Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# Fatu Hiva Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
hopealong 20:08 UTC 03 Feb 2010 | Hello, i am a new member from Norway(Male). I leave for Tahiti in march, the goal is to get to Fatu Hiva by boat if possible, and to stay there sometime if given permission from the locals. I belive Air Tahiti has a luggage weight of ten kilos, as i bring felt gear i need to go by boat. I bring felt/camping gear as an alternative to more costly options. Have been thinking about this for a long time, finally did order a three month ticket. My primary concerns is finding a boat to get there, is there hope of getting permission to pitch a tent and get enough food. If i am not welcome by the locals, i have no interest in being there. Thanks for any tips and infomation. Greetings to you. |
nukuhiva2 21:39 UTC 04 Feb 2010 | You could take the freighter Aranui3. It has two dormitory-style cabins. I don't know whether you'll find somebody who will allow you to camp on their property.Good luck! | 1
hopealong 22:04 UTC 04 Feb 2010 | Thank you for the tip Nuku Hiva. I'll ask for that. Sure need good luck and goodwill from the locals. | 2
taranaki_chick 23:34 UTC 04 Feb 2010 | I recognise another fan of Thor Heyerdahl. Good luck in your adventure. Be ready to go with the flow in Polynesia. | 3
hopealong 01:59 UTC 05 Feb 2010 | I think that is a very important advise Taranaki, I'll remember. Thanks to you. | 4
raro 09:08 UTC 15 Feb 2010 | I think you'd enjoy it more, and get to know the locals more easily, if you paid to stay in one of the small family-owned places---often just an extra bedroom in someone's house. No need to camp, it may actually seem like an insult to the locals, they may think something like "why don't you want to stay in our house, is there something wrong with it?" | 5
hopealong 17:48 UTC 15 Feb 2010 | Hello Raro, you are right. In fact, nothing would be better as i hope to get along with the people there. Can i help them with some work, thats even better. The felt gear is just in case. I'll look for private homes, and go step by step. Thank you Raro. | 6
raro 01:06 UTC 24 Feb 2010 | 6---Good luck, I'm sure you will be cordially welcomed. Please let us know details of how it works out. | 7
hopealong 21:51 UTC 24 Feb 2010 | Thank you Raro. I hope so. Yes, i'll let you know at first chance. Have long experiences with Cuba, private homes only, this will be very different i think. I am a bit nervous, that is good. Thanks to you all. | 8
hopealong 16:09 UTC 21 May 2010 | Hello, just came back from French Polynesia and Fatu Hiva. Good experience and adventure. Beautiful wild nature. Going to Marquesas and Fatu Hiva is much easier than i thought. Can give info to those interested. | 9
silvanocat 17:24 UTC 21 May 2010 | I'm very interested. Tell me everything. | 10
hopealong 21:48 UTC 21 May 2010 | Hello Silvanocat. When i arrived in Tahiti, i had to wait several weeks for the departure of Aranui. So i bought a one way plainticket to Hiva Oa, Atuona via Nuku Hiva( 30 min. in N.H) in Air Tahitis office. I payed 32500. In Atuona i stayed one night in a pension,(3000 a night) next day went with a local boat(Bonitier) to Fatu Hiva. About four hours trip. Ask for Ida, local lady who brings/picks up sick and other locals going to and from Fatu Hiva. Going with them, you only pay 3000 one way. Got this information from an marquesan man in Papeete. Two first nights in pension Chez Lionel in Omoa, nice guy. Payed 4500 a night. There is another pension closer to Omoa harbor, Norma. Got to know a local man in Omoa, ended up staying in his house with his family the rest of the time in Fatu Hiva. Did not pay, but did work with copra and other things. Did visit Hanavave, and much hiking around the island. It got a bit to quiet after a while. Much mosquitos in the evenings, no nono's. Small wounds easily get infected if not treated. There is a health stasion in Omoa. People are friendly, but reserved at first. You can ask to camp on someones land, i think tents are to hot. A hammack with tarp and netting is better i think. The bonitier back to Hiva Oa, Air Tahiti to Tahiti. Ticket bought in the Air Tahitis office in Atuona, which has Banque Socredo, accepts credit cards. In Fatu Hiva only XPF cash. Hot, humid, quiet and stunning mountains. Papeete i did not like much, just another city. | 11
silvanocat 06:18 UTC 23 May 2010 | Thank you. It sounds like you had a great adventure. I noticed in your profile that you did not mention speaking French. Is that true? You were able to accomplish everything with English? | 12
hopealong 00:30 UTC 24 May 2010 | My biggest problem. When i left i did not speak french, later i learned a little bit. The guy from Nuku Hiva in Papeete who gave me much info, and the head of the family i lived with spoke good english. If i decide to visit French Poly. again, i will study french. One man in Fatu Hiva tried to learn me Marquesan, need much time for that. Sure will enjoy Fr. Pol. much more when speaking french. | 13