Anchorage· Hiva Oa· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Hanaiapa Bay (Hiva Oa)
9° 42.9′ S · 139° 1.0′ W
A pretty, flower-filled village bay on Hiva Oa's north coast, one of the island's best-protected anchorages from swell and a calm alternative to crowded Tahauku, with a road to Atuona.
Practical
Coordinate is the centre of ZMR 'Hanaiapa' from Arrêté 384 CM (2026): 09°42.89'S 139°01.11'W, 09°42.84'S 139°00.89'W, 09°42.95'S 139°00.89'W, 09°42.98'S 139°01.07'W. Quota: 8 boats under 20 m for up to 30 days (14 in busy periods) plus 2 boats for 30 days renewable. A 20-140 m yacht zone is centred at 09°42.69'S 139°01.02'W. The 2026 brief gives 8-12 m; land the dinghy on the east side, with a slipway up the river branch to haul it out. Cruisers anchor in 40-45 ft (12-14 m) opposite the small concrete quay; deeper water is sand, shallower is rock. Noonsite (2003) advises at least 45 ft to avoid snagging. There are coral heads at the head of the bay, and it is surprisingly calm when 2-3 m swell sweeps the coast (2015). Swell can make the quay hard, so anchor the dinghy off and stern-tie. Fresh water from a hose and shower on the quay is NOT potable. The village has a small grocery, school and church (2026 brief; a 2022 report found no shop, only an ice-cream seller). Utuau Rent A Car: Fred and Mairie, +689 87 72 62 79 / +689 87 34 13 62; 8,000 XPF for 7 am to 6 pm, 4,000 XPF for a half day, you refill the tank (2022, verify locally). Popular surf spot in the northern-summer swell season. Hiva Oa anchoring is governed by Arrêté 384 CM of 31 March 2026: anchoring outside the listed regulated zones (ZMR) is prohibited for any vessel with accommodation; each ZMR needs prior authorization via the Escales service (escales.gov.pf, escales.dpam@administration.gov.pf, DPAM +689 40 54 45 78, 24/7); the Escales fee is deferred until the tariff is published. Inside a ZMR: 5 kn limit, no sailing, anchor lights sunset to sunrise, AIS on if fitted, no scuba or jet skis, swim only close to your boat, no sewage discharge, hull work, sanding or engine tests, and no underwater or hull lights.
Best for
Calm north-coast base with a road to Atuona
Season
Year-round; NE swell (Nov-Mar) can work in
Nearby
- Hanaiapa Valley Walk and Sculptor Tino0.3 NM away
- Hanaiapa-Hanatekuua Point Snorkel (Hiva Oa)1.5 NM away
- Hanatekuua Bay (Hiva Oa)1.5 NM away
- Hiva Oa Airport (AUQ)3.2 NM away
- Hanapaaoa Tiki (Hiva Oa)3.6 NM away
- Tehueto Petroglyphs Hike (Atuona)4.1 NM away
- Smiling Tiki (Hiva Oa)4.6 NM away
- Pension Kanahau (Atuona)5.2 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).