Papara, French Polynesia
Watch this spot We email you when Papara is worth the trip.
About Papara
Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces S, so wind from the N blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.
Water about 27°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing S. Wind from the S blows onshore, wind from the N blows out to sea, and wind from the W or E runs along the shore. It is exposed to the open sea. The sea floor shelves very steeply: 10 m deep about 50 m out (1 in 6). The sea is about 27°C in July, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in February, its warmest (no wetsuit). For windsurfing at intermediate level the best months are usually May, June, July and August, with about 3 good days in 7; in February and December, about 1. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Paea. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 20 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to PPT, changing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
See flights MDW → PPT · Skyscanner from about £535 returnAdGetting there. 45 min from the airport to Papara.
Accommodation.
Stay in PaeaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Paea (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Paea 14 min by car · rooms from £60 a night
Places to stay in Paea · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Windsurfing lessons in Paea · GetYourGuideAdBoard and rig hire in Paea · GetYourGuideAd
Budget 
Mid-range 
Luxury Where it is
Papara on Google Maps · Directions
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One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Forecast
Best on Thu 22: 13 kn gusting 20, side-onshore. Water: waves 2.5 m.
The score for windsurf, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Shore | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-west, 3 knots | 5kn | side-on | 1.9 mwaves |
| Mon 19Oct | 0, poor | wind from the north-north-west, 17 knots | 23kn | offnot safe | 1.6 mwaves |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south-west, 6 knots | 10kn | side-on | 2.1 mwaves |
| Wed 21Oct | 0, poor | wind from the south, 8 knots | 12kn | on | 2.4 mwaves |
| Thu 22Oct | 70, good | wind from the south-east, 13 knots | 20kn | side-on | 2.5 mwaves |
| Fri 23Oct | 69, good | wind from the south-east, 14 knots | 18kn | side-on | 2.5 mwaves |
| Sat 24Oct | 69, good | wind from the south-east, 18 knots | 25kn | side-on | 2.5 mwaves |
| Sun 25Oct | 68, good | wind from the south-east, 15 knots | 21kn | side-on | 2.5 mwaves |
| Mon 26Oct | 64, good | wind from the east-south-east, 13 knots | 20kn | side | 3.2 mwaves |
| Tue 27Oct | 64, good | wind from the east-south-east, 13 knots | 18kn | side | 3.6 mwaves |
Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.
The season
Good windsurf days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan2of 7
- Feb1of 7
- Mar2of 7
- Apr2of 7
- May3of 7
- Jun3of 7
- Jul3of 7
- Aug3of 7
- Sep3of 7
- Oct3of 7
- Nov3of 7
- Dec1of 7
Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for windsurf. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to PPT, changing at LAX, then 45 min by road. About 20h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 10, side-onshore. Water: waves 2.1 m.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 8 kn gusting 12, onshore. Water: waves 2.4 m.
- Thu 22 OctWindsurf Papara
13 kn gusting 20, side-onshore. Water: waves 2.5 m.
- Fri 23 OctWindsurf Papara
14 kn gusting 18, side-onshore. Water: waves 2.5 m.
- Sat 24 OctWindsurf Papara
18 kn gusting 25, side-onshore. Water: waves 2.5 m.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to PPT, changing at LAX, then 45 min by road. About 20h 15 door to door
Rough cost
About £930–£1,810 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.
- Flights £535–£1,110
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Taxi £40–£65
- Stay £165–£280
- Food £155–£290
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
Places to stay · Booking.com (ad)Links marked Ad may pay us a small commission if you book. You pay the same price, and it never changes a score.