Bora Bora Hiking: A Wild Hike Into the Unknown - SARA FONDO (2024)

You know how they say, when one door closes another one opens? In the world of Bora Bora Hiking, it’s more like when one trail gives you the finger, another one flips you a high-five. This wild hike doesn’t just open doors; it kicks them wide open, and you won’t find this bad boy of a trail anywhere else online. It’s the secret handshake of the hiking world, and guess what? You’re invited – Welcome to Maua Piri.

Picture this: lush greenery, dense forest, and a trail that might as well have been the red carpet to adventure. No signs, no tourists, just me and my stubborn determination. The air was thick with humidity and the scent of the jungle hung heavy around me. I was ready for whatever this mysterious path had in store.

If there’s anything I’ve learned during my many years of traveling, it is that plans rarely hold up. You see, on this morning I had set out to conquer the cave of Mount Otemanu or Grotte d’Anau as it seems to be called around here too – a cave rumored to be hiding some local secrets. But the universe, or maybe just the locals, had other plans for me. They told me in no uncertain terms that I couldn’t go there, citing some mystical mumbo jumbo. So, like any self-respecting wanderer, I said, “f*ck it,” and set off on my own path, into the unknown.

That’s when I found the hiking trail to the peak of Maua Piri.

In this blog post, I will share with you everything you need to know about hiking Maua Piri, including how to get there and my own experience of summiting this bad boy of a mountain.

You can use the links below to jump to a certain section of the blog post.

Maua Piri Hike Details

How to get there

What you need to know

My experience

Bora Bora Hiking: Maua Piri Hike Details

Disclaimer: Since I can’t officially find anything about this mountain peak online to doublecheck my own gathered information, some of it might be incorrect.

• Height profile: Maua Piri stands at approximately 380 metres above sea level.
• Hike Distance: The total distance of the hike, starting from U Express Supermarket in Anau, is around 3.2 kilometers (don’t be fooled by the distance).
• Hike Duration: It took us approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes one way – with the hike from the viewpoint to the top taking 1 hour and 30 minutes in itself. The duration can vary greatly though, depending on your level of fitness, climbing experience and speed.
• Hike Difficulty: Hard. This hiking trail is extra spicy. The forest is moldy which means that the terrain beneath and around you, crumble at your touch, making it even harder. There is a lot of climbing, where you have to trust your guns (read: arm muscles) to pull you up. Be prepared.

How to get there

These are the coordinates of Maua Piri -16.503032, -151.729726

The hike starts in the town of Anau – the opposite side of Vaitape – behind the U Express Supermarket. I’d take advantage of this situation and go buy yourself a variation of snacks before you embark on this epic hiking adventure, so that you can keep your internal batteries charged along the way.

The road you’ll take is the one to the right of U Express (when you’re looking at the supermarket).

Walk to the end of this road. This is where the trail starts, but you’ll have to scramble through someone’s backyard to find it. The owner didn’t seem to mind, when I did this, but always be respectful; say hi and let them know that you’re not trespassing, you’re just trying to find the trail.

At some point when you’ve ventured inside the forest and probably felt a little lost, the path will become clear to you. Red strings are tied to branches, so keep a lookout for these. Unless they’re gone by now, there will also be some tiare flowers scattered on the ground, guiding you on your way.

As always, I recommend you to get the app maps.me, but on this specific hike I would actually say that it’s a must, in order for you to keep track of where you are – it’s easy to get lost. Remember to download the map of French Polynesia before heading out, so you can use it offline in case you lose connection on your mobile.

What you need to know about Bora Bora Hiking

• Don’t go any further than the peak of Maua Piri. In lack of a better way to describe it, Maua Piri is one of three peaks that seems to make out the humps of a camel’s back. There’s a white flag on the third hump, probably put there by a proper mountaineer, so unless you yourself are a bad-ass mountaineer, don’t be reckless and try to go any further. You will be risking your life, and that would be silly, wouldn’t it?
• Turn around at the first viewpoint if you’re nervously inclined. The hiking trail from here gets very spicy, and you will need full confidence to see it through.
• Remember to look up. At one point, not far after the viewpoint, when you can’t find any more red strings, it’s simply because you have to look up and locate the next one. Here you’ll find yourself climbing up a rotten tree to continue on the trail.
• “Is this a bad idea?”. This thought will most likely pop into your head several times during the hike. At least it did for me, but getting to the top is definitely do-able without being reckless. If you trust yourself and have a good gut-feeling about it, just keep going and you will eventually conquer Maua Piri.
• The hike can be challenging. Maua Piri Hiking Trail has steep sections and uneven terrain. Take breaks as needed and don’t rush. Also let someone know that you’re going and when you expect to be back.
• Wear sturdy shoes. Choose a pair of shoes with a seriously a good grip. Your butt and coccyx will thank you on the way down for wearing shoes that make it less likely for you to slip and hurt yourself.
• Check the weather forecast. Take a look at the weather to ensure safe hiking conditions. There’s no way you should be doing this hike in the rain.
• Begin your hike early in the morning. Avoid the midday heat and have ample time to complete the hike. I would recommend you start around 8 AM.
• Bring more water than you think you need. At the very least 2 litres per person.
• Respect the natural environment. Leave no trace. Carry out any trash you generate during the hike.
• Respect yourself and your limits. Hiking Maua Piri can be physically demanding, so it’s essential to be in good health and have a reasonable level of fitness. Always prioritize your safety and well-being.

