Private 3-Hour Papeete & East Coast Tour: Vaimahuta Waterfall

See Tahiti's East Coast Stops in One Morning With a Local Guide

A private 3-hour guided tour of Papeete and Tahiti's east coast covers Venus Point, where 18th-century European navigators first landed, the year-round Vaimahuta waterfall in Faarumai Valley, the Arahoho Blowhole, and the Taharaa viewpoint across Matavai Bay to Moorea. The guide provides commentary on Polynesian origins, geology, flora and fauna, and European arrival in the islands. Pickup is included. Bottled water and fresh fruit are provided. A certain amount of walking is necessary, including approximately 20 steps at the waterfall site, though it is not strenuous.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour of Papeete and East Coast

• Drive around Papeete city
• Stop at Presidential Palace
• View Tahiti Graffiti murals
• Visit Venus Point black sand beach
• See Vaimahuta waterfall
• Photograph Arahoho Blowhole
• Enjoy Taharaa viewpoint
• Optional visit to author's home

The experience

The tour starts with a short drive around Papeete's capital, stopping at the Presidential Palace for 10 minutes if it's open and passing the Tahiti Graffiti Festival street art murals. From there, the route heads east along the coast to the stops that define the day: Venus Point, a black sand beach at the northern edge of Matavai Bay where European navigators anchored in the late 1700s; the Vaimahuta waterfall, which flows year-round in the Faarumai Valley; the Arahoho Blowhole, where ocean swells force air and water through cracks in pillow lava; and the Taharaa viewpoint, which frames Matavai Bay and Moorea across the water.

Your guide speaks English or French and travels with you throughout, explaining the geography and geology that shaped these sites, the origins of Polynesian settlement, and the history of European arrival. Bottled water and fresh fruit (when available at the sites) are included. Not all stops have restrooms, so plan accordingly. An optional visit to the home of J.N. Hall, co-author of Mutiny on the Bounty, is available but admission is separate.

The walking is moderate (a certain amount is necessary to reach all the stops, with approximately 20 steps at the waterfall site), and the pace suits all fitness levels. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and infants may sit on an adult's lap during the drive.

What’s included

• Pickup from your hotel.
• bottled water.
• fresh fruit when available at the sites.
• English or French-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• stops at Venus Point, Vaimahuta waterfall, Arahoho Blowhole, and Taharaa viewpoint.
• a 10-minute stop at the Presidential Palace in Papeete if open.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:30

Book up to20h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 17 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tours of Tahiti

Is this one for you?Choose this private tour if you want to cover Tahiti's east coast landmarks (waterfall, viewpoint, and black sand beach) at your own pace in one morning, rather than following a group schedule.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

6 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Arahoho Blowhole and why is it worth seeing?

The Arahoho Blowhole is a natural formation where ocean waves force air and water through cracks in pillow lava, creating a dramatic spray and a striking photo opportunity of Tahiti's east coast geology.

Can I visit the Vaimahuta waterfall if I'm not very fit?

Yes, the walking is not strenuous, though there are approximately 20 steps at the waterfall site itself, and a certain amount of walking is necessary to reach all the stops on the tour.

What's special about Venus Point?

Venus Point is a black sand beach at the northern edge of Matavai Bay where European navigators stopped when they first arrived in Tahiti in the late 1700s, making it a site of historical significance in Polynesian contact history.

Are restrooms available during the tour?

Certain stops have restrooms, but not all, so you should plan ahead if you need facilities during the 3-hour tour.

Does the tour include a visit to J.N. Hall's home?

A visit to the home of J.N. Hall, co-author of Mutiny on the Bounty, is optional and not included in the tour price. Admission is separate if you choose to go.