Landfall: Tahuata Island and Hiva-Oa Island

We arrived on a long weekend so were not able to check in to the country until after it passed. Friends had warned us that the anchorage on Hiva-Oa where we needed to check in was rollie and not great for swimming so, we spent a night at Hanamoenoa Bay on Tahuata, Island. It was perfect.

From there we headed over to Tahuaku Bay and the town of Atuona where we cleared into French Polynesia. Though the anchorage was not great, the town of Atuona was lovely. The people were friendly, the area was beautiful, and it is one of the better places in the Marquesas to re-provision.

Fatu-Hiva

From Hiva-Oa we made our way to the Bay of Virgins on the island of Fatu-Hiva. We had a great day sail with wind on or just forward of the beam to get there. We weren’t disappointed we made the trip. It was stunningly gorgeous. As we tied up the dinghy and walked through the town a man called us over and gave each of us a grapefruit. From there we carried on through the town and up the valley to a waterfall. Sharlene and I enjoyed a freshwater swim before descending back down the valley to town.

Being from British Columbia we appreciate the colour green and know there are many shades of the colour but this place has near infinite shades of green. Combined with volcanic rock outcroppings makes this anchorage absolutely stunning.