Bora Bora Hiking: My experience

“f*ck it,” I muttered as I walked back down the asphalt road. I had this grand idea of hiking to the cave of Mount Otemanu, but just as I was about to reach the trailhead, a local Polynesian lady came out of her house and told me, I couldn’t go.

Naturally, I tried to bribe her. I used Google Translate to a form a message saying, that of course I would pay her, if she would allow me to continue my quest on conquering the cave. But even with my blue-eyed charm I couldn’t tamper with her strong will, so I turned around, but I sure as hell wasn’t going home already. My bag was full of water, I was wearing my hiking boots, I was going hiking today, that much I knew. I just didn’t know what grand adventure my chosen path would have in store for me.

Finding the Trail

When I had taken a look at my map of Bora Bora prior to this hike, I remember having seen another track that started from the town of Anau, just behind U Express. So, after having been rejected on the cave hike, I simply started walking back towards the supermarket and made a right as I reached it.

When I couldn’t see a path by the end of the road – though my map told me that this was the beginning of the trail – I started crawling through the bushes like an over-excited kid on the hunt for easter eggs. I figured I’d stumble upon the hiking trail sooner or later.

Eventually, I did. I caught a glimpse of a red string tied to a branch, and my imaginary easter-egg hunt continued, though the easter eggs were in the form of these strings. When I reached one, I would eagerly start searching for the next one.

Nature’s Bouncer

As I trudged deeper into the forest, I couldn’t help but notice that some parts looked like they hadn’t seen human footprints in centuries. Moss-covered trees and tangled vines surrounded me, and the ground seemed to squish beneath my boots, like nature was trying to reclaim its territory – and I was digging it.

I tend to despise places with a lot of tourists but that can sometimes be hard given that, unfortunately I, myself, am a tourist. But in a way, I think that’s why I’m drawn to nature. I like going places where I know not everyone can go. Nature sets physical boundaries for people, kind of like a bouncer in front of the forest, saying “Oh, so you think you can handle me? We’ll see about that. Why don’t you just go back to the city and sip your latté?”

sh*t Gets Real

But let me tell you, sh*t got real after the view point, when the real hike started. I’m talking steep inclines, slippery rocks, and vines that acted like they had a personal vendetta against me. Every step was a challenge, every grab for a handhold felt like a battle of wills. Trees with moldy hearts snapped like twigs in my hands, and the jungle, in all its wild glory, seemed to be testing me. But I wasn’t about to let some stubborn foliage ruin my day. I had already given up on hiking to the cave, I wasn’t about to let myself be defeated by some breaking branches and crunching rocks.

With each climb, each stumble, I pushed on, fueled by the intoxicating allure of the unknown. Too high on endorphins to give any attention to that little whisper of a voice in my mind, that kept saying, Sara, hey Sara. Is this a bad idea? You should turn around now, don’t you think? But I’m not reckless anymore. I used to be when I was younger. I would go on adventures having done zero research and push through all conditions to reach the top. I’m not like that anymore. Sure, it’s nice to summit the mountain, but it’s also nice to stay alive. If I truly thought I was in any danger, I would’ve turned around.

(I see how, what I just wrote above can seem paradoxical given that fact that I went on this hike having done zero research and pushed through to the top, but aren’t we all just talking sh*t anyway?)

Into The Unknown

The most exciting part of this hiking trail was, that I didn’t know where it was heading. On the map it looked like the trail would cut off in the middle of nowhere. Would I ever reach a peak? Who knew? Not me. But as I ascended further, the jungle began to thin out, and when a few rays of sun forced their way through the jungle-esque canopy, gently caressing my tanned skin, I knew I was on to something good. The air grew lighter as my smile grew wider.

The final ascent was a heart-pounder, but with every step, the adrenaline surged through me. And then, like a goddamn mirage, I saw it – the peak. But not just any peak. It was like nature had sculpted it with a mischievous sense of humor – like a camel’s back with three glorious humps, starting off with the smallest, then growing a little bigger and finishing off with the tallest.

Best-Kept Secret in Bora Bora

When I finally reached the summit, I couldn’t help but whoop like a lunatic. The struggle was worth every damn second because the view was nothing short of breathtaking – endless moana-blue ocean, lush green forest stretching out beneath me, and the majestic Mount Otemanu standing guard like a sentinel. I felt alive, I felt wild, and I felt like I’d just stumbled upon one of the best-kept secrets in Bora Bora.

To hell with the cave, I thought to myself. This was real adventure. No plan, no knowledge, just heaps of determination and a happy spirit, and boom. You find yourself in the heart of Bora Bora’s untamed beauty.

I guess the path less traveled sometimes leads you to places that you can’t find on Google, and that’s where the real magic happens. Sure, someone had been here before and been kind enough to put up red strings for me to follow, but I met no other people on my hike, and the terrain was like a virgin – untouched.

So, if you ever find yourself in Bora Bora, don’t be afraid to ditch the guidebook, ignore the naysayers, and blaze your own trail. Who knows what wonders you might discover on the way? Just remember, it might get tough, it might get moldy, but the adventure, my friends, is worth every damn moment.

Cheers to the wild ones and the uncharted paths!

I hope you enjoyed this Bora Bora Hiking guide to the peak of Maua Piri! Stay tuned for more unfiltered and honest travel content.