Surfing in Tahiti & the Powerful Teahupoo Wave (2024)
French Polynesia is home to many world-class surfers and some of the best surf breaks across the globe. Surfers everywhere dream of surfing in Tahiti, especially its most famous and heavy break, Teahupoo. Whether you want to surf the iconic left wave or simply watch in amazement, everyone can appreciate this monster wave. In this post, I’ll talk about transporting your surfboards, surfing in Tahiti, and visiting the great Teahupoo based on my first-hand experience!
Surfing in Tahiti in 2024
French Polynesia is located approximately halfway between California and Australia, in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. As a result of its prime location, Tahiti and her islands receive SW and SSW swells almost year-round, generating consistently enviable surf conditions.
And while you can find some decent surf on the nearby island of Moorea, Tahiti has the best surf by far. As the biggest island, Tahiti is home to 10+ solid surf breaks, whereas other islands have a few here and there.
Another perk of surfing in Tahiti is that the island has both beach and reef breaks that cater to all levels of proficiency. Whether you are a beginner who is just starting your surfing journey or are a professional chasing the perfect barrel at Teahupoo, Tahiti has it all. If that’s not enough to attract you, Tahiti is world-renowned for its warm sparkling blue waters and black sand beaches. These conditions make surfing in Tahiti a bucket list activity for almost every enthusiastic surfer.
Flying to Tahiti With a Surfboard
The best way to access Tahiti’s remote location is by flying into Fa’a’ฤ International Airport (PPT), located in the country’s capital, Papeete. Depending on the airline you select, you can either bring your surfboard with you completely free of charge or end up paying a fee that can range from $50 – $150 for just one way.
This is because some airlines allow you to count your surfboard, which can weigh up to 50 lbs, as one of your checked baggage. Since a few airlines include free checked baggage with their long-haul tickets, you can travel with your surfboard for free! Keep this in mind when finding a flight that best fits your budget and be sure to check the specific airline policies.
My friends and I flew with Air Tahiti Nui in Moana Economy class, the second cheapest class. We selected them because the majority of their fares include one complimentary checked bag. Therefore, we were able to count our surfboards as our checked bags and use our complimentary smaller carry-on for all our clothes and essentials.
โ๏ธ PRO-TIP: Try searching for flight availability on StudentUniverse. Despite the name, any person can use the flight-search engine. They often have epic deals that are significantly cheaper than everywhere else. I’ve personally been using StudentUniverse for 5+ years and had quite positive experiences.
Between finding a great roundtrip flight on StudentUniverse and strategically counting our surfboard as our free checked bag, we were able to save a nice chunk of money on our trip to Tahiti!
Packing Your Surfboard
If it’s your first time flying with a surfboard, you might be unsure how to transport your surfboard without it showing up at the final destination dented or dinged. To protect your board and give it the best chance of making it to Tahiti in the exact state you left it, I recommend these four steps:
1. Use a Board Bag
First, purchase a good surfboard bag if you don’t already have one. I recommend getting a board bag that has a good amount of extra room and is not a struggle to fit your board into.
Not to mention, if you want to bring two boards with you, you might be able to fit two boards into one bag by carefully layering them on top of one another if they are similar in size. My friends and I have some relatively thin boards that are similar, so we managed to carry two boards in one surfboard bag with this method.
Alternatively, you can purchase a bag that is made to carry two surfboards. We had to do this for one set of our boards because they would not fit in a bag made for one board. Be mindful of the weight limit to avoid paying excessive weight fees.
โ ๐โโ๏ธ Check out the surfboard bags we used for carrying one surfboard and two surfboards.
I highly recommend both of these surfboard bags since they’re durable, have a shoulder strap for easy transport with your luggage, and contain both inside and outside pockets.
2. Bubble Wrap
To provide an extra layer of protection, I suggest purchasing a giant roll of bubble wrap to create a barrier of air between your board and any hard surface. Before you begin wrapping your board, be sure to remove your fins!
We wrapped each board in a single layer of bubble wrap. Afterward, we stacked the two boards and wrapped them together in another layer of bubble wrap. But, if you’re just doing one board per bag, you can go ahead and wrap your board in two layers of bubble wrap. A little trick is to use your leash as a tie to secure the bubble wrap if you don’t have tape handy.
๐โโ๏ธ NOTE: Don’t forget to bring a fin key so you can reattach the fins at your final destination.
3. Beach Towels
The nose of the board is one of the most vulnerable parts of the board. You can form some extra padding by wrapping a beach towel around the nose. This will not only help protect your board but also will save you some space in your luggage!
๐ PRO TIP: The sun is especially intense in French Polynesia. This is the reef-safe sunscreen I use and highly recommend.
4. Paper Signs
Lastly, I suggest constructing signs that read, “Please Be Gentle,” or something similar in large print. These signs can serve as a reminder to airport staff to handle your bags with care. Simply attach the signs with clear packing tape and duct tape on the edges. This will prevent the signs from falling off in the event it rains at the airport.
Also, I recommend putting signs on both sides of the board bag to ensure airport staff sees it. And, as an extra precautionary step, consider placing a paper with your contact info inside the bag so you can be contacted in the event your surfboard is lost.
๐โโ๏ธ NOTE: Need help figuring out what to bring on your trip? check out my useful packing list for Tahiti, French Polynesia! Or fill in your email below to have a packing checklist sent to your inbox!
How to Get Around Tahiti With a Surfboard
Getting around Tahiti with a surfboard can be a bit of a challenge. Since public transit is not always reliable, your best bet is to get a rental car and bring your own surfboard straps and ties. This way you can have the freedom to check out various surf breaks easily without having to dole out at least $25 USD per taxi ride.
Also, I recommend reserving a rental car as soon as you know the dates of your trip. This is because supply is fairly limited and demand can be quite high during the travel season.
Before you attach your surfboard to the roof of the car, be sure to take a video and lots of pictures of the entire car. This will serve as documentation of any damages that existed before you had the car. Beware that rental car agencies in Tahiti carefully check the roofs of their cars because damage caused by surfboards is common. Either too many surfboards are stacked on top or there is no barrier between the roof and the board.
โ ๐ Check out the exact surfboard straps that my friends and I used and highly recommend.
These surfboard straps were great because they create a barrier between the roof of the car and our boards, are fairly affordable, and did not cause any damage to our rental car.
Where Is Teahupoo Located
Teahupoo pronounced as Choo-pooh, is located on the southwestern coast of Tahiti’s smaller section called Tahiti Iti. From Tahiti’s capital of Papeete, it takes about an hour and a half of driving to reach the boat docks. The actual surf break is about a 10-minute taxi boat ride away from the docks.
How to Get to Teahupoo
To get to Teahupoo, you will have to get to the docks where all the taxi boats are located. If you have a rental car, you can type, “Marina de Teahupoo,” into Google Maps. Be sure you do this before you leave an area of wifi if you do not have a French Polynesia sim card.
Once you arrive, you can take a taxi boat out to the surf break. Reservations are required, so plan when you would like to visit Teahupoo ahead of time to ensure that there is availability.
๐๐ค Check rates & availability for this 1-hour taxi boat to Teahupoo!
Also, while tipping culture is different in French Polynesia compared to the US, I recommend carrying at least some small bills in the local currency. This way, you can tip your taxi boat driver or the tour guide on any other fun excursions around the islands you embark on if they do an excellent job!
๐โโ๏ธ NOTE: Expect to pay in cash with CFP Francs at the end of the excursion if you happen to select a different company from the ones I’ve recommended!
Want to See More than Teahupoo?
If you’re interested in seeing more than just Teahupo’o, I recommend checking out this fantastic half-day tour. Over 4 hours, you’ll get to discover parts of Tahiti that are exclusively accessible by boat. First, you’ll be greeted by a little breakfast by the marina. Then, you’ll hop into the boat and make your way to the awe-inspiring Teahupoo surf break as your guide teaches you all there is to know about the break.
Afterward, you’ll head south around Tahiti Iti, toward Fenua Aihere. This part of Tahiti is the pure definition of unspoiled beauty since there are no roads to this hidden part of the island.
Once you’ve cruised around the lagoon, you’ll have a chance to embark on a little hike around the Vaipoiri River and grotto. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious like hiking for hours to Tahiti’s tallest waterfall! ๐ Instead, you’ll be doing more of a casual walk. And when you’re done, you’ll end the excursion with a fun snorkeling opportunity around a pristine, white sand bar!
๐โโ๏ธ PRO TIP: If you want to view what I think are the best tours around Tahiti, check out this post. It details the different types of tours available and why they are worth it.
What Makes Surfing Teahupoo So Dangerous
There is a combination of factors that make surfing Teahupoo in Tahiti arguably the most dangerous break in the world. For one, Teahupoo is known for consistently generating one of the heaviest breaks on the planet. This means that there is a massive amount of force, pressure, and weight behind its waves.
During XXL events, Teahupoo’s waves are known to reach well over 20+ ft, and the Tahitian government issues a “Code Red warning.” This means boats and watercraft are banned from being in the nearby waters.
To further add to its risk factor, the left wave breaks on top of a ridiculously sharp coral reef that lurks only a couple of meters beneath the surface. World-class surfers have been known to wipe out and have their faces and bodies shredded by the unforgiving coral reef.
During a perfect storm of conditions, the break is known to reach terrifying and almost mythical heights of 25+ ft. These dangerous conditions have caused boats with onlookers, reporters, and photographers to capsize. Since 2000, Teahupoo has taken the lives of 5 surfers. Ultimately, Teahupoo is a break that is incredibly dangerous and has garnered the respect of surfers worldwide.
๐จ DISCLAIMER: Surfing Teahupoo should only be attempted by advanced or expert surfers. Surf at your own risk.
Why Does Teahupoo Get Big
A common question among surfers and curious tourists is, “Why does Teahupoo get so big?”. The answer can be explained by looking at how groundswell waves form and the ocean depth and reef terrain near Teahupoo.
How Groundswell Waves Form
Waves bound for Tahiti begin their formation thousands of miles away in the “wave factory“. High and low-pressure zones, or pressure zones with opposite weather, in the Western and Central South Pacific Oceans, come into proximity. This causes a storm to emerge. Depending on how intense the storm and winds produced are, an immense amount of energy gets transferred from the wind into the ocean. This is referred to as a groundswell.
These groundswells migrate through the ocean for thousands of miles until they reach shallower waters. When they encounter the bottom surface of the ocean, the energy is forced to slow down and compress. The compressed energy has to go somewhere, so it travels upward. This is how powerful groundswell waves are generated.
How Deep Is Teahupoo?
Next, we can look at the dramatic difference in ocean depth over a very short distance around Teahupoo. Approximately 150 feet beyond Teahupoo, the ocean floor is over 300 feet deep. A third of a mile away from this break, the water is 1000+ ft deep. This rapid transition from 1000+ ft deep waters to the extremely shallow waters where the wave breaks is what causes incoming waves to surge to their towering heights.
However, the quick transition from deep to shallow water is not solely responsible for Teahupoo’s gigantic waves. The shallow reef beneath the water’s surface is shaped like a semi-circle, which focuses the wave energy into one spot. This creates Teahupoo’s famous bowl shape and hollow barrels and gives the illusion that the wave is breaking below sea level.
It’s for these reasons that Teahupoo produces heavy waves, and it is the annual venue for the Billabong Pro Teahupoo surfing competition as part of the World Championship Tour.
Tahiti Surf Season
Depending on your surfing capabilities, you might be after Teahupoo’s massive waves that are simultaneously your wildest dreams and worst nightmare. Alternatively, you may be interested in surfing in Tahiti under more tame surf conditions that won’t result in life-threatening injuries like Teahupoo. The truth is that there’s no guarantee that Teahupoo will provide the exact conditions you are looking for. But, you can visit during certain seasons to have a higher probability.
As mentioned before, Tahiti is exposed to a fairly constant amount of SW and SSW swells. However, the winter season, which runs from April to October in the southern hemisphere, is more of a consistent period for these larger swells. In contrast, the November to March summer season relies on smaller inconsistent northwest swells to produce thrilling waves.
Oh, and one of the many fun facts about Tahiti is that they helped host the 2024 Summer Olympics! That’s right, Teahupoo was the surf venue for the 2024 Olympics, which were hosted by Paris. This breaks the record for the furthest distance between an Olympic event competition and the hosting city.
Other Tahiti Surf Spots
If you want to cross surfing in Tahiti off your bucket list but with smaller breaks or get some practice in before surfing Teahupoo, here are a few breaks you can choose from:
๐ Papenoo: This point break is located about 30 minutes north of Papeete. It is a great beginner spot with both right and left waves that hover around 2 – 3 ft. The waves can be a bit blown out and it does get crowded at times on weekends.
๐ Papara: Papara is a beach break located 50 minutes south of Papeete. You can expect a fun mixture of right and left waves that range from 3 – 8 ft. The black sand beach is a local favorite, so expect to compete for waves. Surfers of all levels are welcomed as long as proper surfing etiquette is practiced. It was my favorite break, so I recommend checking it out if you get the chance!
๐ Taapuna: Taapuna is an exposed reef break located about 20 minutes south of Papeete. It requires a 20-minute paddle out but consistently delivers clean 2 – 4 ft waves that break to the left. This is a great spot to practice left waves and catch a smaller barrel. Beware: Taapuna is for more advanced surfers and is often crowded. As a result, the local vibe is not always the most welcoming to new surfers.
Where to Stay Near Teahupoo
If you plan on doing a lot of surfing in Tahiti (or only at Teahupoo), I recommend selecting housing accommodations near whatever break you choose to surf at. My friends and I were surfing all over the island and often spent an hour or two (one direction) driving to different breaks. So, save yourself some time and money by getting housing near some good surf breaks!
You can check out different housing options near Teahupoo on the interactive map below. It displays current prices across several booking platforms so you can find the best price ๐
Surfing in Tahiti: FAQ
Yes, beginners can absolutely surf in Tahiti. While there are going to be some breaks that you’ll want to avoid, there are other beginner-friendly breaks. And even though Teahupoo should only be attempted by experienced surfers, seeing the break in action is still a must. I mean, just respecting the sheer power of this wave up close was a top highlight and one of the reasons I love traveling to Tahiti!
In my opinion, you do not need a wetsuit in Tahiti. The water temperature is pretty warm year-round, like in the high 70sยฐ F at a minimum. So, don’t increase the costs of your French Polynesia trip by getting or renting a wetsuit! I’d recommend only getting a rashguard as protection from the sun!
You can swim and snorkel in the waters around Tahiti! If anything, that’s probably one of the most popular things to do in Moorea and Tahiti! There’s so much marine life in the water that you can swim alongside. For instance, if you time your trip right, you can go swimming with whales in Moorea or Tahiti near the capital!
Wrap-Up: Surfing in Tahiti Teahupoo Edition (2024)
With its warm turquoise waters and variety of surf breaks, surfing is undoubtedly one of the best activities to do while in Tahiti. People dream of surfing in Tahiti and feeling the incredible force that is Teahupoo. So, whether you want to attempt riding the wave of your life at Teahupoo or just want to admire the work of mother nature that has created Teahupoo, marveling at Teahupoo should be on every visitor’s itinerary!
๐ธ Appreciation Note: You’ll notice that a few of the pictures in this post were taken by my friend good friend Sol! You can see more of his amazing photography here!
