Te Pari Coast

Te Pari is the stretch of coast at the southeastern end of Tahiti Iti where the road stops and the cliffs come down to the sea, so the only ways along it are on foot at low tide with some swimming and scrambling, or by boat. It holds sea caves, waterfalls dropping straight into the sea, petroglyphs and marae, and the walk right round takes two days with a night camped on the way.

What you actually see

• The cliff coast - the roadless shore where the land drops straight into the sea.
• The sea caves - the openings cut into the cliffs along the route.
• The petroglyphs - carvings on rocks along the shore.
• The coastal walk - the two-day route round the end of the island.

When to go

May to October is the dry season. The walk depends on tide and sea state and is only possible in settled conditions. Guides are strongly advised.

Honest expectations

The route involves swimming, scrambling and tide timing and is genuinely dangerous without a guide; people have drowned here. There is no phone signal. Boat access depends entirely on the sea.

Nearby

Teahupoo is west, and Tautira is north.