Maupiti

Day 1 (Arrival + island loop + Tereia Beach)

Morning / Midday

• Fly to Maupiti; Air Tahiti notes the airport is on Motu Tuanai (islet), and you reach the main village by a local-council boat shuttle (about 25 minutes, fare paid on boarding).​

• Tahiti Tourisme PF also advises spending the rest of your first day on land exploring by bike or on foot after you arrive and transfer by boat.​

Afternoon

• Do the classic slow “tour of the island” by bike or on foot (Tahiti Tourisme PF says it’s the best way to feel Maupiti’s character).​

• Finish at Tereia Beach for a long swim and golden-hour photos (Tahiti Tourisme PF explicitly calls out a picnic on a motu or on Tereia Beach).​

Evening

• Early dinner and sleep; tomorrow is your full lagoon day.​

Day 2 (Lagoon & motu day: manta rays + coral gardens + picnic)

Morning

• Book a lagoon excursion that includes manta-ray observation; Tahiti Tourisme PF lists manta ray observation as a key Maupiti experience.​

• Prioritize shallow water time (snorkeling/kayak/paddle) since Maupiti’s lagoon is described as shallow, jade-colored, and full of coral gardens and fish.​

Midday

• Motu picnic (white-sand islets are one of the “good reasons to visit” listed by Air Tahiti).​

Afternoon

• Snorkel coral gardens and relax; treat this as your “no-rush” day.

Evening

• Sunset back on the main island, then pack light for your hike day.​

Day 3 (Mount Teurafaatiu hike + archaeology stops)

Morning

• Hike Mount Teurafaatiu (about 380 m) for lagoon-wide panoramic views; Air Tahiti highlights this hike as a key reason to visit.​

• Start early and avoid the hottest hours; the descent can be slippery and tough on knees.​

Midday

• Recovery lunch + swim.​

Afternoon

• Do a short culture circuit: Air Tahiti lists major sites like the royal marae, the Haranae valley petroglyphs, and Vaiehu marae facing the lagoon.​

• If time is tight, pick just one cultural stop and keep buffers for your boat transfer back to the airport islet.​

Split-stay strategy (main island vs motu)

Maupiti is small, so “split stay” is about the experience: main island village life vs. motu/lagoonfront seclusion.​

• Nights 1–2 (main island): easiest for bike/walking loop and quick access to services.

• Night 3 (optional motu/lagoon lodging): best for a “postcard” last night, but confirm transfers because the airport is on a separate islet.​

Top 10 activities (Maupiti)

Maupiti feels like the French Polynesia you imagine before you start looking at hotel rates: a small, quiet lagoon world where the water runs from pale mint to deep sapphire, and the days revolve around wind, tides, and whatever your captain says is “perfect right now.” Most travelers experience it as a once-in-a-trip escape from Bora Bora—easy to add as a splurge day—then fall in love with how uncrowded it feels compared to its famous neighbor.

The classic way to do Maupiti (day trip)

The simplest, most seamless option on Viator is Maupiti Day Trip from Bora Bora by Cessna, which combines the scenic flight with time on the island for a lagoon tour, snorkeling (including manta rays), and a picnic on a motu. It’s the kind of day that works best if you want Maupiti’s “postcard lagoon” without the extra planning of ferries, local logistics, and coordinating multiple vendors.​

Maupiti Day Trip from Bora Bora by Cessna: 

• https://www.viator.com/tours/Bora-Bora/Maupiti-Day-Trip-from-Bora-Bora-by-Seaplane/d5180-71762P4

Browse all Bora Bora tours (to bundle Maupiti with lagoon/jet-ski days): 

• https://www.viator.com/Bora-Bora/d5180-ttd

French Polynesia air tours (for more “fly-over-the-lagoon” options): 

• https://www.viator.com/French-Polynesia-tours/Air-Tours/d5212-g1-c1

• Bike or walk the full island loop.

• Lagoon excursion with manta ray observation.

• Motu picnic day.

• Snorkel coral gardens.​

• Kayak or paddleboard in the shallow lagoon.​

• Hike Mount Teurafaatiu for panoramic views.

• Visit Vaiehu marae.​

• See Haranae valley petroglyphs.​

• Swim/relax at Tereia Beach.​

• Learn about local culture and agriculture (Air Tahiti mentions fields and local culture experiences).​

Page 7 — Top 10 attractions (places to prioritize)

Maupiti’s “attractions” are mostly natural and cultural landmarks rather than built sites.​

• Maupiti lagoon (signature jade lagoon).​

• Mount Teurafaatiu viewpoint.​

• Tereia Beach.​

• Motu islets of white sand.​

• Vaiehu marae.​

• Haranae petroglyphs.​

• Te Pito No Maeha’a petroglyphs at Haranae (named by Tahiti Tourisme PF).​

Page 8 — Top 10 restaurants 

Maupiti has limited standalone restaurant websites; many places are small pensions offering meals, or venues using social pages rather than independent domains.​

Page 9 — Top 10 shopping (what shopping means on Maupiti)

Shopping is limited and usually craft-focused (pearls/crafts/souvenirs) rather than malls, so plan major shopping on Tahiti or Bora Bora before/after.​
On Maupiti, treat shopping as “small, meaningful items,” and keep it to Day 1 or Day 3 so you aren’t carrying purchases on the motu picnic boat day.

Page 10 — Travel tips (Maupiti-specific)

• Airport transfer: Air Tahiti states Maupiti airport is on an islet and the shuttle boat to the main village takes about 25 minutes; confirm timing and bring cash for the fare.​

• Hike safety: Air Tahiti warns to be careful on downhill sections when biking and highlights hiking to Mount Teurafaatiu; treat both as real physical activities.​

• Go slow: Tahiti Tourisme positions Maupiti as ideal for relaxing and unwinding—overpacking the schedule is the most common mistake.​

Top 40 official websites 

Maupiti overview (Tahiti Tourisme): 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/maupiti/

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Activities in Maupiti (Tahiti Tourisme): 

• https://www.tahititourisme.com/islands/maupiti/activities-in-maupiti/

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What to do in Maupiti (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/the-society-islands/maupiti/what-to-do-in-maupiti/

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Escape to Maupiti (Tahiti Tourisme PF): 

• https://tahititourisme.pf/en-pf/islands-and-archipelagos/the-society-islands/maupiti/escape-to-maupiti/

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Air Tahiti (official): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/

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Air Tahiti – Flights to Maupiti (official): 

• https://www.airtahiti.com/en/maupiti

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Air Tahiti Nui (official international): 

• https://us.airtahitinui.com

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