Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Great Anchorages
Fatu Hiva's Bay of Virgins (see map, #1) is one of the most visually dramatic anchorages in
the world, where sheer cliffs and eerie rock formations plunge from thousand-foot heights
into the sea. The last hours of daylight make for a mesmerizing light show every evening,
as the rugged features molt to ever deeper shades of gold. The bay is not much more than a
narrow cleft in the coastline and relatively deep at thirty feet or more. Being on the lee
shore, it's usually quite calm - except for gusts funneling off the slopes. There's a free,
fresh water tap right on the shore, where you can fill up with deliciously refreshing and
safe drinking water. The tiny settlement of Hanavave is a very welcoming place where loc-
als offer home-cooked dinners and wooden carvings. Beware that Fatu Hiva is not a formal
port of entry. Technically, cruisers who make a stop here without clearing in at nearby Hiva
Oa can be subject to hefty fines (whether those fines are only threatened or actually collec-
ted is unclear).
Namani in Fatu Hiva's Bay of Virgins
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