Punaauia Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Museum of Tahiti featuring general coastal views, tropical scenes and swimming
Museum of Tahiti featuring indigenous culture and interior views
Punaauia
Museum of Tahiti showing interior views
Museum of Tahiti featuring a garden

Scuba dive next to tropical islands, visit a fascinating museum to learn about the region’s history and watch dolphins and whales breaching.

Puna’auia is a tropical wonderland with a pristine beach and idyllic ocean water. Elevated huts decorate the water, while a museum informs visitors about the region’s nature and history. Chat with locals in this populous area for a glimpse into Tahitian culture.

Learn about the history of the region at the Museum of TahitiOpens in a new window. Browse the costumes, tools and handicrafts that belonged to early French Polynesian settlers. See engravings in the journal of explorer James Cook. In the northern part of the commune are the French Polynesia University and the Marina Taina, a lively port with many restaurants.

Take advantage of the year-round warm weather at one of the area’s picturesque beaches. August is the driest month, while the region can be fairly wet from November to April. Sunbathe or have a picnic on Puna’auia’s white-sand beach. Watch the hues of the dramatic sky darken over the island of Moorea.

Head south to Vai’ava Beach to watch surfers. Bring your kids to the calm water of the swimming area. Nearby is Mahana Park, a tranquil and scenic grassy area near the beach.

For the best views of subaquatic creatures and the coral reef, go scuba diving with Eleuthera Plongée Tahiti. Watch for dolphins and whales, especially common between the end of July and the end of October. Embark on a sunset cruise, go snorkeling and scuba dive at different islands.

Note that this commune was the home of famous French painter Paul Gauguin in the late 19th century. Here, he created his acclaimed Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? painting.

The commune stretches along a small section of land on Tahiti’s western coast. Its northern border is just south of the Faa’a International Airport, while its southern end is near Pā’eaOpens in a new window. Visit other towns in the region, such as PapeeteOpens in a new window, ĀrueOpens in a new window and MāhinaOpens in a new window.

Explore Puna’auia, a beautiful spot for tropical relaxation, with impressive beaches and cultural institutions.

Te Moana Tahiti Resort
Te Moana Tahiti Resort
BP 2851 Punavai, Punaauia, Tahiti
The price is NZ$559 per night from 20 July to 21 July
NZ$559
20 July - 21 July
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Punaauia. Enjoy 2 restaurants, 2 bars/lounges, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,159 reviews)
"A very nice hotel. Pool, beach bar very good"

Reviewed on 2 Jul. 2025

Te Moana Tahiti Resort
Ninamu Pearl  Guest House
Ninamu Pearl Guest House
Lotissement Sage, Punaauia, Tahiti
The price is NZ$308 per night from 6 July to 7 July
NZ$308
6 July - 7 July
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this guesthouse in Punaauia. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions Museum of Tahiti and the Islands and ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (21 reviews)
Ocean view room is amazing!
"Ninamu Pearl was perfect for our family. The ocean view room with plunge pool was such a beautiful and unique start to our trip on Tahiti. You definitely need a car for this accommodation as it’s up a steep road, but completely worth it for the view alone."

Reviewed on 19 May 2025

Ninamu Pearl Guest House
Pension de la Plage
Pension de la Plage
PK 15.4 - BP 381593 Tamanu, Punaauia, Tahiti
The price is NZ$220 per night from 21 July to 22 July
NZ$220
21 July - 22 July
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach pension in Punaauia. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (140 reviews)
"Staff manager was very friendly and made us feel comfortable"

Reviewed on 5 Jul. 2025

Pension de la Plage
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
CHARMING BUNGALOW in Punaauia, with a dream view of Moorea
CHARMING BUNGALOW in Punaauia, with a dream view of Moorea
Punaauia
Stay at this vacation home in Punaauia. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions Papeete Market and Port de Papeete are located nearby.
9.8/10 Exceptional! (54 reviews)
"This was of great value that we booked two nights to have the convenience of having a safe place for our luggage and a place to shower before our flight out very late at night. The check out process made it easy to do that."

Reviewed on 16 Jun. 2025

CHARMING BUNGALOW in Punaauia, with a dream view of Moorea
Villa Teanaiva
Villa Teanaiva
Puna'auia
Stay at this villa in Punaauia. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and a garden. Popular attractions Papeete Market and Port de Papeete are located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (4 reviews)
Wonderful hosts and great accommodations
"We stayed for a week in Tahiti at Teanaiva, which was well appointed and a wonderful property. Maire and Tekura went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed. The stay was a highlight of our vacation. On arrival at 6am we found out that they had been checking flights for arrival times since the ..."

Reviewed on 27 Apr. 2025

Villa Teanaiva
Beachfront Home Puna'auia Tahiti
Beachfront Home Puna'auia Tahiti
Punaauia
Book a stay at this beach vacation home in Punaauia. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and a garden. Popular attractions Plage Toaroto and Museum of Tahiti and ...
Beachfront Home Puna'auia Tahiti
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Activities

Reviews of Punaauia

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
3
5 - Excellent 25%
4 - Good
6
4 - Good 50%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 25%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

AnnaABPM

Its not the area but the convenience of a lovely resort and ability to taxi anywhere that makes this a great choice. The shops near the hotel are good.

Cities near Punaauia