Venture deep into the hauntingly beautiful Taaoa Valley to encounter the largest concentration of megalithic stone tikis in the Marquesas — an open-air sanctuary of Polynesian ancestors untouched by mass tourism.
What to expect
Your guide collects you at the pier in a 4WD and climbs the dramatic ridge road to Taaoa, where stone ceremonial platforms (tohua) emerge from the jungle. Enormous basalt tikis — some over two metres tall — stand sentinel amid banyan roots and wild orchids. The guide narrates the genealogies and taboos of each site with the intimacy only a local lineage-holder can offer. The return leg passes Atuona's black-sand coastline for a final panoramic stop.
Good to know
The round trip is approximately 3h30; well within any all-aboard window. Wear closed shoes — trails are rooted and muddy after rain. Book at least 2 weeks in advance; guides are limited and ships arrive infrequently, so slots fill quickly. Confirm your ship's all-aboard time and share it with the guide when booking.
Sail there
Luxury cruises that call at Atuona — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.
More to do in Atuona
- Paul Gauguin & Jacques Brel: Pilgrimage to Two Legends of Atuona
- Hanapaaoa Petroglyphs & Puamau Giant Tikis: Full-Day 4WD Odyssey
- Ocean & Lagoon Small-Group Snorkel: Rays, Sharks & Coral Gardens
- Trekking Hiva Oa's Jungle Ridges: Waterfall & Endemic Birdwatching
- Marquesan Feast & Tattoo Culture Immersion at a Private Family Fare