Located amidst the warm tropical waters of the South Pacific, about 5700 km from Australia, the nearest continental mainland, Maupiti is a true paradise on earth.
The island belongs to French Polynesia and is located less than 50 kilometers west from the world’s top destination Bora-Bora.
Because of the striking similarity between the two islands, you will often hear travelers to call Maupiti “the smaller sister of Bora Bora.”
The main difference is that Maupiti is still relatively little known tourist destination, and the quiet pace of life here is still dependent on natural cycles and the enchanting Tahitian culture.
When to Visit Maupiti?
Although the period between May and October is considered to be the most attractive, the island offers generally good conditions for tourism throughout the year.
During the rainy season the sky over the island is usually partly cloudy, and sudden downpours with thunder are quite common.
In most cases, however, they last for about 30 minutes or an hour, so you will have the chance to spend the rest of the day out, enjoying lovely weather and out of this world natural beauty.
How to Get to Maupiti?
In terms of transportation, Maupiti is most closely connected with the neighboring islands of Bora Bora and Raiatea.
You could reach the island by plane (a flight from Bora Bora usually lasts only a few minutes) or by boat.
Weather
As it is located in the tropics, Maupiti enjoys great weather 365 days a year.
The average daytime temperatures range between 28 and 31°C.
Nights are generally very warm with temperatures of over 20°C all year round.
There are two seasons, a dry season (from May to October) and a rainy season (between November and April).
The dry season coincides with summer in the northern hemisphere.
Clear skies and plenty of sunshine are guaranteed.
Things to Do in Maupiti
Maupiti is a great place to enjoy swimming, sunbathing, diving, snorkeling, photography (including underwater photography), cycling, long walks through the island’s interior, eating of fresh seafood and aromatic tropical fruits and, of course, plenty of relaxation.
The island of Maupiti is stunningly beautiful.
The pointed and eroded peak of a long-extinct volcano rises approximately 380 meters above sea level, offering breathtaking 360 degree views in all directions.
Its slopes are covered with tropical rainforests, and it is surrounded by snow white coral sand beaches dotted with coconut palm trees.
Several small islets and two bigger but narrow and elongated islands with little elevation form together a ring-shaped atoll around Maupiti.
Between the main rugged island and the surrounding ring of islands there is a stunning lagoon with the most transparent and azure waters you can imagine.
For lovers of diving and underwater photography this place is a dream come true.
The underwater visibility is between 50 and 80 meters, and the variety of colorful fish and corals is really great.
The crystal clear lagoon offers almost always calm and balmy waters with temperature of around 26 – 28°C.
Most of Maupiti is wild and untouched.
The local residents are little more than 1200 people and live in small idyllic villages such as Vaiea, Pauma, Farauru and Petei on the shore of the lagoon.
Their way of life is completely devoid of stress and is strongly connected with the sea and nature.
It is an amazing experience to see how locals have fun with traditional music and exotic dances.
The island of Maupiti is very well preserved and is for this reason the ideal place to experience the authentic spirit of Polynesia.
Coming here you will find out what the island of Bora Bora looked like before it became one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.
Maupiti is a calm and quiet island, a place to relax without huge crowds of tourists.
Of course, there is a small number visitors, but they are very few in comparison with the territory of the island.
The island of Maupiti has practically no nightlife, so here you can enjoy tranquility and seclusion in abundance.