Teahupo'o
A world-class surf break at the southern end of the Tahiti Peninsula, where heavy tube waves break over the reef. It hosted the surfing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Teahupo'o sits on the southwest coast of Tahiti Iti, where the island's ring road ends. About 500 metres offshore, South Pacific swells slam into a reef that shallows abruptly, forming extremely heavy, hollow barrel waves. The surfing world regards it as one of the most dangerous and spectacular breaks anywhere, with wave heights reaching several metres during the big-wave season. It regularly hosts World Surf League (WSL) events, and in 2024 it served as the surfing venue for the Paris Olympic Games, about 15,000 km from Paris, the most distant venue in Olympic history. Ordinary visitors can watch the waves from the beach at the end of the road, or take a local boat to the safe waters beside the reef for a closer view (arrange this with an experienced boatman). The village also has surf schools, where beginners can learn at gentler nearby breaks. Getting there: about 1.5 hours' drive from Papeete; the village is at the end of the road. Note: non-professional surfers should never enter the water at the main break. Boats watching the waves must follow the captain's instructions, and everyone must wear a life jacket.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Taravao Plateau Belvedere
- Tahiti Iti & Te Pari Coast
- Harrison Smith Botanical Garden & Paul Gauguin Museum
- Vaipahi Water Gardens
- Taharu'u Beach
- Mara'a Grotto
- Mont Aorai
- Faarumai Waterfalls