Matira Beach on Bora Bora is the one public stretch where the sand stays soft and the water shallow a long way out, and it is where I send anyone who asks me for a single beach. The islands have very different beaches, from white sand to the pink-tinged sands out in the Tuamotus, and the Air Tahiti Pass is how we reach more than one in a trip. I plan a beach trip around which lagoons are calm and which islands are easy to move between. Some of the best beaches are public and free if you know where to look. Here is how I think about beaches across the islands.
Reaching more beaches with the pass
The Air Tahiti Pass is a multi-island air pass on Air Tahiti, and for a beach-focused trip it lets me pair islands with different kinds of sand and lagoon. I might combine Bora Bora's famous lagoon with the long white beaches of an atoll like Tikehau. The named passes cover different island groups, so I choose one that reaches the beaches I am after. Routes and schedules change, so I confirm the current details with Air Tahiti and keep the island legs short so more of each day is spent on the sand.
Beaches worth the trip
Matira Beach on Bora Bora is the standout public beach, shallow and calm and open to everyone. On Moorea, Ta'ahiamanu near Papetoai is an easy public beach with good snorkelling just offshore. Out in the Tuamotus, Tikehau is known for its rose-tinted sand and Fakarava for clear lagoon water. Many island beaches are public, but resort sections are not always open to non-guests, so I check access before I plan a day around a particular stretch.
Making a beach day work
I go early for the calmest water and the best light, and I carry reef shoes because the approach over coral rubble can be sharp underfoot. A mask and snorkel turn almost any of these beaches into a reef walk, since the fish come close in the shallows. I bring my own shade and water, as small public beaches rarely have facilities. Checking the lagoon conditions for the day has saved me from a windy, churned-up beach more than once.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach in the islands?
Matira Beach on Bora Bora is my single pick, as it is public, shallow and calm. For an easy beach with snorkelling, Ta'ahiamanu on Moorea is hard to beat.
Are the beaches public or resort-only?
Many of the best beaches are public, but resort frontages are not always open to non-guests. I check access before planning a day around a specific stretch of sand.
Can I visit several beaches in one trip?
Yes. The Air Tahiti Pass lets you pair islands with different beaches, such as Bora Bora and a Tuamotu atoll. Confirm current routes and fares with Air Tahiti when you book.
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