Papeete: Market History, Gardens and Fautaua

Papeete can be explored through a wide range of attractions: the Fautaua and its waterfall, a traditional market, memorial sites and gardens featuring a botanical representation of French Polynesia. You can shape your trip around both nature and urban history. When choosing accommodation, the main consideration is whether you want to focus on sites in the city or plan a visit to the Fautaua Valley, which requires a permit.

Fautaua: River, Valley and Waterfall

The Fautaua is one of four rivers that flow through Papeete. The Fautaua Valley is home to a 135-metre-high waterfall, reachable after a walk of about two hours over partly steep terrain. Access to the valley is permitted only with a permit. If the waterfall is an important destination on your trip, take the permit, the stated walking time and the terrain into account. This makes the excursion quite different from visiting the city’s sites and means it should be planned separately. The combination of river, valley and waterfall also gives Papeete a natural side distinct from its cultural attractions.

Market History and Daily Life

Papeete’s market was founded by Governor Bruat in 1847 at its current location. The covered Marché municipal Mapuru a Paraita has a mezzanine for handicrafts, as well as areas for fish, meat, fruit and vegetables, flowers and pareos. These different sections make the market a place where you can experience a variety of goods. The individual stalls may change.

The timing of your visit may also matter. On Sunday mornings, the Marché de Papeete comes to life from 4 a.m. The Marché municipal Mapuru a Paraita is open Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays until 1 p.m. and Sundays from 4:30 to 10 a.m. The market gets lively from 4 a.m. on Sundays; its opening time is 4:30 a.m. As opening hours may change, check them with the municipality before travelling.

Places of Remembrance and Nature

On Place Tarahoi, behind the Assembly of French Polynesia, is the Bassin-de-la-Reine. It is also known as Bain-de-la-Reine, Source-de-la-Reine or Ruisseau-de-la-Reine. The park around the basin contains several trees more than 150 years old, including a mape, or tropical chestnut tree, two banyan trees and a rubber tree. The names and ages of these trees give the park a distinctive natural-history aspect.

A stele in front of the Assembly on Place Tarahoi honours Pouvanaa a Oopa. Another memorial site is Tahua Tu-Marama: the square was renamed in 2021 in memory of the historical heroes Tū and Marama. They dedicated this place to peace between the clans and to the voyages that shaped Polynesian civilisation. In Les Jardins de Paofai, the botanical identity of each archipelago of French Polynesia is represented by symbolic plants. Together, these places offer different ways to discover Papeete: through remembrance, local history and plant life.

Choose Accommodation to Suit Your Trip

If you mainly want to focus on the market and cultural sites, these attractions offer a different experience from an excursion to the Fautaua. For the waterfall, remember to account for the valley access permit, the approximately two-hour walk and the partly steep terrain.

Discover more destinations: Fa'aone, Papara, Pihaena, Arue, Pirae, Paea, Hauru, Tema'e.

For the overview of the wider trip: Windward Islands.