Fatu Hiva Marquesas

Traveling with Fatu Hiva

Away from the outside world to as far as it is possible in these days (despite cell phone and sat TV), Fatu Hiva is a wonderful'stop of the earth and exit' place. If you arrive by ferry (there is no runway), a visible scare awaits you: rugged rocks plunge into the sea and beautiful coves, among them the bay of the virgins, the coast craggy.

It' a little difficult to get to Fatu Hiva, but for travelers who enjoy the thought of being abandoned for a few abandoned nights, this hard-to-reach place is far off the average people's radars (bar yachts).

Omoa, Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands -

Nestled in a lush jungle in a scenic vale, this is an old place of ceremony where the Marquesans used to pray to their god to supply plenty of fresh waters for their harvest. Trek to the place where you walk past an old chieftain, on which a small table is cut into the island's famed Ke'etu-stones.

But the most impressing of all the petroglyphs and one of the biggest in the Marquesas is that of the famed Poa, which looks like a giant tunny that was hewn into the rocks. It is a great opportunity to explore the inside of the magnificent Omoa Valley of Fatu Hiva. Attention: The walk is moderate to hard and includes hikes up the mountains under warm and wet weather as well.

The most secluded of the populated areas of the archipelago, Fatu Hiva provides verdant and luxuriant flora with rugged, cliffy outcrops. From Omoa to Hanavave, the 4x4 drive takes you through spectacular scenery, coastlines and canyons. When you arrive in Hanavave, you will have plenty of free space to walk and discover the town and take more pictures of one of the most beautiful places in the Marquesas, the Bay of the Virgins.

Notice: As this trip is a tough off-road trip, it is not recommendable for people with back and/or nape disorders, who are suffering from travel illness or dizziness or are expecting. There are very few walks on this itinerary. Get on the walkway to head towards the diving spot, about 20 min from the vessel, with a very beautiful cruise along the coastline, past the Bay of Virgins.

When you arrive at the site, you will be assisted in equipping yourself and you will obey the instructor's beacon. This is a 100 foot long max diving experience. In a small cavern you can see Scorpiofishes, morays, shoals of seaweed, pelagics and lobster.