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Discover Hakaui Valley: Local Life & Adventure
5.0
27 Ratings
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Explore Hakaui Valley: Immerse in local culture, enjoy stunning views, and savor delicious food on this unforgettable guided adventure.
Explore Hakaui Valley: Immerse in local culture, enjoy stunning views, and savor delicious food on this unforgettable guided adventure.
Duration:
7 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Hakaui Adventure with Tangy and Ana - 8:30 AM – Depart from Taiohae by boat taxi
Enjoy a picturesque boat taxi journey from Taiohae, with stunning coastal views on the way to Hakaui Valley.
9:00 AM – Arrival at Hakaui Beach
Greet your welcoming guides, Tangy and Ana, and prepare for an exhilarating day!
9:30 AM – Embark on a 1.5-hour hike to Vaipo,…
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Hakaui Adventure with Tangy and Ana - 8:30 AM – Depart from Taiohae by boat taxi
Enjoy a picturesque boat taxi journey from Taiohae, with stunning coastal views on the way to Hakaui Valley.
9:00 AM – Arrival at Hakaui Beach
Greet your welcoming guides, Tangy and Ana, and prepare for an exhilarating day!
9:30 AM – Embark on a 1.5-hour hike to Vaipo, the highest waterfall in French Polynesia. Explore archaeological sites and breathtaking landscapes. (Total hike: 3 hours)
1:30 PM – Savor a homemade lunch in the traditional home of your guides.
2:30 PM – Explore exquisite Marquesan artwork and crafts created by Tangy.
2:45 PM – Stroll through Hakaui village, immerse yourself in the culture, and observe daily village life.
3:00 PM – Refresh with a swim in the river or unwind on the black volcanic beach.
3:30 PM – Conclude with a boat ride back to Taiohae, arriving around 4:00 PM, and cherish the memories created.
What's Included
- Guided hiking tour
- Discovering art and handicrafts
- Swimming in the river and the ocean
- Exploring Hakaui Village
- Entry ticket to the waterfall and archaeological sites
- Lunch
- Guided hiking tour
- Discovering art and handicrafts
- Swimming in the river and the ocean
- Exploring Hakaui Village
- Entry ticket to the waterfall and archaeological sites
- Lunch
What's Not Included
- Boat taxi from Taiohae to Hakaui Valley (roundtrip)
- Boat taxi from Taiohae to Hakaui Valley (roundtrip)
Additional Information
A Day of Local Life & Adventure!
What to Expect: Gain an authentic understanding of the Marquesan customs and daily life by joining this experience.
Breathtaking Views: Be sure to bring your camera, as every view is picture-perfect!
Exciting Guided Tour: The team is incredibly enthusiastic about Hakaui and will guide you through a journey…
A Day of Local Life & Adventure!
What to Expect: Gain an authentic understanding of the Marquesan customs and daily life by joining this experience.
Breathtaking Views: Be sure to bring your camera, as every view is picture-perfect!
Exciting Guided Tour: The team is incredibly enthusiastic about Hakaui and will guide you through a journey filled with captivating stories and hidden gems.
Delicious Local Cuisine: Savor a meal crafted from fresh, local ingredients.
Distinctive Art: Take the opportunity to admire and purchase exquisite Marquesan art.
Why You’ll Love This: By selecting this tour, you are supporting the community and contributing to the preservation of this beautiful place for future generations.
- The transfer is provided by separate companies and must be paid for directly to them. We arrange this service for our guests without taking any commission. The cost for a boat taxi accommodating 1 to 4 people is 16,000 xpf for a round trip, shared among the passengers. For groups larger than 4 people, the cost is 4,000 xpf per person for the round trip. Boat taxi companies only accept local currency in cash.
- We do not offer baby seats or carriers, so infants must be held on laps during lunch or brought in a carrier for the hike.
- We can accommodate dietary restrictions such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, etc. If you have dietary requirements or food allergies, please indicate them when booking.
