Shopping in Tahiti

While most people don’t come to Tahiti for the shopping, once here you cannot help but be charmed by the local arts and handicrafts available for sale at many different shops on the island. Mostly handcrafted, many of the knickknacks here are great to present as souvenirs to family and friends. They also serve as a lovely reminder of a vacation well spent. With plenty of local shops and stalls, there is no shortage of things to buy.

In Tahiti, you can find everything from expensive black pearls to cheap and inexpensive seashell jewelry, clothing and some great woven craft items. However, remember that if you are buying anything from a stall or small shop, don’t forget to bargain to get a good price. If you enjoy your trips to the shopping mall then head to the Centre Moana Nui that sits on the main thoroughfare in Punaauia. Besides several boutiques and shops, you will find a big Carrefour supermarket here, as well as the post office and an excellent snack bar.

For some duty free shopping, go to the Duty Free Tahiti in Centre Vaima. Carrying all the major designer brands including Chanel, YSL and Cartier, this shop has some good discounts especially on perfumes. You will also find two duty free shops at Faa’a International Airport as well.

When purchasing handicrafts your best bet is at the Papeete Market. Here many local residents sell not only handmade jewelry, but quilts, tikis, local fragrant soaps, dolls, straw handbags, mats, hats and even native needlework. A popular purchase in Tahiti is a pareu or Tahitian sarong, made from screen or block prints by hand. Available at reasonable rates, you will find also find them for sale in Papeete Market. Covering a whole block, this market sells food and produce on the ground floor, while clothing and other good are available on the second floor.

If you haven’t done enough shopping at the market, then head over to the Centre Vaima, a huge shopping mall that houses a number of stores and restaurants. A great place to buy some good books, you can also purchase local music CDs out here. For some more high-end items, head to the Manuia Curios for fine handmade crafts like woodcarvings, shell chandeliers and replicas of ancient artifacts. Carrying not only local works of art, but pieces from around the Southern Pacific Islands, this shop is a great place to buy some genuine handcrafted goods.

A must buy when in Tahiti are black pearls. Today, French Polynesia is the largest producer of cultured black pearls in the world. While you can buy pearls from jewelry shops in Papeete's main market, it is best to buy them from a more reputed dealer. Papeete has plenty of jewelry shops that sell high-quality black pearls, but a good place to by them is either at the Musée de la Perle (Pearl Museum) or at Sibani Perles Joallier (Jewelers).

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