Papenoo

Tahiti has around 70 valleys. The Papenoo Valley is the island’s largest.

The Papenoo Valley is one of Tahiti’s true treasures; the breathtaking scenery is not to be missed.

It all began with the collapse of the Tahiti Nui volcanic crater, which formed the caldera.

The valley was also known as *Te Mano Rahi*—”the 10,000 warriors.” For years, it was one of the most populous valleys, serving as a refuge for inhabitants during times of conflict.

The Papenoo Valley first gained wider attention in 1791, when Robert Corner—a British officer searching for the *Bounty* mutineers—traversed Tahiti.

Later, in the 1980s, a 40-kilometer road was built—featuring a notable basalt tunnel at an altitude of 800 meters—descending to Lake Vaihira, a freshwater lake nestled in the heart of nature.