Hike· Rurutu· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs

Ana Taupe'e Cave (Gueule du Monstre, Rurutu)

22° 28.8′ S · 151° 19.3′ W

The 'monster's mouth': a gaping cliff-face cave above the east coast near Hauti/Auti whose mouth frames the open Pacific, and in season the whales below.

TuamotusMarquesas

Practical

Tahiti Tourisme says visitors must go with a guide (cliff path). Pitufa's route: where the road north from Auti comes down from the mountains there is a creek in a curve before the beach; cross the rickety bridge (rusted tubes and rotten planks) to an abandoned house, follow the creek, and before the beach take a trail right up the hill to a deep cave in a few minutes. Ana Mou'o, another big cave, is reached from the picnic area at Auti beach going north. Moana (2023): 'famous so-called monster cave, it takes a guide to get there; some steep climbing but well doable'.

Best for

Cave with a window on the whales

Nearby