View of Swallow’s Cave, approaching the entrance. Kapa island, Vava’u, Tonga.

Port Maurielle off Tonga’s Kapa island waters gleam sapphire when the sun is shining.  The sun was a tease when we anchored there, too fleeting for good photos. At a mere 6.5 miles from Neiafu, Port Maurielle is one of the closest anchorages and most visited in Vava’u. 

The orange Swallow’s Cave entrance walls make a striking contrast to its vivid watery blue “floor.” Kapa island, Vava’u,  Tonga.

On a slow 5-horse dinghy motor like ours, Swallow’s Cave’s only about a 10 minute ride from the anchorage to the cave.  The cave’s floor is entered by dinghy or swimming; its “floor” plunges deeply down into the water.

Tonga’s Swallow’s Cave is not immune to graffiti; some visitors consider it historical.  Kapa island, Vava’u, Tonga.

A sunny late afternoon is considered optimal conditions for visiting the cave; we figured one out of two ain’t bad.  Indeed, even in the heavy overcast, Swallow Cave’s colors still really pop.  The water outside and inside the cave is a deep Tidy-Bowl blue.  Just inside the cave’s arched opening is a brilliant ferrous flame- orange rock.  Deeper inside, the graffiti-covered interior rock arches practically glow with a neon green hue.