Villages De Vaipaee, Hane Et Hokatu

There are three villages in the south of Ua Huka – Vaipaee, Hane and Hokatu, each lying in its own sheltered bay. It's the lowest of the Marquesas Islands, so it doesn't get as much wind and rain as the others. Instead, Ua Huka has vast stretches of arid countryside, so the 650 inhabitants are concentrated around the bays where the land is greener. There is a wealth of archeological sites – caves, vestiges, petroglyphs. The site at Meiaute, which is the oldest archeological site in the Marquesas Islands, has several me'ae (sacred monument) and tiki, sculpted in red volcanic stone. There are numerous museums in the villages and the island also boasts an arboretum with several hundred varieties of fruit trees from all over the world, planted in an orchard of 25 hectares. After a long stroll around the three villages, you can go for a swim in the sea or take a trip to nearby bird island.