- Back in the Saddle Again!
- South Pacific Here We Come! (Post #1)
- 26 Miles Across the Sea (Post #2)
- Getting our sea legs (Post #3)
- Tuxedo Junction – Gala Night (Post #4)
- Lady Luck Pays a Visit (Post #5)
- Thunder in the Pacific (Post #6)
- Meet and Greet (Post #7)
- Pineapple Maze in Hawaii? (Post #8)
- Hike to the top of Diamond Head (Post #9)
- Maui – Whale Watching or Waiting? (Post #10)
- Fire and Falls on the Big Island (Post #11)
- Kona Food Walk (Post #12)
- Six Days at Sea (Post #13)
- Raiatea – Swimming with the sharks (Post #14)
- Raiatea Highlights (Post #15)
- Bora Bora – Snail Rolls? (Post #16)
- Bora Bora – Fish, Food, and Fire: Patrick’s Tour (Post #17)
- Moorea – Tahiti Food Tour (Post #18)
- Tahiti – Marché Papeete (Post #19)
- Fakarava – South Pacific Snorkeling (Post #20)
- Hapatoni, Tahuata (Post #21)
- Pinnacle Gala (Post #22)
- Nuku Hiva – (Post #23)
Hapatoni, Tahuata is not visited very often by cruise ships, be we stopped and had an enjoyable visit.
Tahuata is the smallest of the inhabited Marquesas Islands. This is one of the few ports where the cruise line doesn’t offer any excursions. Aranui Cruises operates mixed cargo/cruise ships and calls on Tahuata regularly but visits by the major cruise lines are infrequent. We anchored about ½ mile off the small village of Hapatoni from 8 am thru 5 pm. Here is a short video showing the highlights of our day.
It was difficult to find any information about Tahuata prior to our arrival. We decided to leave the ship around noon and walk along the coast. Tender tickets had been required until they announced open tendering around 10:15 am.
We left our cabin around 12:15 and there wasn’t any wait for the tender. We were ashore at 12:30 after a 5-minute tender ride.
A crowd of local citizens welcomed us as we exited the tender. They presented everyone with a very nice tuberose flower lei, while a man sounded a horn with a band playing music in the background. After all the passengers received their leis and moved on, the welcoming party would pause until the next tender arrived when they would repeat the process with the new group of passengers.
Near the tender landing were a few boats that were hauled out of the water. I spoke with one of the men who said that the largest one was no longer operational. I imagine it may be difficult to get any major repairs accomplished on Tahuata.
We headed out on the only road toward the covered pavilion, about ½ mile away, where local artisans had set up tables and sold a variety of creations.
About halfway to the artist market, a clean restroom is up a slight rise.
Before we walked up to the artisan pavilion, we bought some local honey and some banana bread that was for sale in a shelter alongside the road. They accepted CFP or USD at the exchange rate of 100 CPF to 1 USD.
After browsing for 15 minutes, we continued clockwise along the small coastal road. There was a small church 100 yards off the road that is worth a peek inside to see some interesting paintings.
We weren’t sure if there was a logical turnaround spot, or if there was something else to see further down the road. We continued, past a group of beehives and a pumping station. As we approached a stone bridge, we asked some people heading back towards us what lay ahead and they said that the bridge was the end of the more developed road so we decided to turn around and head back.
We took our time walking back and arrived at the tender landing around 2:30 or about 2 hours after we arrived.
There wasn’t anyone selling food or beverages and aside from the Artisan Market and the church there wasn’t much to see. If you are in the mood to explore and ready for a hike, you could venture up the road to the interior and maybe discover a view spot. If Tahuata is on your itinerary, set your expectations and plan on enjoying the island for a few hours before heading back to the ship.
