyllic, and the soothing sound of the waves crashing on the outer reef made for a good night's sleep.

Traditional Polynesian dancers perform.

The capital at night

We did venture out to the main restaurant and bar where an amazing Polynesian drum and dance troupe was performing for the guests. The speed and agility of the beautiful Tahitian women as they gyrated their hips to the pulsating beats was incredible to watch.

Once the sun sets, downtown Papeete really comes to life. One of the best features is the roulottes, or food trucks, that set up every night at the waterfront promenade. Between 10 and 20 food trucks offer everything from Chinese food to crepes, pizzas, poisson cru (the Tahiti national dish – raw tuna in coconut milk) and a variety of other specialties. In addition to being a great place to mix with locals, it also offers a great value for dinner, as most nice restaurants in Tahiti can be quite pricey. As the night wears on into the late hours, Papeete's denizens of the night can be found hanging in and around vibrant nightclubs and bars.

Enjoying street food from Papeete's roulottes.

Papeete is the only part of French Polynesia to have any nightlife, and it is not unusual to see local entertainment in the form of drag queen shows and other colorful characters.

The rest of the main island

We rented a car to explore the main island outside the city, and it was well worth doing. The circle island road passes some stunning black sand beaches, historical landmarks related to Captain Cook and the crew of the Bounty, natural blowholes, majestic waterfalls and small roadside eateries.

We ventured further out to Tahiti Iti ( the smaller part of the island), all the way to the road's end at the famous surf spot Teahupoo. Unfortunately the waves were flat, but we enjoyed the beach for awhile and the beautiful scenery in that undeveloped part of the island.

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Ray Kroc and Hunter S. Thompson had nothing on Trump

Reader’s Walter Mencken carries the story from 2016 forward
Next Article

Trump disses digital catapults

Biden likes General Atomics drones
Ready to splurge on accommodation? Overwater bungalows are a common sight at Tahiti resorts.
Ready to splurge on accommodation? Overwater bungalows are a common sight at Tahiti resorts.

Papeete is the capital city of Tahiti, in French Polynesia. Relatively easy to reach from the West Coast, it's an eight-hour nonstop flight from LAX.

Upon arrival at Tahiti's Faaa Airport, we were greeted by Tahitian vahines (women) who gave the traditional tiare flower to place behind our ears: left ear if you're taken, right ear if you're available (or behind both if you're undecided). Also present in the arrivals area were Tahitian musicians and a dancer, creating a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle we left behind in L.A.

Exploring Papeete

Papeete is a modern, cosmopolitan city with a blend of South Pacific and European influences. Being a French territory, sidewalk cafes, upscale boutiques, pearl shops, and fine French cuisine are common.

Sponsored
Sponsored
The capital's main market, Marché de Papeete.

Papeete's picturesque waterfront is home to its cultural centers, cruise ship piers, and ferry docks to its sister Island Moorea. Just a few blocks form the pier is Papeete's colorful two-story open air public market, Le Marché , where locals and visitors come to shop. Here you'll find everything from fresh seafood and produce to local handicrafts, clothing and souvenirs. It's best to visit in the early morning when it is bustling with activity.

We opted to stay just outside of Papeete at the Le Meridien, which has a nice little beach and sand bottom swimming pool. We splurged for one of the overwater bungalows (top), perched over the lagoon with crystal-clear waters and a stunning view of Moorea. From our outdoor deck we could feed the tropical fish teeming over the coral reef just outside of our bungalow. It was idyllic, and the soothing sound of the waves crashing on the outer reef made for a good night's sleep.

Traditional Polynesian dancers perform.

The capital at night

We did venture out to the main restaurant and bar where an amazing Polynesian drum and dance troupe was performing for the guests. The speed and agility of the beautiful Tahitian women as they gyrated their hips to the pulsating beats was incredible to watch.

Once the sun sets, downtown Papeete really comes to life. One of the best features is the roulottes, or food trucks, that set up every night at the waterfront promenade. Between 10 and 20 food trucks offer everything from Chinese food to crepes, pizzas, poisson cru (the Tahiti national dish – raw tuna in coconut milk) and a variety of other specialties. In addition to being a great place to mix with locals, it also offers a great value for dinner, as most nice restaurants in Tahiti can be quite pricey. As the night wears on into the late hours, Papeete's denizens of the night can be found hanging in and around vibrant nightclubs and bars.

Enjoying street food from Papeete's roulottes.

Papeete is the only part of French Polynesia to have any nightlife, and it is not unusual to see local entertainment in the form of drag queen shows and other colorful characters.

The rest of the main island

We rented a car to explore the main island outside the city, and it was well worth doing. The circle island road passes some stunning black sand beaches, historical landmarks related to Captain Cook and the crew of the Bounty, natural blowholes, majestic waterfalls and small roadside eateries.

We ventured further out to Tahiti Iti ( the smaller part of the island), all the way to the road's end at the famous surf spot Teahupoo. Unfortunately the waves were flat, but we enjoyed the beach for awhile and the beautiful scenery in that undeveloped part of the island.

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Kumeay near Rosarito befriended Kumeay on reservation near Boulevard

Called into principal's office for long braid
Next Article

Ray Kroc and Hunter S. Thompson had nothing on Trump

Reader’s Walter Mencken carries the story from 2016 forward
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader