Tahiti Itineraries: Multi-Day Yacht Charter Routes
Tahiti’s position as the hub of the Society Islands makes it the natural launchpad for both short escapes and longer explorations. The itineraries below focus on Tahiti and its immediate neighbour Moorea, covering different ground so they can be combined. A guest looking at the 3-day and 4-day routes can stitch them together into a full 7-day Tahiti–Moorea adventure without repeating a stop. Every itinerary is fully customisable by your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard captain.
3-Day Tahiti Yacht Charter Itinerary: Tahiti Nui and Moorea
Day 1: Marina Taina to Point Venus and Matavai Bay
Board your yacht at Marina Taina in Punaauia by mid-morning. Cruise east along Tahiti’s northern coast, passing the spread of Papeete’s harbour and the green hills above the city. After roughly 30 minutes, anchor off Point Venus (Pointe Vénus) in Matavai Bay – the historic black-sand beach where Captain James Cook established his observatory in 1769 to record the transit of Venus. Walk the beach, visit the striking white lighthouse (built 1867, still operational) and explore the shaded grounds. Back on board, your chef serves a lunch of fresh tuna tartare, Polynesian salad and tropical fruit. In the afternoon, cruise west back past Papeete and continue to the quiet anchorage off Punaauia’s reef, where the sunset view across to Moorea’s jagged peaks – silhouetted against a sky streaked with coral and gold – is one of the finest in Tahiti.
Day 2: Tahiti to Moorea – Cook’s Bay and Opunohu Bay
Depart early and cross the Sea of the Moon to Moorea (10 nautical miles, 30 minutes). Enter Cook’s Bay through the reef pass and anchor beneath the near-vertical volcanic walls that rise over 1,200 metres on both sides. Tender ashore for a morning visit to the Belvedere Lookout, with panoramic views over both bays, the lagoon and the open ocean. Return to the yacht for lunch, then reposition to Opunohu Bay – wider, quieter and framed by a dramatic amphitheatre of green peaks. Snorkel the fringing reef, where blacktip reef sharks patrol the coral heads and colourful parrotfish browse the algae. Anchor overnight in Opunohu Bay with the dark outline of Mount Rotui reflected in the mirror-still water.
Day 3: Moorea Lagoon and Return to Tahiti
Rise early for a tender excursion to Stingray World on Moorea’s north-western lagoon – a shallow sandbar where southern stingrays and blacktip reef sharks gather in waist-deep water. Wade in alongside these docile creatures for an unforgettable encounter. Afterwards, cruise west to Motu Tiahura for snorkelling over coral bommies alive with anemonefish and butterflyfish. Enjoy a final lunch on the motu – grilled lobster, coconut rice and chilled Hinano beer on white sand. Cruise back to Tahiti (30 minutes) and disembark at Marina Taina by late afternoon.
4-Day Tahiti Yacht Charter Itinerary: Tahiti Iti and Moorea’s West Coast
Day 1: Marina Taina to Tahiti Iti – Isthmus of Taravao and Teahupo’o
Board at Marina Taina and cruise south-east along Tahiti Nui’s coast, rounding the island’s southern headlands toward the narrow Isthmus of Taravao that connects Tahiti Nui to Tahiti Iti. The southern coast of Tahiti Iti is wild, steep and largely undeveloped – green cliffs plunge into deep, clear water. Continue to the coast off Teahupo’o, where the legendary surf break detonates over a shallow reef shelf. Even on a small swell day, the power and clarity of the wave is impressive from the flybridge. Your chef serves lunch at anchor: poisson cru in coconut milk, grilled wahoo and chilled rosé. Anchor overnight in the calmer water on Tahiti Iti’s northern coast, where the lagoon is sheltered and the night sky, far from Papeete’s lights, is thick with stars.
Day 2: Tahiti Iti to Papara – Botanical Gardens and Surf Beaches
Cruise west along Tahiti’s southern coast to the Jardin Botanique Harrison Smith (Botanical Gardens of Tahiti) in Papeari – a lush 137-hectare park originally established in 1919 by American botanist Harrison Smith. The gardens are home to over 60 species of tropical trees and plants, including giant bamboo, breadfruit, jackfruit and a collection of Polynesian medicinal plants. Return to the yacht and continue west to the coast off Papara, where the fringing reef creates a long, gentle wave popular with local surfers and SUP paddlers. Anchor for the afternoon and swim in the turquoise shallows before continuing north to an overnight anchorage off Punaauia, watching the sunset paint Moorea’s silhouette in shades of amber.
Day 3: Tahiti to Moorea – Ha’apiti and Temae Beach
Cross to Moorea and head for the western coast, anchoring off Ha’apiti – a quiet stretch of lagoon with a white-sand beach, good snorkelling and a view south toward the open Pacific. The reef here is healthy and diverse: expect to see blacktip reef sharks, green sea turtles, triggerfish and dense schools of fusiliers. After lunch, cruise east around the northern tip of the island to Temae Beach – one of Moorea’s finest, a long arc of white sand beside the reef pass with views across to Tahiti. The snorkelling off Temae is excellent, particularly along the drop-off where the lagoon shelf meets the deeper reef. Anchor overnight off Temae.
Day 4: Moorea – Tiki Village and Farewell
Spend the morning at Tiki Village, a living-history cultural centre on Moorea’s southern coast where Polynesian artisans demonstrate traditional tattooing, woodcarving, pareu (sarong) painting and cooking in an ahimaa (underground earth oven). The village offers an authentic window into pre-European Polynesian life. Return to the yacht for a farewell brunch on the aft deck – fresh crêpes, tropical fruit, smoked marlin and Tahitian vanilla coffee. Cruise back to Tahiti and disembark at Marina Taina by mid-afternoon.
Guests can combine the 3-day and 4-day itineraries for a full 7-day Tahiti–Moorea charter covering the entire coastline of both islands, from Point Venus to Teahupo’o to the Coral Gardens – without repeating a single anchorage.
