When your cruise ship docks in Tahiti you will be in the cosmopolitan city of Papeete which has wonderful open air markets where you can shop for the likes of fresh fruit and local art work. The reefs around the island of Tahiti create perfect waves for surfing in Teahupoo where many times you can find professional surfers hanging ten. This picture perfect island will leave you yearning for more adventure and more local culture when it is time to head back to your ship. When cruising to Tahiti, however, take advantage of your time onshore and explore some of the best sights and activities French Polynesia has to offer.
- Visit Fautaua Waterfall, one of the tallest in the world, which cascades down volcanic cliffs into a pool below.
- Art lovers should visit the Paul Gauguin Museum which is a dedication to the artist’s life in French Polynesia and has many engravings, wood carvings and sculptures.
- Explore the Tahiti Lagoonarium which is a fish park and an aquarium that has over 1,000 different species of marine life like tropical fish, eels, sharks and turtles.
- Spend some time exploring the streets of Papeete where you can shop, dine and enjoy the local nightlife.
- A few miles east of Papeete is Papenoo Beach with has beautiful ebony sand that stretch deep into the clear blue waters of the South Pacific. Enjoy the seclusion as Papenoo Beach is not as big of a tourist attraction as the popular La Plage de Maui on Tahiti’s southern shore. La Plage de Maui is still worth visiting for its pearly white sand and beautiful clear warm water from the nearby lagoon.
