Hapatoni Village and Royal Road (Tahuata)

9° 58.2′ S · 139° 7.4′ W

A tidy village of about 100-150 people strung along the 'Queen's Alley', a paved 19th-century road lined with huge tamanu trees built for Queen Vaekehu II. Ancient ceremonial platforms lie between the marae and the church.

Tuamotus Marquesas

Practical

Coordinate is the marae on OpenStreetMap, next to the Église du Saint-Cœur-de-Marie. 2026 brief: Queen's Alley built under Queen Vaekehu II; reach the village by dinghy from Hanatefau and tie up in the small marina. The ceremonial platforms are bigger than at Puamau, but without tikis (2019). Sunday Mass is at 8 am in Marquesan with superb singing; dress modestly; short weekday services at 5 pm (2019). Every few months the Tahuata villages hold a church council and festival, and cruisers have been welcomed to the petanque (2015). There is no shop: trade or ask for produce. Tehina in the Blue House can arrange village tours, artisan visits, produce or a meal (2026 brief). Hiking with Teii to look for the Pahi; 4x4 trips to Hanatetena village with Carven Tour, +689 87 24 23 26 (2026 brief). A dog in the last house toward Vaitahu has bitten cruisers (2019), so stay on the road.

Best for

Village life, carvers and Sunday singing

Practical

Best for

Nearby