Surf spot

Papenoo Rivermouth

Forecast conditions and map view for Papenoo Rivermouth in French Polynesia, Tahiti. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: French Polynesia, Tahiti
Coordinates: -17.5126, -149.4181

Metric
Metric	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00
Wave height (m)	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.5	0.4	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.4	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
Wave direction	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	ENE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	NNE	E	NNE	E	E	E	E	E	N	SSE	N	N	SE	SE	SSE	SSE	SE	SE	SE	ESE	ESE	SE	SE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SSE	SE	SSE	SSE
Wave period (s)	4.4	4.5	4.5	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.3	4.4	4.5	4.7	4.3	4.3	4.4	4.4	4.4	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.5	4.6	4.5	4.6	4.6	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.3	7	6	6.5	6.6	6	7.8	7.1	8.6	9.8	8.8	6.4	4.2	4.2	4.8	6.8	6.3	6.8	9.7	3.8	5.8	6.2	9.5	6.8	6.8	6.8	6.7	9.1	9.1	9.1
Wave energy (kJ)	25	26	27	24	21	19	19	18	18	21	16	16	14	11	10	9	9	9	8	7	7	7	6	8	8	7	7	8	5	6	5	3	6	6	10	8	9	7	7	7	5	5	7	5	9	4	8	5	9	4	4	4	4	7	7	7
Wind speed (km/h)	19.1	19.1	22	22.2	21.2	19.1	20.1	17.7	15.1	13.6	12.6	11.3	12.1	8.7	1.3	9.1	7.4	3.3	3.8	5.9	4.8	3.4	2.3	8.8	16.6	18	19.2	14.3	12.8	12.9	16.6	10.7	2.2	4.2	6.1	10	18.9	36.4	25.8	14.3	25.6	26.7	28.4	29.5	27.3	25.1	24.5	22.1	18	16.1	13.7	11.9	11	12.4	15.9	14
Wind direction	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	EOnshore	ENEOnshore	NECross-on	NCross	NNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WOffshore	SEGlassy	NEOnshore	NECross-on	NGlassy	NNEGlassy	NCross-on	NWGlassy	WNWGlassy	ENEGlassy	ESEOnshore	SECross-on	ESECross-on	ESEOnshore	ESECross-on	ESEOnshore	ESEOnshore	EOnshore	ESEOnshore	EGlassy	WNWGlassy	NCross	WNWOffshore	SSECross	SSEBlown out	SCross	SSECross	SCross	SSECross	SSECross	SSECross	SSECross	SSECross	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	ESECross-on	ESEOnshore

Papenoo Rivermouth is a scenic and powerful surf spot on the northeast coast of Tahiti, French Polynesia, at the mouth of the Papenoo River. It’s known for its tropical setting, with lush mountains, black-sand beaches, and heavy Pacific swell wrapping into the rivermouth area.

Surf character

Wave type: Mostly a reef/river-mouth break with shifting sand and river influences.
Best for: Experienced to advanced surfers only.
Wave quality: Can be fast, hollow, and punchy when conditions line up.
Size range: Works on small to solid swells, but it can become intense and powerful quickly.

Conditions

Best swell direction: Typically does best with north to northwest swells, depending on the exact sand/reef setup.
Best wind: Offshore or light winds are preferred; strong trade winds can make it messy.
Tides: Tidal change can strongly affect the wave shape and current strength.
Hazards: Strong currents, shallow reef/river-bottom changes, rocks, and the power of the surf make this a spot for confident surfers.

What makes it special

Beautiful jungle-and-mountain backdrop
Less crowded than some famous Tahiti surf zones
Offers a more raw, natural, and adventurous surfing experience