Landmark· Tahuata· French Polynesia: Tuamotus, Marquesas, Gambier & Australs
Motopu Village (Tahuata North)
9° 54.4′ S · 139° 4.1′ W
A small village on Tahuata's windward east coast with a big beach where locals hunt octopus and shellfish. Its sun-drenched valley is said to grow the sweetest fruit in the Marquesas.
Practical
Coordinate from OpenStreetMap. 2026 brief: no anchoring is allowed in this bay because it is exposed to swell and wind, so visit by car (with or without a driver) or on foot from Vaitahu, with the option of staying with local hosts. The Motopu valleys hold some of the finest native Marquesan forest, carefully protected (UNESCO). On the road from Vaitahu, residents stop at two statues of the Virgin to leave a coin.
Best for
Overland excursion from Vaitahu
Nearby
- Hanameneni Bay (Tahuata)1.2 NM away
- Kokuu Cove (Tahuata)1.9 NM away
- Hanamoenoa White Sand Beach (Tahuata)2.1 NM away
- Hanamoenoa Bay (Tahuata)2.2 NM away
- Hanamoenoa Snorkel and Mantas2.2 NM away
- Ivaiva Nui and Ivaiva Iti Anchorages (Tahuata)2.4 NM away
- Pahi Kingfisher Birdwatching (Tahuata)2.7 NM away
- Chez Jimmy (Vaitahu)3 NM away