Tahuata

Mea'e restore

Separated from the island of Hiva Oa by the Bordelais canal, only a few kilometers wide , Tahuata is the smallest inhabited island of the Marquesas.The white sans beaches, touched by warm waters saw the first europeans disembark in 1595.

Vaitahu village played an important role in history numerous times: The first missionaries settled there, and the Admiral Dupetit - Thouars signed the treaty of annexation of the Marquesas to France in 1842.
The church is decorated with magnificent stained glass windows.

AA few minutes away by speedboat, the village of Hapatoni is worth a visit.
An ancient stone road follows the shore at the church in the shade of trees hundreds of years old.
The arts centre is found here too . The island is accessible by boat from Hiva Oa.

Edwin, sculptor of Tahuata

 

This island is visited by very few tourists.The white sand beaches are often deserted and give Tahuata a look of paradise.

The villages are peaceful and one feels far away from the problems of the outside world.The island deserves a visit lasting a few days.

 

 

ISLAND
TOUR
OF
TAHUATA
Church of Vaitahu

Vaitahu

This village witnessed the first western visitors: Spanish Mendana in 1595 then Captain James Cook in 1774.It is here also that the first protestant missionaries settled in 1797 followed by the catholic missionaries.

The seamen's graveyard as well as a few commemorative monuments are found in Vaitahu.The town hall houses a small museum, and numerous archaelogical sites can be visited in the valley.

Hapatoni

The road lining the sea is constructed of ancient stones and is lined with Tamanu trees hundreds of years old. The village is fifteen minutes away from Vaitahu by sea.An arts centre is found here too.

Valley of Hanateio

30 minutes from Vaitahu by the horse track Hapatoni village,
is worth a visit were
many petroglyphs are well conserved.

 

GENERAL
INFOS
ARTS and CRAFT
BOOKS
HISTORY
TOURISM
THE CHILDREN
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