Where cruisers hang out

[Dr. Sea]

Where do cruisers hang out in the Marquesas and Tuamotus? I know what the main islands are, but once you get there, which bays, bars, and restaurants are most popular with the cruisers? What are the "must see" locations?

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sea

Where do cruisers hang out in the Marquesas and Tuamotus? I know what the main islands are, but once you get there, which bays, bars, and restaurants are most popular with the cruisers? What are the "must see" locations?

Mate, you have a strange idea about what one goes to the Tuamotus for!

A clue: it isn't for the night life...

Jim

[boatman61]

Well at Nuku Hiva I used to hang out at the eatery on the quay after lunch.. usually around 2.30pm the Ukulele's would appear, drinks would flow and folk would start with songs and riffs.. Great stuff..
Otherwise life was pretty simple..

[Dr. Sea]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Mate, you have a strange idea about what one goes to the Tuamotus for!

Good point, Jim. I guess I was thinking more about the Marquesas and threw the Tuamotus in for good measure. But I would still welcome any input on the Tuamotus.

[Fore and Aft]

So your telling me Jim there is no Casinos or McDonalds in those areas. It hardly seems worth the effort of sailing there.
Cheers

[jordanbigel]

re: Tuomotus - the hottest gathering spot for cruisers on Makemo Atoll, back when I visited, was the bakery. Every morning around 6am we all met there, and waited in line for the shop to open to buy fresh bread. Also, in Hiva Oa, in the Marquesas, I remember some steps next to the jetty where dinghies were tied up - cruisers would gather there in the twos and threes to mingle, get fresh water from the spigot, and wash their laundry in a bucket. Good times!

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by jordanbigel

re: Tuomotus - the hottest gathering spot for cruisers on Makemo Atoll, back when I visited, was the bakery. Every morning around 6am we all met there, and waited in line for the shop to open to buy fresh bread. Also, in Hiva Oa, in the Marquesas, I remember some steps next to the jetty where dinghies were tied up - cruisers would gather there in the twos and threes to mingle, get fresh water from the spigot, and wash their laundry in a bucket. Good times!

Definitely good times, but the sandflies!!! One time we were ashore there by the steps, I was cutting Jim's hair. A bunch of the other guys wanted a trim, too. I fell in the water there once. it was slippery from algae. Jim shouts, with great urgency, "Quick, hand me your backpack!" None of this here now, "Oh, Sweetie!" not on your sweet bippy. He wanted the travelers' cheques from the backpack. Now. Talk about laughing stock!

There was an inn, though, on the west side of town, where there were very slender French ladies.....

Ann

[waterman46]

Don't miss the fish cleaning time at Taio'hae on Nuku Hiva. They throw the guts into the water and there are about 20 hungry sharks fighting each other for the meal. Absolutely terrifying, just don't fall off the dock.



That's about it - unless you love beautiful scenery on a remote tropical isle.

[Jim Cate]

There was an inn, though, on the west side of town, where there were very slender French ladies.....

Hmmm... as I recall, some of the apparent slender ladies were of dubious gender... but maybe that was in Papeete... long time ago!

Jim

[double u]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sea

Where do cruisers hang out in the Marquesas and Tuamotus? I know what the main islands are, but once you get there, which bays, bars, and restaurants are most popular with the cruisers? What are the "must see" locations?

...cruisers 2021...

("Grey people go everywhere & spoil everything!" J. Wharram)

[bobnlesley]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

So your telling me Jim there is no Casinos or McDonalds in those areas. It hardly seems worth the effort of sailing there.
Cheers

Them that's been know the truth, but we're all keeping it quiet; I will at least correct you on one point though...it's a Burger King not a McDonald's, but I'm not divulging which island it's on.
The only McD's to be found between Panama and Papeete is the floating one about 700M SSW of the Galapagos; so a bit of a pain to get down to unless the winds are light; the mid-Atlantic outlet - drive through only, no internal seating - is a lot better placed for the yottie route across. Then again, with Covid restrictions nowadays, there's a fair bet that the Pacific one will now be take-out only too

[goboatingnow]

Ah yes the mid Atlantic one , so the secrets out , I hear it’s being expanded to a full service marina , hotel etc , developer plans a string across so ARC entrants can have comfy nights tied to the dock.

[Chris Cringle]

As near as I can remember, the closest thing to a "hot spot" in the Tuamotus was a birthday party after services at the Mormon Church on Apitaki. And, as for the Marquesas, yep, the laundry tubs at the dinghy dock on Hiva Oa was THE place to see and be seen.

[picklesandjesse]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Hmmm... as I recall, some of the apparent slender ladies were of dubious gender... but maybe that was in Papeete... long time ago!

Jim

San Blas Islands too.
I met Lisa on the beach.
I got invited back to her dwelling. I would have gone too but was happily married. She was the best mola maker too, did beautiful work on them.

[SteveSadler]

Thats a good question for other cruisers at every anchorage, your personal icebreaker, where's the beef? Or your cruising guide is a good start. WE did find some great restaurants in the oddest locations in FP.