Discover the Tahitian Peninsula
Arriving at 7:30am at the marina of Teahupoo, we get acquainted with our guide and the rest of the team of 20 “keen trekkers”. The “Te Pari” trail is only accessible by boat. Having met up with our boatman, we set off for a 15 minute boat ride to the start of the trail site. The taxi boat dropped us at the pontoon farther up the coat that led to an abandoned shack – a landmark for the start of the trail.
The first part of the trek took us through a lot of tropical vegetation. With the plants humid from the morning dew, our shoes were quickly covered in mud. At a calm relaxed pace, we took in our natural surroundings; lush vegetation and the rolling sea just a few meters below us. After trekking a good hour, we arrived at a small stream that flowed from the mountain side into the sea; the perfect place to take a break. There, we spent a bit of time observing some of the natural “lava tunnels” naturally “sculpted” by the water…
After this short break, we continued on the path with much of the same vegetation. The path was a succession of ascents and descents, crossing a small river that snaked between the rocks. Some of the ascents had ropes that marked out difficult parts of the trek that we had to negotiate. They were very useful for the highest ascents. As our walking pace gradually increased… probably due to our increasing hunger…we were anxious for a break.
After another hour of hiking, we arrived at a welcoming white sandy beach that hosted hundreds of hermit crabs. The place was surrounded by the sea, a wood and many volcanic rocks. Our light lunch of sandwiches, cereal bars and fruit was as much longed-for relief.
From that point, the observed trail scenery change. We now walked along the island’s coast on the volcanic rocky shore. Exposed to the sun and the elements, we were just a few meters from the strong waves. After 30 minutes of walking on this slippery terrain, we reached the most challenging passage of the trail. This was a passage that meant skirting the side of the cliff with very little footpath. At the end of cliff, we had to cross to the other side by crossing the water line. Part of this path was on submerged ground. A cord stretched between the two parts of the trail and was meant to assist the trekker in negotiating this difficult part. As we crossed it one after the other…we could feel the excitement and apprehension mount. Nevertheless, we all negotiated the passage successfully and safely.
From there, it took us a few minutes to reach the refuge. The place was picturesque and peaceful. It was a cove protected between two mountains. Oceanside, the waves broke against a stony beach. Mountain side, a large river rushed into a lush valley. The refuge was spartan. A “Fare Pote” that has some wooden tables and benches in addition to a stone oven. A few steps away, a roof sheltered a large raised wooden bed base to set our sleeping bags.
Ending our trekking day, the night promised to be quiet in this area cut off from the world. The “Te Pari” offers an exotic trail that is beautiful, breathtaking as well as fully accessible to beginner and experienced hikers alike. A must do!
