TAIPIVAI WATERFALL

Taipivai is one of the most important and fertile valleys in Nuku Hiva. There are many legends, as well as the famous novel by Herman Melville, Taipi. It has several waterfalls, as well as one of the most beautiful archeological sites on the island (Puake), with many stone tikis: to go there, locate the house in blue on the right, leaving the village towards Hatiheu; 20 to 30 minutes walk (it goes up).

It should be noted that this valley had to be very densely populated, as evidenced by the large number of sacred banyans, around which the Marquisian villages used to build. It is even said that the entire valley was surrounded by dwellings when Europeans arrived! Today, the places are very calm.