Teahupo'o is a ledging left-hand reef pass at the end of the road on Tahiti Iti, widely regarded as the heaviest wave in the world for its size. Deep-water south and southwest swells hit a shallow, razor-sharp coral shelf and throw thick, round barrels that break below sea level. A WSL Championship Tour stop and the 2024 Olympic surfing venue, it is strictly for experts; everyone else watches from the channel by boat. Best in the southern-hemisphere winter (May to September) with light northeasterly winds.
🌡️ ~26.9°C now · boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: not suitable for this level
Advanced: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Local surf community
Local shops, schools and places to stay near Teahupo'o worth checking out.
Pension Reva Teahupoo is a family eco-lodge with 8 bungalows: 4 family bungalows with a full kitchen for up to 6 people, and 4 standard ones. We offer breakfast and dinner too. We're about 15 minutes by boat from the spot, with two shuttles a day for arrivals and departures, and extra boat trips out to surf the wave on request.
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New spots, best-month tips and the local crews at Teahupo'o. Tag us in your clips and we'll share them.
Beginner: not suitable for this level
Intermediate: not suitable for this level
Advanced: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
All-time average wind & swell
Dashed line marks Teahupo'o's known offshore direction. Bright arrow is the all-time average swell direction, colored arrow is the all-time average wind direction at 9 km/h — hover or tap either arrow for exact values.
Monthly avg wave height (ft)
Monthly avg wind speed (km/h)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 28° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 28° |
Averages from 3 years of daily wave, wind and water temperature data — what a typical year looks like, not a forecast.
Waves average 4.9 ft (1.5 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the NE. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 5.4 ft (1.6 m), with light winds (~8 km/h). Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 5.3 ft (1.6 m), with offshore winds around 8 km/h from the NE. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 6.8 ft (2.1 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the NE. Water is ~29°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.6 ft (2.3 m), with offshore winds around 10 km/h from the NE. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.3 ft (2.2 m), with offshore winds around 10 km/h from the E. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.9 ft (2.1 m), with offshore winds around 10 km/h from the NE. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.2 ft (2.2 m), with cross-offshore winds around 10 km/h from the E. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 7.0 ft (2.1 m), with offshore winds around 10 km/h from the NE. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.9 ft (2.1 m), with cross-offshore winds around 10 km/h from the E. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. A best month for advanced surfers.
Waves average 6.6 ft (2.0 m), with cross-offshore winds around 10 km/h from the E. Water is ~27°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. Not one of the standout months for any level.
Waves average 5.2 ft (1.6 m), with offshore winds around 9 km/h from the NE. Water is ~28°C: boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed. Not one of the standout months for any level.
For advanced surfers: Apr–Oct. The biggest waves come in May, averaging 7.6 ft (2.3 m), and the smallest in January, at 4.9 ft (1.5 m).
It ranges from ~27°C in September to ~29°C in March, averaged over 3 years of daily readings.
Year-round (~27-29°C): boardshorts or a rashguard, no wetsuit needed.
Not really: Teahupo'o is best suited to advanced surfers.
The nearest airport is PPT, and the nearest town is Teahupo'o, Tahiti.
