Facts and figures about Maupiti:

• Number of inhabitants: 1 286
• Surface area: 10,5 km²

3 reasons to visit Maupiti:

• Participate to the stone fishing
• Swim with manta rays
• Bring back a small penu as a souvenir

“Lil’ Bora Bora”, isn’t that a cute nickname? No need to go too far to understand… With a global surface area of 10.5 km², it is the smallest inhabited island of the Leeward Islands, and it is also – drum roll – the most popular among tourists of all the archipelagos. Yep, for about ten years now, Maupiti’s popularity rating has been considerably increasing! Its jade and emerald lagoon is partly responsible for it… But you know what they say: beauty fades, charm remains. People love a good old-fashioned style: Maupiti is like Bora Bora fifty years ago…

Here, people are still hopping up and down with impatience on the dock as they see a cargo arriving. They take their tricycle to go buy some firi firi on Sundays. They don’t use brakes, they pedal backwards! A simple life.

Wandering in Maupiti is like rewinding the Bora Bora VHS, when no hotel had settled there yet. No overwater bungalow. No ATV. No jet ski.
The view. The silence.
Here, there is nothing but a few guesthouses with a very limited capacity. If you are lucky enough to have a cousin with a spare room and you don’t feel like playing Tetris on booking platforms, it is probably best to plan your stay a couple of months ahead. The fact that there are only a few places is also something people appreciate. Scarcity is prized, so is authenticity because when Maupiti refused to develop any further, it also preserved its innocence, its sense of hospitality, and the spirit of the elder days… It’s a rough diamond no one tried to polish in fear of damaging it.

Going round the island with a bike

Let’s face it, it will not take long. Literally 1 hour to be more specific. But that’s only because the island is pretty small and we chose not to stop to drink water or take a look at the views. The ride is rather easy and quiet, but be careful of the surprisingly steep incline—make sure to get off your beach bike before going down.
If you are more into walking and you would like to take some time to stroll unhurriedly in the foothills of the red cliffs or stop at the snack nearby, make it 2 hours 30 minutes.

Have lunch at the Tarona snack

Come on, you can’t refuse a good fou youn ha after this morning walk… Okay, but add a Hinano bottle and the sound of the waves. Raw fish, chow mein, stir-fried pork with oyster sauce—if you want to eat well and local, you are at the right place.

Work on your tan at the Tereia beach

The advantages of Bora Bora without the drawbacks… The beach of Tereia is lined with a lagoon so turquoise you are likely to forget your polarized sunglasses. Its sand is smooth, and since there are only a few inhabitants and a limited capacity in guesthouses, it is rarely crowded. All in all, it is the stereotype of the postcard and therefore the ideal place to peacefully take a sunbath. It may explain why sea turtles choose this very beach to lay their eggs every year.

Cross the lagoon and walk up to the Auria motu

Do you see this tiny motu over there? What if we could just walk and cross the lagoon to get there? Roll your boardshorts up and wrap your pareo around your head, water should go from the calf at low tide up to the waist for the smallest of you… If you take your time to take a few pictures and stroke the sting rays that come to say hello, it shall take about 30 minutes.

A lagoon tour

It’s all about water today! We booked a full-day tour on a boat because, even though we don’t want to create rivalries, the lagoon of Maupiti is said to be one of the most beautiful of all Polynesia… Blue, turquoise, cyan, emerald—feel free to list all the shades you encounter on your way. If you are lucky, perhaps you will even come across a leopard ray in the middle of the coral garden, and if not, no doubt you will find solace in the yummy ma’a Tahiti.
Tama’a maitai! A grilled BBQ tuna steak and a piece of ipo to wipe off your plate—that’s all you need…

Dive into the blue with the manta rays

Name one place in which you can be assured to find manta rays in the islands of Tahiti. We’ll give you three: Bora Bora, Tikehau, and the cleaning station of Maupiti. But there, not only can you observe them in shallow waters, as they are being pampered by tiny fish, but you will also be surrounded by a watchful instructor and a small group. The advantage of featuring but one diving club for the whole island is that there are no other boats on the horizon. You can take your time and make the most of the present moment.

Visit the Vaiahu marae

With its translucent lagoon and white-sand beaches, who would have imagined that Maupiti held archaeological vestiges? Yet, the Vaiahu marae is a national treasure. No less than nine kings were enthroned there: Hamaiterai of Rurutu, Mateata of Rimatara, Tamatea of Raivavae, Te Piurairai of Rapa, Hama of Atiu, Mahamaha of Manitia, Maruano of Maaroaro, Marietoa of Hamoa, and Terihoriho of Vaihi. Memorize it all, there will be a few multiple-choice questions at the end…

Decipher the petroglyphs of the Haranae valley

Not easy to find, even more complicated to decode, the petroglyphs of Haranae remain a mystery for most of us. Two crabs, two turtles—does it ring a bell?

Ofai tairi manu

People in Maupiti did not lack ingenuity back then, to say the least… Tutorial of the day: pinpointing fish schools with no sonar. Find the shelter of marine birds, take a faniu (leafstalk of the coconut tree), and hit a huge stone with it—let’s call it the “drum stone”—to frighten them. As they flee offshore, they gather right above fish schools. Nowadays, we no longer use this technique, but the ofai tairi manu remains.

Hike up to the top of Mount Teurafaatiu

Little surface area, big stature. 372 meters high from Mount Teurafaatiu, Maupiti is quite impressive. You know what we mean… Don’t you think the view would be even more gorgeous if we gained altitude? Can’t you see Bora Bora over there? First things first, let’s find how to get there; the path starts by the big antenna, right after the snack restaurant.
Okay, let’s pretend we are the group supervisors of a summer camp, a few security instructions to start with:

• Wake up early and hike in the morning. The walk is short but exhausting; it’s not the time to get a tan.
• We know it may be difficult for some of you, but put those flip flops down, immediately. Forget about these thin-soled tennis shoes in your closet. Water shoes are alright. But the best is to put on your favorite sneakers to avoid sliding. Did we mention the ropes? You’ll see, everything will be forgotten once you reach the top and enjoy the 360° view overlooking the lagoon…
• Count about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours to arrive at the summit, but please note that physical exercise and heat will make you hungry. Bring your Vaimato bottle and your sandwich with you to kaikai at the top.
• Bring your sweater, it’s pretty cold up there.

Get to taste a real ma’a Tahiti

Come on, that’s exactly what you came here for… That’s the weekly rendezvous not to miss. Every Saturday, all the guesthouses gather on a motu, nearby Papahani, to take care of the ahima’a listening to ukulele songs. Feel free to sing “Chevaliers de la table ronde” with everyone, grate some coconuts, help weave the plates with coconut leaves, or make traditional raw fish…
And if you have no idea what you’re doing, you can also join a bocce game with your coconuts.

Participate in the stone fishing

That’s the event everyone has been waiting for. After 10 years, the stone fishing event will eventually return to Maupiti in 2024! More than 500 people, dozens of stones, about 7 coconut palm leaves, which, once woven together, will turn into a fishing net of about 1 km long. Fishing is an ancestral tradition in Maupiti. And people take it really seriously. To carry on this custom, you are invited to join the village at the very beginning of July.

Frequently asked questions