Heart-Shaped Geo Wonders to Add To Your Travel Bucket List

This month, we celebrate the holiday of love and romance. Here are a few heart-shaped geological features to visit with those you care about.

In April 2024, scientists made further headway in discovering what created Pluto’s signature heart-shaped mark. Researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland now speculate that Sputnik Planitia, the western portion of the mark called Tombaugh Regio, was likely formed when a 400-mile-wide object hit Pluto at a 30-degree angle and relatively low speed. Their hypothesis suggests the body was likely 15-percent rock.

But heart-shaped geological wonders can be found much closer to home – though definitely not as large as Tombaugh Regio. Let’s take a look at how you can visit them and the best time to go.

The Heart Rock in Ka’ena Point State Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Though the famous heart-shaped rock near the Nakalele Blowhole has lost its form due to erosion, a similar site still exists on Oahu, where you can see a heart shape cutout on the coast of Hawaii’s most-populated island.

How to visit: Start your hike at the Ka’ena Point Trailhead access point on the western side of Yokohama Bay. The short trek traverses switchbacks along the dry coastline. Not far from the parking lot and the trailhead, you’ll find the heart-shaped rock, which formed when two lava flows cooled and hardened. You can only see the formation’s signature shape from a particular angle, so keep an eye out as you walk along and enjoy the scenery.

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In April 2024, scientists made further headway in discovering what created Pluto’s signature heart-shaped mark. Researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland now speculate that Sputnik Planitia, the western portion of the mark called Tombaugh Regio, was likely formed when a 400-mile-wide object hit Pluto at a 30-degree angle and relatively low speed. Their hypothesis suggests the body was likely 15-percent rock.

But heart-shaped geological wonders can be found much closer to home – though definitely not as large as Tombaugh Regio. Let’s take a look at how you can visit them and the best time to go.

The Heart Rock in Ka’ena Point State Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Though the famous heart-shaped rock near the Nakalele Blowhole has lost its form due to erosion, a similar site still exists on Oahu, where you can see a heart shape cutout on the coast of Hawaii’s most-populated island.

How to visit: Start your hike at the Ka’ena Point Trailhead access point on the western side of Yokohama Bay. The short trek traverses switchbacks along the dry coastline. Not far from the parking lot and the trailhead, you’ll find the heart-shaped rock, which formed when two lava flows cooled and hardened. You can only see the formation’s signature shape from a particular angle, so keep an eye out as you walk along and enjoy the scenery.

Best time to visit: Consider visiting during the island’s shoulder seasons to avoid crowds and expensive flights. Mid-April to early June and September to mid-December will place you outside the tourist seasons in the summer.

The Heart of Calanques de Piana, Corsica, France

The French island of Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, located between Italy and France, and is home to more than 50 mountains more than 2,000 meters high: The word “calanche” means “coves bordered by steep slopes” in French. The area near the Gulf of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and in it lies another heart-shaped cutout in the rocks.

Made of red porphyry, the formations rise up to 400 meters high along the coastline.

How to visit: A single road allows visitors to drive through the park, the D81, which moves southeast from Porto. Travel down this road and look up at the calanques as you pass. The Heart of Corsica is just outside Piana, but there are many unique formations to see along the route. Plenty of points to pull over exist, and there are even several short hikes you can take through the formations to get even closer.

Alternatively, you can take a boat from Porto along the coastline for roughly 25 to 40 euros per person to see the formations from the water. Either way, stop in the small village of Piana to enjoy a meal or a quick drink or do some sightseeing at the village’s baroque church.

Best time to visit: This road can be crowded during the summer. Opt for the spring or fall for milder weather and fewer visitors.

Mo’orea Island, French Polynesia

Located in the South Pacific Ocean, Mo’orea is what remains of a half-eroded volcano. The Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History says, “Like several other central Pacific island chains, the Society Islands are progressively younger to the southeast. Mo’orea, the northwestern-most of the Society Islands with Pleistocene volcanism, is a dissected shield volcano whose caldera is open to the north and surrounded by sharp-topped peaks. Potassium-Argon dates for the island range from 1.64-1.49 million years ago.” Seen from above, the island is also heart shaped.

Now, Mo’orea is known for its blue waters and beach activities, including snorkeling and diving. Adventurous and advanced (there is a lot of scrambling involved) hikers can make the journey up Mount Rotui, a five-mile out and back with an elevation gain of 2, 950 feet near the Hilton Moorea. But the work is worth it! The mountain is situated between two bays, providing stunning views (just definitely don’t overestimate your ability on this one!).

How to visit: Fly into Tahiti (in the United States, there are direct flights from Los Angeles), then take a 45-minute ferry ride to Mo’orea. There is plenty of tourism infrastructure built into the island, so once you arrive, you can stay for several days or visit other neighboring islands, though those flights need to be booked well in advance.

Best time to visit: Visiting the island in September or October will allow you to take advantage of the end of the dry season and see the migrating humpback whales in the area!

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