Hakaui Valley and Vaipo Waterfall
A Nuku Hiva valley with basalt walls and a waterfall of around three hundred and fifty metres.
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UNESCO World Heritage
The Hakaui valley cuts into Nuku Hiva between basalt walls that close to a few hundred metres apart, and at its head the Vaipo falls drop around three hundred and fifty metres in a thin ribbon, among the highest in French Polynesia. The walk in from the beach follows the valley floor past stone platforms of an abandoned settlement, crossing the river repeatedly. Nuku Hiva is a named component of the UNESCO listing inscribed in 2024.
What you actually see
- The Vaipo falls - a ribbon of around three hundred and fifty metres at the valley head.
- The basalt walls - the valley narrowing between vertical rock faces.
- The abandoned settlement - stone platforms along the valley floor.
- The river crossings - the fords the walk makes repeatedly.
When to go
May to October is the dry season and the safest window. Flow is strongest after rain but so is the danger. The walk needs a guide and settled weather.
Honest expectations
The river rises fast after rain and the crossings become impassable; people have been caught out. The base of the fall is subject to rockfall. Nono flies on the beaches bite badly.
Nearby
Taiohae is east, and Hatiheu is north.
What to pack for Hakaui Valley and Vaipo Waterfall
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.