Tahiti has many natural grottos hidden amongst its hillsides. We discover three natural grottos, cut in the rock, not far from the road at the Mara’a Grotto. Permanent infiltrations of water have formed small lakes with crystal-clear and very cool water. We make our way on a natural trail into a world of luscious flora where abundant fern foliage and green tropical plants thrive.
Access to Grotto Mara’a is a little hidden gem and is free to the public.
Konis Family at the Grottos
Grotto: Ana-Vai-poiri
Ana-Vai-poiri (dark water grotto) is the name of the largest grotto. It is peculiar in that it shows an optical illusion. Its arched-shaped ceiling lowers and plunges into the depths of the cave. It appears smaller than it is in reality. And yet, it is 80 meters (260’) long, 30 meters (100’) wide at the entrance and 10 meters (30’) tall at its highest part.
Ana-Vai-poiri (dark water grotto)
Grotto: Ana-Mata-vaa
Ana-Mata-vaa (a canoe-prow shaped grotto) is the name of the 2nd largest grotto. There is lots of foliage growing down toward the water reaching out for a taste of water.
Ana-Mata-vaa (a canoe-prow shaped grotto)
Grotto: Vai-Pātōtō
The smallest grotto is named Vai-Pātōtō (grotto where water trickles down with a knocking sound). Even though it is the smallest, it is the prettiest with the huge variety of plants and flora surrounding it, growing on it, over it, and below it.
Vai-Pātōtō (grotto where water trickles down with a knocking sound)
There are lots of birds’ nest in the towering walls of the grottos. You can find a colony of Ōpe’a (Hirundo tahitica) small grey Pacific swallows and Hopetea (or Ma’uroa Hope’uo (phaethon lepturus) which are white tailed tropic birds. Periodically, grey Out’u or reef egrets (egretta sacra) will adventure into the grottos from the seaside.
We stopped for a snack at the little park directly across from the grottos. Just a moment to enjoy the beauty of Tahiti.
Visit us next as the Konis’s and I visit the Tahitian Water Gardens: Jardin d’eau de Vaipahi. And if you missed our last stop, read about the Museum de Tahiti here.
Events from this blog post occurred during the last week of July, 2021. Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind our adventures. Here are some photos from the Grotto’s Mara’a.