Location
Quai des pecheurs
The boat taxi from Taiohae to Hakaui Valley departs at 8:30 a.m. from the fishing port in the center of town. Payment in local currency needs to be made directly to the boat taxi company. (This is not our service and we don't take any commission.) We will meet you on the Hakaui beach upon arrival.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(27 Ratings)
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Traveler123456654321
Nov 6, 2024
A MUST DO EXPERIENCE! - A MUST DO experience when in Nuku Hiva! This is the perfect tour for learning everything there is to know about the Marquisian culture and history, as well as absorbing the breathtaking views of the Hakaui Valley.
And if you’re like us and don’t speak very good French, Anna also does the tour in English which was great.
Anna and Tangy were the perfect hosts, it was truly a privilege getting to know them and having them share their life and story with us was the cherry on the top (plus an INCREDIBLE home made lunch)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michalbg7366gk
Nov 3, 2024
Amazing tour of the beautiful Hakaui Valley - The views are out of this world. Entering the valley is like traveling back in time where man was one with nature. So many relics, Pai Pais, remain of the vast Polynesian culture and Ana was so informative and answered all of are questions patiently. To get to the valley need to take a boat ride from Nuku Hiva. Ana was waiting for us on the beach and took as to hers and Tangy’s beautiful home in the valley for refreshments before the tour. The Valley itself is breathtaking and after an hour and half hike we reached the waterfall which is very majestic even though we visited at the end of the rainy season. Ana was great tour guide and even volunteered to take our pictures when we went under the waterfall. We then returned to Ana and Tangy’s home for a full cooked lunch that was so tasty. If you are lucky, you might see one of Tangy’s beautiful carvings that his currently working on and if you are very lucky, you might be able to purchase one of his beautiful works of art. Need to take both sandals and hiking shoes to protect your feet as the terrain is full of rocks and there are multiple river crossings during the hike. Had an amazing day in an enchanting valley.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Zoja_l
Oct 29, 2024
Awesome day in beautiful valley of Hakaui - Ana and Tangy are really friendly and fun hosts. We spent great day discovering the beautiful valley of Hakaui. Ana was the best guide. Not only is the nature on the way to waterfall just amazing, she also explained a lot a about history and cultural significance of sights we saw on the way. Our lunch was made by Tangy and it was delicious, prepared with fruits and veggies directly from their garden. This excursion is a must if you ever come to Nuku Hiva
Review provided by Viator
X1431tjpierreg
Oct 23, 2024
Oh, yes, Hakaui! - We spent 3 days in the company of Anna and TANGUY, without electricity or wifi... well we fit very well! 3 great days, with very nice walks in the forest, guided by Anna and Tanguy, who know it as their pocket; know the plants, animals, the history of the valley. The sea is nearby, allowing baths on a black sand beach, and another very close to white sand. The equipment is basic but more than enough, and we feasted with Anna's pancakes and Tanguy's carry. A real good address
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tanyapastrano
Oct 22, 2024
A magical trip to Hakaui! - Visiting Hakaui with Ana and Tangy is an experience I will never forget! As I was an English speaker, Ana was my guide and she took me exploring around the valley. I learned so much about Hakaui, Nuku Hiva and the Marquesan culture as she taught me so much! Best part was that my whole experience with her during our treks, plus my experience with her and Tangy in their home, felt more like a visit with friends. They are both such warm people, and the food was amazing! I literally had like 3-4 servings! Also, Tangy’s artwork is something else! I just could not believe my eyes at how detailed and intricate his work was. Camping on their property was an experience like no other. I only wish I had a few more days with them in the valley. I cannot recommend it enough!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D1194mdcm
Oct 21, 2024
Do this! - We did private tours and hikes on several different islands in French Polynesia, and this was the best. Communication was excellent. The arrangements with the taxi boat were easy. This is an absolutely beautiful valley, but what makes this day special is Ana and Tangy sharing the history, the culture and their hospitality. We learned so much, had a lot of fun, and had an amazing lunch. We would go back just to visit them! Hike is not steep or difficult, though it does require scrambling over rocks and crossing the river a few times.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deetman
Oct 14, 2024
Fantastic Adventure!! - We recently returned from a 3 week dream trip to the south seas. While there, we had the opportunity to experience Ana and Tangy’s Valley Adventure. The short of it? It was AMAZING and I highly recommend it!
