An Exciting and Scenic Boat Trip Around Tahiti Iti
- Brooke
- Aug 17, 2017
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 7, 2023
On our very last day in French Polynesia, Ben and I decided not to spend it lounging on a beach sipping a tropical concoction, anxiously awaiting our redeye flight home. No - we would spend it sitting on a boat, snorkeling in Tahiti's lagoons, and exploring the wild coast of Tahiti Iti.
Tahiti Iti is the island of Tahiti's little sibling, a distinct island of its own tethered to the larger Tahiti Nui. Much less populated than its bigger conjoined twin, Tahiti Iti is known for its beautiful scenery, quiet towns, and wild jungle only accessible by boat beyond the town of Teahupo‘o. Oh, and did we mention its world famous surf break? While you're not completely off the beaten path in Tahiti Iti, you definitely get the sense that all of the hustle and bustle of Tahiti Nui is, for the moment at least, far enough away to keep this corner of paradise pristine.
In my research of the trip, I had read that the best way to access the wild and beautiful corner of Tahiti was by boat. It had taken me a bit too long to arrange a trip with some other companies, but when we found Tahiti Iti Tour and Surf, helmed by the knowledgeable and friendly Captain Georges (above), we were not disappointed. Ben and I opted for a private tour, to ensure that the trip would in fact go out on the day we needed it to go out - we had absolutely no wiggle room in terms of dates to do this trip. The price was reasonable (compared against what a similar private excursion would cost in Hawaii, anyway), and we had a really pleasant, enjoyable time. I had been hemming and hawing on Bora Bora about potentially canceling the trip, thinking it would be too much on our last day in town. I'm incredibly grateful I did no such thing.
Yes, the weather could have been better. But we live in the tropics and understand that sometimes the weather is the weather, and there isn't much you can do about it. The sights were still incredibly beautiful, and we got to see a part of French Polynesia we had never seen before. In fact, we've discussed the potential of just taking a trip out to Tahiti sometime in the future and staying down in this wild and wonderful corner of Tahiti. Come explore why we found it so enchanting.
Morning kayaker
First surf spot - outside the reef/lagoon
Tahiti Nui in the mist
Even when the weather was less than ideal, it still made for some moody scenery!
Coral in the lagoon
Heading south towards Teahupo‘o
Quick snorkel - Captain Georges looking out at the coral.
Heading towards the Teahupo‘o surf break (someone [me] forgot to clean the GoPro dome after snorkeling...sorry about that!)
It's a bit scary seeing the giant waves form while you sit just behind where it breaks.
The Teahupo‘o wave, according to Captain Georges, is one of the most perfect barrels on earth. If you look closely towards the right of the above photo, you can see inside the barrel.
The power of the wave, and the windy conditions, created a large splash.
Heading back into the lagoon and further south along Tahiti Iti's rugged shores. Beyond Teahupo‘o, there are no roads or electricity, but still plenty of homes. Truly paradise living off the grid.
Next stop, a riverbank walk up the Vaipoiri River towards Queens Bath and Vaipoiri Cave
The twisted roots of the mape tree, or the Polynesian chestnut, along the river. Captain Georges demonstrated how Tahitians would bang a rock against the trunk of a tree, and it would make a loud thumping sound. This would alert others of their location in such a dense jungle.
Queens Bath. This was on the way to the cave, but on the way back we all stopped in and rinsed off from all of the mud we collected by climbing over large, wet, dirty trees and stomping through mud puddles.
Vaipoiri Cave
Pink ginger in the jungle - reminds me of home!
Heading back towards the lagoon, but not before a quick stop for a cold Hinano!
Mouth of the Vaipoiri River
Poor Jacques Chirac - everywhere we went in French Polynesia, the locals had designated protruding artifices as his prominent nose and profile.
Houses of the people who call this remote corner home.
Overall, we had an amazing adventure - from being terrified of one of earth's most perfect surf breaks crashing in front of us, to snorkeling in more pristine waters (though more sunlight and less choppy water would have helped with the pictures), to hiking into the jungle to see the beautiful cave and bath, it was the perfect way to cap off another memorable trip to paradise.
Tahiti Iti Tour and Surf
It should be noted that it seems like their main bread and butter is taking people to and from the surf breaks, and I can't speak for the other tours and how good they are, but I would recommend this company to friends if they were heading down to Tahiti. Georges and his wife were very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful - to me, that goes a long way.
They offer half day or full day excursions, along with surf taxiing. Definitely worth the effort to explore Tahiti Iti if you find yourself in Tahiti - we had a blast!
Visit their website.
Trip Tips
Before you head off on your excursion, take a few minutes to prepare:
If you have your own snorkel gear, bring it! We brought ours from Hawaii - Ben is basically blind, so he needs a prescription mask. If you come from a tropical place, or you have your own snorkel gear, it doesn't take up a ton of luggage space. We left our fins at home, and didn't miss them.
Towel to dry off with and, obvs, sunscreen/sunglasses/secure hat
Dry bag. This was essential to keeping my more expensive camera equipment and cell phone dry during the trip, especially since it was choppy, windy, and therefore, splashy. It also helps keep your clothes/towels dry for when you return, and it was an INVALUABLE investment that we made before the trip. Pretty ashamed it took me so long to think of it.
If you don't have expensive underwater camera equipment like a GoPRO but you absolutely must get images of the life aquatic, invest in a waterproof case for your phone. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully before diving in, of course. I have a Lifeproof case, while Ben went with a floating waterproof pouch, similar to this. *Note this was not the case we purchased, and links are for informational purposes only.
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