No matter at which island or luxury hotel in Tahiti you stay, there is one destination largely regarded as a must-see. If you're up for a bit of a nature hike through the densely beautiful island vegetation, take a journey through the Fautaua Valley to witness its famous waterfall. Located outside the capital city of Papeete, the Fautaua Waterfall is the 28th largest in the world at 985 feet, according to The Tahiti Traveler.
If you're planning a family vacation, this trek might be too rigorous for the young ones. Though the trail starts off relatively smooth & the beginning of the path is even able to fit a car through it, the terrain gradually becomes steeper with increasingly crowded plant life. The walk will take you past a number of beautiful features, including a calm river, the Fachoda Bridge & the ruins of a 19th century fort used in the French-Tahitian conflict when the native Polynesians resisted their French occupation as reported in The Tahiti Traveler. There will be moments during the climb when you'll catch glimpses of your destination.
Once you arrive at the top of the mountain you'll see two giant basins of clear water connected by an all-natural water slide that eventually empties out over the cliff, producing the spectacular falls. If you're traveling during the wet season from November to April as stated by Lonely Planet, the weather may not be ideal, but the rain will increase the surge of the falls for a memorable sight. A jump into the clean, natural water after the hike in Pacific temperatures might be the perfect thing to help you cool off. Make sure you bring some bug spray with you if you plan on lingering long, because mosquitoes sometimes gather in clusters around the waterfall.