First of all, just getting to the Marquesas is an adventure in itself. After arriving in Tahiti (and spending a couple nights there acclimating), we took an Air Tahiti flight from Papeete to Nuku Hiva (about 3 hours). The airport is on the far northwest corner of the island, and it’s about a 90 minute drive/ride up through the mountains to the main town, Taiohae. Our guesthouse had arranged a taxi for us which was waiting as we arrived. After collecting our luggage, off we went. It really is a beautiful island. Once we arrived in town, we settled in and got some quick dinner.
The next morning, we walked to the marina where a boat met us to take us to the Valley. More adventure! It’s open ocean, so it was a bit rough but beautiful. After 40 min or so, we arrived at the beach where our hosts met us. (As mentioned, there is no dock so you climb off the boat and wade in to shore). After introductions and some explanations about the valley and Tangy’s family history there, we set off to their home where we would spend the next 3 nights.
I really could go on and on, but I will try to summarize.
Lodging—this is camping. It’s relatively easy camping—the tent is all set up for you, the air mattress is inflated and in place, there is a regular flush toilet, sink, and shower (all semi-outdoor). The grounds are spacious, and there is a large canopy set up over the tent and a table and chairs. The river runs along the edge of the property, providing some relaxing white noise in the background.
Activities—we hiked to the waterfall, walked to both beaches (white sand and black sand), saw historic archeological sites, learned about Marquesan culture, hiked up to a former
warriors’ checkpoint/lookout (the most challenging part for us, but well worth it!), made coconut milk, heard lots of stories about Ana’s adventures, stargazed, watched for goats—very peaceful and amazing.
Food—wow! Where do I start. 3 meals a day of FANTASTIC fresh local foods, hand prepared just for us. You will NOT go hungry. We enjoyed every meal and were shocked at the portions offered. We ate as much as we could and there were still leftovers.
If you like the outdoors, are interested in Polynesian Culture, and want a truly epic, unique, genuine experience, then make your way to Nuku Hiva and visit Ana and Tangy. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done in all my travels.
Bon Voyage!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christf1932by
Oct 11, 2024
Hakuai, Breathtaking Beauty, with Tangy and Ana - Hakuai with Tangy and Ana,
Amazing experience made all the more special by Tangy and Ana our kind and generous hosts.
The adventure began on the small dock/port in Taiohae, where I met Tangy, and our boat captain. The boat ride from Taiohae, and arrival to Hakuai was breathtakingly beautiful. Next a short walk to our hosts house, along with a glimpse of village life as we passed thru. After a short regroup, along with delicious homemade lemonade, we began our adventure to Vaipo waterfall. As we walked Ana provided excellent history, and detailed information of archeological sites and Marquesan culture. Vaipo waterfall, the crown jewel of the valley, did not fail to impress with its majestically carved canyon walls, and plummeting cascade. After our hike Ana and Tangy prepared a delicious lunch which we all enjoyed together as we reminisced about our current and future adventures in the South Pacific Islands.
Truly a highlight of my stay in Nuku Hiva
Mahalo for an amazing day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dicobraz
Sep 17, 2024
Amazing day at the waterfall - I had booked a trip to the waterfall with Tangy and Ana. The day was perfect, they warmly welcomed me at the beach and explained me details about the trip. After that we slowly moved to the valley passing the houses of the locals. I got a detailed explanation about the history of the island and the valley in particular, I was told some anecdotes about the current life and also an interesting history explanation of the cannibal tradition on the islands. We got to the waterfalls within 2 hours, they were magical. After we returned, I got a local meal at their home cooked fresh by Tangy. Then we went to the beach where the trip started, and I could swim in the ocean and the river and make some memorable photos. Overall, I highly recommend them for any trips (either to the waterfalls or individual hikes in the forest).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
451mettel
Sep 16, 2024
Amazing hike and nature experience - We went on the 2-day trip in Hakaui valley, and it was nothing short of amazing! The valley is beautiful, and Ana and Tangy were the best of guides! They welcomed us into their home, and shared their little paradise with us.
The boat trip there can be a bit rough, but so worth it. And the hiking is not an easy stroll, but most people in a normal good condition can do it.
This trip was a big highlight of our month long trip to French Polynesia, and I would happily give 100’s of stars to Ana and Tangy, for this amazing tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor