Why should you go to Polynesia to paddleboard?

Info & Itinerary

Tahiti is the entry point to French Polynesia. Located in the Society archipelago, it’s an island with tall volcanic peaks and a lagoon. Protected from the swell by the coral reef, the waters of the lagoon are really the ideal spot to do paddle.

Distance – itinErarY 

I recommend you to paddleboard on the lagoon south of Tahiti between Papara and Maiatea. Several itineraries are possible depending on the tides and the weather:

• Along the drop off
  Turtles and rays are often present.
• Make a more or less long loop towards the “motu”: The motu are small islands covered with palm trees, straight out of Robinson Crusoe.
  You pass first the Motu Mapeti at about 8 km. This motu is private, you can rent it on AirBnb .  Then you arrive at the motu Puuru after about 11 km.
• Exit by the pass and head towards the surf spot of Taharuuu, take a few waves if you feel like it (and especially if you are a good surfer) then head on home peacefully by making a loop along the coast.

Note: Beware of the currents in the pass: it’s  recommended to be with a friend or someone when passing there due to the strong and powerful currents present.

Launching

Just start from the beach.

To do and to see

• Admire the sunset on the point
• Take your paddleboard out at sunrise and let yourself be hypnotized by the golden light.
• Contemplate the silhouette of the surrounding volcanoes
• Admire the corals, the turtles, the rays.
• Paddleboard along the va’a (outrigger) that are training.
• Enjoy the waves of the Taharuu spot.

My tip

I strongly suggest that you contact Alexy at the Manamano Lodge. He’ll make you discover all the mythical spots of the lagoon.
Alexy is a waterman who fell in love with Tahiti and a Tahitian woman. As soon as he can, he takes his paddle board, or his prone, or his surfboard and heads towards the ocean.
Alexy explained to me the basics of lagoon navigation, the meaning of the red buoys (marking the limit of the channel on the land side), the green buoys (indicating the limit of the channel on the sea side), the incoming and outgoing currents. We took some time together to look at the configuration of the lagoon on Google Earth: he pointed at the “reef pass” (opening in the reef), the drop (the side of the fringing coral reef that falls to the bottom of the lagoon).

Info & Itinerary

On the Puna’auai side, you will paddle board along the coast of Tahiti overlooking the island of Moorea.

Info & Itinerary

Moorea is called Tahiti’s sister island. Only 17 km separates it from Tahiti, about 40 minutes by ferry.
It’s a high island with a tormented volcanic relief surrounded by a lagoon.

Infos & Itinerary

Raiatea is located in the Société archipelago 200 km northwest of Tahiti (45 minute flight).

It’s an island with tall volcanic peaks that shares the same lagoon as the neighboring island, Tahaa. Several million years ago, the island of Tahaa and Raiatea were one.
The main road on the island runs for 92 miles around the coastline.
Raiatea is considered the cradle island of Polynesian society and culture.

Distance – itinerary – Launching 

The small Motu Ofetaro is very easy to access: it’s near Uturoa and along the Teavapiti pass.
One of the most convenient launching points is located just in front of the Sup’Tepua supermarket, less than 2km south of the center of Uturoa.
From there, you’ll have to paddle for less than a mile to reach the motu. Once there, you’ll have to land on the beach, near the pontoon.

À To do & to see

• Picnic on the sand or on one of the tables.
• Take mask and snorkel to explore the lagoon.

From the small motu, you can admire the volcanic peaks of Raiatea on your left and the coasts of Tahaa Island on your right.
The coral reef bordering the motu is very well preserved. In less than a meter of water, you can find clownfish, lionfish, coachfish and hundreds of other species.

Infos & Itinerary

Paddle boarding on the Fa’aora River is like paddling through the jungle, it’s paddling between branches and roots, it’s a bit like paddle boarding on a miniature Amazon river.
Located in the Fa’aroa valley, it’s said to be the only navigable river in Polynesia.

Launching – Distance – Itinerary

Start from the dock on the left bank and cross the mouth to join the river.
Go up the river and paddle until there is not enough bottom.
The river is navigable for about 2 km.

Note: Be careful when crossing the bay, the wind can be quite intense.

To do & to see 

• Paddle board along the banks. The volcanic earth is dark red in color.
• Go under the tangle of branches.
• Perhaps you will see an eel with big ears? The one from the Tahitian legend

My tip

I strongly suggest that you contact Rémy Lavie
Rémy is originally from the Basque Country. He has been living in Raiatea for a few years now. In addition to being a champion and an excellent coach, Rémy is full of history. He can also help you discover the lagoon aboard a sailing pirogue.

Info & Itinerary

Bora Bora is without a doubt the most famous island of Polynesia, it’s the one that best evokes the classic cliché of the paradise island with its sparkling turquoise lagoon and overwater bungalows.

Bora Bora is located about 260 km northwest of Tahiti, only 50 minutes by plane from Papeete.

Bora Bora is close to Raiatea, 50 km separates them. The Maupiti Express shuttle makes the Uturoa – Vaitape connection three times a week: 2h30 of mini cruise along the coast of Tahaa.

The turquoise blue lagoon, the white sandy beach and the famous overwater bungalows are located in the south, at the level of Matira Point.

Launching – Distance – Itinerary

If you are staying on the Matira side, start directly from the beach or from your overwater bungalow

If you’re staying on the Vaitape side, you will have to paddle 7 km to reach the Matira point.  In total you will make a loop of about 14 km: a nice sportive session.

To do & to see

• Enjoy paddle boarding on the turquoise waters of the lagoon.
• Admire the stingrays passing under your board.
• Watch the turtles.

My tip

If a 5 star resort isn’t the way you like to roll or isn’t in your budget, I suggest you stay at the Villa Manta rented via AirBnb. Romain and Sandrine’s welcome was immediately very warm, I must admit that I really appreciated it in the middle of the Covid crisis. Sandrine came to pick me up when the “Maupiti Express” the shuttle boat arrived at the Vaitape quay.

Infos & Itinerary

Tikehau is located at the western end of the Tuamotu archipelago, only 15 km from Rangiroa and 340 km north of Tahiti. It’s an oval-shaped atoll 27 km long and 19 km wide consisting of a crown of motu of white and pink sand covered with coconut palms. 
Tikehau has a unique 200-meter wide pass – the Tuheiava pass – and is dotted with a myriad of hoa, the colorful channels that cut into the reef edges.

Launching – Distance – Itinerary

Getting on your board couldn’t be easier because in Tikehau, all accommodations are located directly on the beach. 
In period of maramu which blows during the southern winter, I advise you to go east (on your right) facing the wind, so the return will be easier.
Warning: If the Maramu is too strong, the lagoon is unravelled and it’s impossible to paddle board.

To do & to see 

• Paddle bord from motu to motu
• Stop on the edges of the hoa

Enjoy this unique feeling of being cut off from the world
Admire the pink sand, corals and motu.

The coral crown of Tikehau just before landing

In the background, the overwater bungalows of the Pearl Beach 

Info & Itinerary

Rangiroa is located in the Tuamotu archipelago. It is an immense atoll, whose lagoon forms a real inland sea: 80 km long and 32 km wide. One never sees the end of it!
The motu all in length, where the tourist activity is concentrated, is surrounded by two passes, Avatoru and Tiputa. These are world-famous diving spots that are home to many species of sharks and dolphins. But it’s not only the underwater fauna that is incredible, Rangiroa also has a lagoon in the lagoon called “Le lagon Bleu” (the Blue Lagoon).

Program of the day

For this day trip to the Blue Lagoon, I went through Orava excursion.
At 8.30 am, Ugo from Orava Excursion came to pick me up to take me by car to the Ohotu wharf in the village of Tiputa. Then an hour’s boat ride across the lagoon.
Arrived at the edge of the blue lagoon, we anchor the boat. James, the guide, loads my big paddle bag on another small flat-bottomed boat to reach the motu. We settle down in the shade of the “Fare pote’e”.
I take the opportunity to inflate my paddle and go around the blue lagoon. I ride along the sandbank, the wind is strong and pushes me in the back. Downwind is nice, but it promises a sporty return…
Rendezvous at 1pm for lunch. On the menu: marinated pork and raw fish with coconut milk plus rice salad with coconut bread.
At 3pm, we take back the boat, as the swell is quite strong, I sit next to Teanuanua, our pilot.
Around 4pm, we will stop at the Tiputa pass to watch the dolphins surfing and jumping in the waves.

To do & to see 

• Paddle board from motu to motu around the blue lagoon
• Stop on one of the small motu covered by a very dense and tangled vegetation
• Observe black tip sharks, lemon sharks and dolphins
• Swimming in the “aquarium’

Just before landing, we can see “the Blue Lagoon” 

A  dolphin jumping in the Tiputa pass 

Info & Itinerary

Fakarava is an atoll of the Tuamotu archipelago, located about 450 km North East of Tahiti and accessible by a 2 hour flight from Papeete with a stopover in Rangiroa. From the window seat you can see the full extent of this immense lagoon surrounded by the coral ring.
While the surface of the lagoon is more than 1100 km², the surface of the land is only 16 km². The lagoon communicates with the ocean through the Garuae pass in the North which is the largest pass of French Polynesia with 1 600 m wide and the Tumakohua pass in the South.
With its 60 km long and 21 km wide, the atoll of Fakarava, classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, is after Rangiroa the second largest atoll in Polynesia.

Launching – Distance – Itinerary

I nicknamed Fakarava “SUP Paradise”.

Launch is very easy because all the accommodations are on the edge of the lagoon’s beaches.

At sunrise, at sunset or during the day, the lagoon is just perfect for paddling as it’s protected from the wind most of the time.

To do & to see 

• Paddle boarding south along the motu
• Paddlle boarding near pearl farms
• Stop on one of the small beaches of shells in the shade of the palm trees
• Admire the corals: their shapes (spiral, circle, oval…) and their colors (purple, red, pink…).
• Paddleboarding with black tip sharks and sleeper sharks

View from the window seat: the immense lagoon and the coral reef