Le Truck, Tahiti

The best way to get around by far! Some of the traditional 'Le Trucks' have been replaced by coach type buses which cost more money but follow the same routes. There is a one way system around Papeete so you don't get back on the bus opposite where you got off! You have to walk away from the seafront, where you will find an area from which all types of bus depart. At the time of writing buses cost 130xpf in the day and 200 at night. Taxis are about 1800xpf apparently (although we didn't ever get one!)

By far the cheapest way to get around Tahiti is to use Le Truck. Le Truck is a bus that basically drives around the island, and you flag it down at a stop, and let the driver know when you need to get off - it can be flexible sometimes although it is supposed to use proper stops.

Most people seem to have a meet and greet at the airport, which takes the stress out of the situation, but I prefer to try and sort things out myself (in this case VASTLY reducing the cost of getting to Papeete. If you leave the airport and walk across the carpark, go up some steps and go towards the right a bit, you will find the stop for Le Truck, it isn't as well marked as in some countries - in fact I saw no mark at all!

I can'tremember the exact cost, but it was the only thing I remember in Tahiti that felt good value.

I haven't got picture of Le-Truck myself, so this photo is courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme

Tahiti's public transportation system has traditionally been provided by 'Le Truck'. It is a brightly painted wooden cabin mounted on the rear of a flatbed truck. Wooden benches along each side of the cabin are sometimes supplemented by a long wooden bench in the middle of the aisle.

These colorful vehicles operate during the daylight hours, with night transportation provided from downtown Papeete to the airport. Generally they will pull over along any stretch of the road if you wave them down. Drivers are always paid after the trip is completed.
Each le truck has a specific route, with the destination usually painted on the top or sides of the vehicle.

Le Truck is the perfect (and cheap) way of getting around the island. We would take the truck from the hotel to Papeete for shopping and back. It's really funny though because there are signs all over the "trucks" that say it is illegal to smoke, drink alcohol or throw trash out of the window, and I would have to say that nobody obeys those signs.