Lafayette Beach
Plage Lafayette
A volcanic black-sand beach in Arue, northeast of Papeete, easy to reach, where locals swim, paddle outrigger canoes and watch the sunset in the evening.
Lafayette Beach lies in Arue, about 7 km from Papeete, and is one of the black-sand beaches closest to the city. The sand, weathered from volcanic basalt, gleams jet-black. The beach is short and has simple facilities. The water is fairly deep, making it good for swimming and for watching locals practice va'a outrigger canoeing. There are no lifeguards, so take care when waves are big. The sand gets very hot at midday, so wear beach shoes. Admission is free.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- James Norman Hall's House
- Tomb of King Pomare V
- Point Venus
- Fautaua Waterfall
- Papeete Market
- Notre-Dame Cathedral of Papeete
- Les Roulottes at Place Vai'ete
- Papenoo Valley