Pirae
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Swell
- Spot Type
- One source describes low-profile, while another describes moderate year-round with busier weekends.
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Pirae is an exposed surfing break on Tahiti’s north coast that’s described as having fairly consistent surf, with winter highlighted as the favored time of year. The spot is best when receiving north-to-northwest swells (with sources also noting the spot works best alongside southeast winds). Wave conditions are generally described as average to moderate, and the break can vary in shape: it’s often described as mixed, and larger swells can make the waves messy or prone to closing out. When the conditions line up (good north swell), surfers report a medium ride length. Wind reliability is reported as fairly consistent, with southeast winds identified as the best wind direction and trades described as the governing wind pattern. Wind can range roughly from 10 to 20 knots in typical conditions. Safety is a key concern: hazards reported for the spot include rocks and sharks, alongside pollution. Sources also warn to avoid sessions immediately after heavy rainfall because water quality can worsen after runoff and river discharge, and to be cautious around submerged rocks near shore.
- Exposed break with fairly consistent surf
- Winter favored; best month noted as January
- Good fit for intermediate surfers
- Exposed break with fairly consistent surf
- Relatively favorable winter conditions
- Water quality can be poor after rain due to urban runoff and river outlets
- Hazards include rocks and sharks
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SE
- Offshore directions
- SE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade-wind driven pattern; sources note southeast winds as the best wind direction for the spot.
- Reliability
- fairly consistent
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Steady conditions reported.
- Best Months
- January
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Swell
- Beach
- Sand — Sand / volcanic black sand beach.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Medium waves reported; sources also indicate the spot is often small.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide black sand beach.
- Launch Difficulty
- Easy — Launch difficulty described as easy.
Through the year
Moderate year-round; can get busier on weekends due to proximity to the city.
November to April
By sport
What to expect for each.
An exposed beach break with fairly consistent surf, favored in winter. Works best with north to northwest swells.
- Optimal Swell
- NNW, NW
- Swell Height
- 0.5–2 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Tide dependence described as all-tides.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed beach-break setup.
- Wind Effect
- Best-with-southeast winds; offshore winds from the south and southeast can groom waves for cleaner faces.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become messy and close out with very large swells.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average; may turn mushy or close out with larger swells.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Wave power described as moderate.
- Wave Shape
- Mixed — Wave shape described as mixed; it can become mushy or close out in larger swells.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Peel speed described as medium.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Ride length described as medium; decent ride length on a good north swell.
- Ride Length Details
- The wave provides a decent ride length on a good north swell, though it can often be mushy or close out in larger swells.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Pirae in the full forecast view.
Pirae wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–16 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- ESE107°
- Strongest day
- Thu, Oct 2916 kts
- Windy days
- 5/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–1.4 m9s period
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Pirae is forecast for daytime winds of 7–16 kts, peaking around 16 kts on Thursday, October 29 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 1.0–1.4 m with a period of about 9s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- rocks
- sharks
- pollution
- river mouth debris
- submerged rocks near the shore
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguard presence reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is limited.
- Emergency Info
- Formal beach-based rescue services are rare; large-scale maritime emergencies are coordinated by JRCC Tahiti. For medical assistance use 15 (SAMU) and 18 for the fire department.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Sources differ: one describes no localism, another describes mild localism.
Rules of the spot
Avoid surfing immediately after heavy rainfall due to increased pollution from urban runoff and river discharge.
- Avoid surfing immediately after heavy rainfall due to increased pollution from urban runoff and river discharge.
- Be cautious of submerged rocks near the shore.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Papeete
- Nearest Town
- P īra'e
- Parking
- Large public parking lot with several hundred spaces near Parc Aorai Tini Hau entrance at FFC2+R88, Av. du Général de Gaulle (or public parking available near the beach area).
- Public Transport
- Local buses from Tahiti Iti run every 30 minutes toward Pīraʻe; taxis from Papeete cost ~2,000 XPF.
- Access
- From Tahiti Iti, head north on Route de Pirae toward Pīraʻe; continue ~20 minutes and look for signs to Parc Aorai Tini Hau. There is a large parking lot near the entrance. There is also direct beach access from the coastal road.
- Local Language
- French, Tahitian
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Accommodation available across the greater Papeʻete area; also described as nearby Papeete area (reported).
- Food & Drink
- Local cafes and snack bars within walking distance in town of Pirae (reported).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Pirae?
The best overall months at Pirae are November, December, January, February, March, April. The best wind months are January.
Which wind directions work at Pirae?
Pirae works with SE winds. Offshore directions are SE.
What skill level is Pirae suitable for?
Pirae suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate.