CC BY-SA 3.0, Semhur, Wikimedia CommonsAnchorage· Nuku Hiva· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Anaho Bay (Nuku Hiva)
8° 49.5′ S · 140° 3.8′ W
The rare all-round-protected anchorage of the Marquesas: flat water under volcanic fins on Nuku Hiva's NE corner, the longest white-sand beach in the islands, a fringing reef, and walks to Haatuatua, Hatiheu and Aakapa. Cruisers routinely give it more time than anywhere else.
Practical
Sugar Shack (Dec 2019) at 08°49.46'S / 140°03.76'W in 11 m, good holding in sand; Moon Rebel (2018) used the SW corner in 11 m clean sand with no noticeable swell; Kokpeli (2018) the small SE-corner cove at 08°49.6'S / 140°03.4'W in 30 ft, less coral and fetch. Rules: anchor south of the river entrance, on sand, deeper than 35 ft (sign on the bath house), and make sure no chain sweeps coral; the area north of that is a protected no-anchoring zone. Noonsite (May 2026): capacity 10 boats; if more than 10 are present you must go to another anchorage. Strong gusts accelerate over the saddle in the SE corner in E-SE squalls, leaving the reef close to leeward of the SW spots. A buoyed dinghy channel through the reef (clearer at low tide) leads to the beach. Water: sweet standpipe water beside the green-roofed red public toilet and shower building about 50 m east of the landing (2018); ask about quality first (2023). No cell signal (2018). Severe ciguatera: don't eat any fish caught in the bay. No-nos on the beach, worse to the east. It is a holiday spot and youth camp for Nuku Hivans.
Best for
Days of calm, beach walks and recovery from rolly bays
Season
Year-round; the go-to refuge when S-SE swell makes the south coast miserable
Nearby
- Anaho Bay Manta RaysRight here
- Ciguatera Warning Hatiheu and AnahoRight here
- Kaniho Pension Restaurant (Anaho)Right here
- Anaho Beach (Nuku Hiva)0.2 NM away
- Anaho No-Anchoring Zone0.2 NM away
- Anaho Fringing Reef Snorkel (Teavauua Dinghy Pass)0.3 NM away
- Anaho SE Cove Snorkel0.4 NM away
- Anaho to Hatiheu Hike0.6 NM away