Tahiti – Papara
Papara, Windward Islands (Society Islands), French Polynesia
Sports: Surfing, Surf foiling
Best time to go: April–October
Papara is on the south-west coast of Tahiti, about 40 minutes from Papeete. Its main surf spot is the black-sand beach at the mouth of the Taharu'u river, often called the surfers' beach, where a gap in the reef lets swells reach a sandy bottom.
It is one of the few beach breaks on an island of reef passes, so it is popular with local surfers, surf schools and bodyboarders. South and south-west swells from the Southern Ocean arrive mostly from about April to October, while the wet season brings occasional north-west swells to other coasts. Light north and north-east land breezes in the morning blow offshore; the east trade winds are cross-shore and the afternoon sea breeze makes it choppy. Small days suit beginners, while bigger swells make it powerful, with strong currents near the river mouth and a heavy shorebreak. The sandbanks move with the river, and after heavy rain the water becomes murky and can be polluted, so it is best avoided then. The line-up is local and busy at weekends. The water is warm all year.
Spots near Tahiti – Papara
- Tahiti – Teahupo'o (26 km)
More: All spots in French Polynesia · Surfing in French Polynesia · Surf foiling in French Polynesia