Walking Papeete and the Fautaua Valley

November 5, 2026

Papeete is flat and compact enough to explore on foot, and two valleys within reach add proper hiking. Wear a hat, carry water, and keep to the cooler hours of the morning.

Waterfront and old-town walk

Start at Place Vai’ete on the waterfront, then walk into Parc Bougainville with its banyan trees. Continue to the Mairie de Papeete on Rue Paul Gauguin, then on to Notre-Dame Cathedral on Rue du General de Gaulle. Finish at the Marche, the covered market, where the best time is early in the morning. The streets are flat and paved. The cathedral is an active church, so dress modestly and stay quiet if Mass is in progress.

Paofai waterfront

Paofai Gardens is a wooded park of about 5 hectares, with the waterfront beside it. It suits an easy late-afternoon stroll, with Moorea in view across the channel.

Fautaua Valley to the Fautaua Waterfall

This is the main hike near Papeete, and it needs a paid permit from the Mairie de Papeete. The fee is 600 XPF for adults and 150 XPF for children over 12, and under-12s are free. The permit office (Regie) opens Monday to Thursday 08:00 to 14:00 and Friday 08:00 to 13:00, and the permit is valid for 3 months. The valley is open daily from 06:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:45 and last exit at 17:45. Groups of more than 10 need prior approval from the city. Swimming in the river is not allowed, nor is camping.

Tahiti Tourisme describes an easy, shaded path of about 3 km to the Fachoda bridge, and the going gets harder beyond it. The round trip to the waterfall is about 9.8 km and takes roughly 4 hours, according to a trail guide, and there are river fords. The waterfall is about 135 m high, a figure that varies between sources. A guide is recommended because the trail is not always well marked. Do not enter if rain is likely, since rockfall and fast-rising water are real risks. The commune has closed and reopened the valley before, so confirm with the Mairie on papeete.pf .

Faarumai trails

The short walk to Vaimahuta takes a few minutes. The path to the other two falls takes 20 to 30 minutes and can be closed on works days, so check with the Service du Tourisme on +689 40 47 62 00.

Guided walks

Local guides run walking and hiking tours, which suit the Fautaua trail best. Look through Papeete walking tours for current options.