maraa grotto

When I landed in Tahiti I was lucky enough to get this amazing cab driver named Popo. She gave me the skinny on a lot of things and so I hired her to take me around the island. She is a wealth of information and I saw so many incredible things. However my favorite is the Grotto. Be sure to wear a bathing suit so you can swim in the cool waters. (Also if you go with Popo she will take you to several other places you may want to swim). This place is a hidden secret well worth it if you have the time. OH and Popo's number on the island is8771 17 77.

We stopped at the Fern Grotto as part of an island tour. Just a short walk from the parking lot. The cave is a good size and was filled with water when we visited. Interesting to see the vegetation and take a few photos.

The cave is moderately large and there may be a lot of water, depending on recent rainfall. As most tourists traveling by car will drive right by, it is certainly worth a visit. Gaugin reportedly liked to swim here and use it as a bath tub, so those interested in places associated with him will definitely want to stop by.

The caves are often closed but you can still get quite close to see the inside. The gardens are well maintained and there is parking out the front. Worth stopping.

I went with my wife to Tahiti (we are both from the U.S) and we happened to see signs for this place off the road. There is a place for people to park their car just off the road. We walked along the pebble path and found the grotto in about 2 minutes. Check my pics. We took some pics of the vegetation and the grotto. Since it is a 10 minute things to do, we continue to walk along another path that led us along the road and to a couple more grottos. We came upon Grotte Mata Va'a which is a really small grotto compared to the first one you see. Right next door to that one is the final and last one Grotte Teanateatea. We took a few more pics and were out of there in less than 30 minutes total time. Just another place we can say we saw....haha!

The Maraa Grotto is at Pk 28.7 on the west coastal road and usually included on many circle island tours. It is just past the village of Papara. Paul Gauguin bathed here and it has been the site of baptisms in the past. Overhanging vegetation is constantly raining down onto the pool which is a remarkable bright blue colour considering it is in quite a secluded spot. Steps lead down into the grotto and the pebbles you see just under the surface are an old temple.

We made a very quick stop here and it was definitely one of my favorite spots in Tahiti. Although there's not much to do here, because its literally just to take pictures and experience the water drops from the cave. It is very nice and relaxing. Locals do swim in the water while it seems like teenagers use this spot to hangout. It was a bit noisy when we went, since the kids had music playing but maybe its because we were there on the weekend. Hopefully you make it on a day that no one is there so you can go in and have it all to yourself. It's definitely worth a quick stop!

worth stopping off at this little site on the main road around Tahiti Nui if you're passing by. a couple of caves with some pools and lots of flowers and lilly's etc.

This grotto is just off the main road and worth checking out. It is a pretty neat natural grotto with beautiful vegetation and wildlife around. I stuck my toe in the water but was too afraid to go all the way in!

If you tour the island you have to pass this and it's right next to the main road. So you might as well stop stretch your legs, enjoy some beautiful flowers and marvel at the grotto's. There are so many trees that it really is a nice cool shady spot. The paths are all well marked and maintained. There was plenty of road side parking just close to the 28 km marker.

The Mara’a caves are located just after the 28th kilometer marker on the south road of Tahiti. They are easily found and visiting them is free. The complex consists of three grottos that are nestled in the hillside and connected by trails covered by shady trees. There is a small explanatory board by the largest cave (Ana-Vai-poiri; by far the most visually appealing) that briefly reviews the difference between the three caves and describes the local foliage and birds as well. The optical illusion created by Ana-Vai-poiri is worth a stop alone although it was more “neat” than “stunning.” I didn’t see any of the local wildlife but this may have been due to my impatience more than anything.It takes maybe 45 minutes to see the area thoroughly and I found my visit broke up the monotony of the beach/sea/sun atmosphere of my time on the island quite nicely. The caves are maybe more of a 3.5-star attraction given the natural beauty of the area and worth a quick stop.

If you're wandering the island, preferably with Dave's VIP tours, you'll certainly stop in here (unless the government has closed it like they did the Paul Gaugin museum). The neat thing about it is the water seeping through the mountainside above and dripping into the grotto. This is THE place for the island kids during summer heat. You could see a hundred of them there. Winter - no one! Drop in.

There are toilets there and some caves if you wander along the paths, don't get too excited or trip up on the paths that are falling into disrepair.

Pathways through tropical plants to a small lake in a cave, steps led into the water and looked inviting. Good loos.

Grotto entrance is well marked and right off the main highway. Well worth the stop if driving around the island. good photo op since you are standing under the entrance to the grotto