Private Full Day Tour of Tahiti: West & East Coast

Two coasts, nine stops, one guide who knows the island

A private full-day tour of Tahiti's west and east coasts with a native Tahitian guide, departing your hotel at 9am and returning around 5pm. You visit sacred marae temples, walk through the Maraa Grotto rainforest, stop at Taharuu black sand beach and the Vaipahi botanical garden, feed sacred eels in Tahiti iti, hike to the Faarumai Waterfalls, see the Arahoho Blowhole, and finish at Point Venus beach where Mutiny on the Bounty was filmed. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, fresh water, restroom access at each stop, and live commentary in English or French. Lunch is your choice and cost at the midday stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Faarumai Waterfalls30m
2. Arahoho Blowhole30m

Full day tour of Tahiti island

• Start tour at hotel at 09:00am
• Visit Arahurahu marae archaeological site
• Walk through Maraa Grotto rainforest
• Stop at Taharuu black sand surf beach
• Explore Vapahi botanical garden
• Lunch at Tahiti iti island plateau
• Feed sacred eels at local spot
• Drive to Faarumai valley waterfall
• Visit Arahoho blowhole and beach
• End tour at Point Venus black sand beach
• Return to hotels at 05:00pm

The experience

You start at 9am from your hotel and head straight to the Arahurahu marae, one of the most sacred archaeological sites in Tahiti. These stone temples were the center of ancient Polynesian social, political and religious life before Europeans arrived in the 18th century. Your guide, a native Tahitian, walks you through the site and explains what these piles of stones once meant. By 10:10am you're in the Maraa Grotto, moving through a rainforest thick with ferns and freshwater pools. The same grotto Paul Gauguin wrote about in his letters. The terrain is easy, and the guide points out the dripping cave ringed by vegetation.

The route then follows the west coast. Around 11am you stop at Taharuu, a black sand beach with palms and strong waves, then move inland to the Vaipahi Gardens in Mataiea by 11:45am. The gardens hold more than 75 plant species from around the world, with lily ponds and small waterfalls winding through well-maintained trails. By 12:45pm you cross to the small island of Tahiti iti and reach the Taravao belvedere, where you get a 270-degree view of the main island. Lunch happens here at a restaurant of your choice. You pay for your own meal. After eating, around 2:10pm, you drive to a local spot to feed the sacred eels (roughly 30 of them) in the water at Vairao.

The afternoon is a 40-minute scenic drive back to the east coast of the big island. You stop at the Faarumai Waterfalls, the highest in the valley, reached through a forest of chestnut trees. Wear sneakers and bring bug spray. At 3:55pm you reach the Arahoho Blowhole, where the right swell sends a geyser-like fountain of water up from the rock. Locals sometimes ride the surge on bodyboards. A small black sand beach sits just past it. The final stop is Point Venus at 4:10pm, a peninsula on the north coast with a large black sand beach, emerald water and a historic lighthouse. This is where MGM filmed Mutiny on the Bounty with Marlon Brando. You're back at your hotel by 5pm.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• live guide commentary in English or French.
• fresh water.
• restroom access at every stop.
• visits to the Arahurahu marae, Maraa Grotto, Taharuu beach, Vaipahi Gardens, sacred eels at Vairao, Faarumai Waterfalls, Arahoho Blowhole and Point Venus beach.

Options for this experience

3 options

Up to 2 per booking · Guide in English or FrenchAvailable from 9 Nov · 09:00

Up to 4 per booking · Guide in English or FrenchAvailable from 9 Nov · 09:00

Up to 6 per booking · Guide in English or FrenchAvailable from 9 Nov · 09:00

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.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 friendlyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Tahiti Eden Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you want the flexibility to set your own pace at each stop and have the guide's attention focused on your group alone. The fixed 9am start and 5pm return fit a full day without eating into other plans, and the two-coast route covers both the island's history and its natural landmarks in one outing.

Traveler reviews

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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's the Maraa Grotto like to walk through?

The Maraa Grotto is a rainforest walk with freshwater pools, small caves and a dripping grotto surrounded by ferns. The terrain is easy, and the guide explains the site's connection to Paul Gauguin, who mentioned it in his letters.

Do I need any special gear for the Faarumai Waterfalls stop?

Wear sneakers for the walk through the forest of chestnut trees to reach the waterfall, and bring bug spray. The hike is straightforward but you'll want proper footwear.

How much driving is there during the day?

The tour includes about 2 hours 40 minutes of driving across both coasts to reach the nine stops, with 5 hours 20 minutes spent at the sites themselves.

What happens at the Arahoho Blowhole?

The Arahoho Blowhole is a natural rock formation where the right swell sends a geyser-like fountain of water up from below. You'll see locals surfing the surge on bodyboards, and there's a small black sand beach nearby.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. You eat at the Taravao plateau on Tahiti iti around 12:45pm at a restaurant of your choice, and you pay for your own meal.

Who are the tour guides?

All guides are licensed and native Tahitians. They speak English or French and provide live commentary throughout the day.