The Marquesas Islands are situated 1,500 km to the northeast of Tahiti. A land of tales and legends, called Te Henua ‘Enata in the Marquesan language, which means ‘The Land of Men’. The rugged landscape with its craggy mountains, cascading waterfalls and majestic bays, is home to an impressive number of archeological sites. Everywhere you go in these mystical islands, you are envelopped in the spiritual force that is part of Marquesan culture, the mana.
Why visit the Marquesas Islands?
Nuku Hiva
The biggest island in the archipelago with lofty mountain peaks which slope steeply down into the blue Pacific Ocean. The island’s main village, Taioha’e, is situated in a large bay which bears the same name. Taioha’e is also also the regional capital. The local population is famed for the warm and friendly welcome it gives visitors to this rugged island. Rich in archeological sites and ancient legends Nuku Hiva is home to a thriving ancestral culture.
Hiva Oa
Hiva Oa is known as the ‘garden of the Marquesas Islands’ because of its very fertile soil and lush vegetation. The intense green countryside hides roads and houses from view. The craggy mountains and deep valleys are home to a multitude of archeological sites and vestiges of an ancient civilization. Among these are the biggest tiki statues in The Islands of Tahiti. The beaches of Hiva Oa are of volcanic black sand and lie in the shade of rocky cliffs. Atuona, the main village, is deep in Taaoa Bay, at the foot of Mount Temetiu, which rises to 1,276 meters and Mount Fe’ani which is 1,016 meters high. The village cemetery is the last resting place of the artist Paul Gauguin and the singer Jacques Brel.
Ua Pou
There are four immense basalt pillars in Ua Pou, two of which, Poutetaunui and Poumaka reach high into the sky. In 1888, Robert Louis Stevenson described them as two ‘volcanic arrows like church bell-towers’. They are said to represent ancient warriors and they stand guard over the island’s main village of Hakahau in the bay below.
Ua Huka
Ua Huka is reputed for its dry soil and magnificent countryside. Wild horses gallop around on the arid plains and wild goats climb the slopes and ridges of this mystical island. Ua Huka is unspoiled and authentic, a land where the ancestors are part of the everyday life of the islanders.
Tahuata
Accessible only from the sea, Tahuata is a haven of peace and tranquility, full of pleasant surprises for the visitor. A mountainous island with fertile valleys and crystal clear waters, where the local inhabitants earn their living by selling superb sculptures in bone or miro (rosewood). They also produce mono’i, the famous Tahitian oil extracted from dried coconuts and perfumed with flowers such as the tiare Tahiti or frangipani.
Fatu Hiva
Fatu Hiva is the most isolated of the inhabited islands in the archipelago. Accessible only from the sea, it is a small, but beautiful island with high mountains and lush green valleys. In 1937, Thor Heyerdahl and his wife exchanged their modern lifestyle for the natural authenticity of Fatu Hiva. It was here that he developped his erroneous theory that the Polynesians originally migrated to these islands from South America. The inhabitants live close to the village of Omoa, where they make traditional tapa cloth from the bark of the mulberry tree. One of the most picturesque sites in the South Pacific is the ‘Bay of Virgins’ at Hanavave, where the setting sun makes the mountain peaks glow like burning embers.
Not to be missed
What to do in the Marquesas Islands
Rugged and mystical, the Marquesas Islands are a land where the ancestral culture thrives to this day. Hiking, horseback riding, superb dive sites, and an immense wealth of archeological treasures, will fill your vacation with unforgettable moments and wonderful souvenirs.
You’ll also enjoy
Activities in the Marquesas Islands
Follow in the footsteps of Brel and Gauguin, or explore the hills and valleys on horseback. There are a multitude of activities to help you discover and appreciate the ‘Land of Men’.
The Most Beautiful Sites in the Marquesas Islands
There are so many magnificent sites to visit in the Marquesas Islands that’s it’s almost impossible to select just 10 of them. The rugged, beauty, thriving culture and fascinating history of these islands make them a unique and captivating destination. Here is a selection of just some of the superb sites to visit in the “Land of Men.”
Transport
Getting there and getting around
It’s a long way to the Marquesas Islands, wherever you’re coming from. You can get there by plane in a few hours, or by boat in a few days.
Be inspired
Experiences
The Marquesas Islands are rich in natural sites and traditional culture. Experience the Mana in the Land of Men.
Vacation packages for the Marquesas Islands
Book your trip
Discover the Marquesas Islands, certainly the wildest archipelago of Tahiti and her islands, & also the richest in terms of Polynesian culture. Enjoy a place out of time!
13 days
Bora Bora, Fakarava, Marquesas Islands, Other Tuamotu Islands, Rangiroa, Tahiti
14 days
Marquesas and Tuamotu Deluxe Freighter Cruise Package with Far & Away
Fakarava, Marquesas Islands, Rangiroa, Tahiti
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