Hiva Oa, Archipel des Marquises.
After a little over 850 miles upwind from Fakarava, we anchor in the Bay of Virgins on the island of Fatu Hiva, the southernmost island in the Marquesas archipelago. Libertaire is alone in this splendid anchorage considered one of the most beautiful in the world! We enjoy the kindness of the Marquesans in the charming village of Hanavave and the surrounding hikes with Damien's parents.
We then sail 30 miles north to the island of Tahuata, where the children are happy to play in the waves of the beautiful Hanamoenoa beach. The small villages of Hapatoni and Vaitehu nestled at the foot of the mountains also offer lovely walks and friendly encounters with the locals. There are also a few more sailboats with families on board at the anchorage, the girls are delighted!
We continue our exploration of the Marquesas on the neighboring island of Hiva Oa, where Perrine's parents are waiting for us. It's not every day that we can spend the weekend with all four grandparents, so we take the opportunity to rent a car to tour the island and admire its beautiful panoramas as well as the remains of Tikis, and the graves of Brel and Gauguin. We participate in Women's Day, an event in the small town of Atuona. We appreciate the craftsmanship and quality of Marquesan art: engravings, weaving, tapas, dances, tattoos...
The grandparents have left, we will raise anchor tomorrow evening for a night of sailing to Ua Uka.
