We anchored on the south west side of Fatu-Hiva under bright moonlight 17 days after departing the Galapagos. The tiny village of Omoa appeared when we awoke in the morning. It felt great to get off the boat and stretch our legs on land. We spent 2 full days on the island, which is one of the least populated of the 6 main islands that make up the Marquesas. Total population is 600 people grouped evenly in 2 villages–Omoa and Hanavave.

In Omoa we walked around taking in all the sites and fragrances of a tropical paradise. We hiked to a Petroglyph and ate at 2 of the local restaurants. We met a family that invited us to their house and organized a delicious meal, drove us around the island, and showed us their amazing artwork that included tapestry and carvings of wood and stone. Upon parting, they gave us bananas, pamplemousse (gigantic grapefruit), avocados, limes, coconut, breadfruit, and papaya.

The drive to Hanavave took us over a scenic volcanic mountain. Half paved concrete and half dirt, we moved slowly around hairpin turns with sheer cliffs. It rained quite a bit so the locals didn’t recommend the hike to a waterfall due to falling rocks. Upon returning to Omao, we had a fabulous meal that included tuna, steak, and frites (french fries).