Nuku Hiva

Nuku Hiva, the second largest island in French Polynesia, constitutes the economic and administrative center of the Marquesas.

It is described as a mystical island with undeniable beauty.

Taiohae, where the island’s domestic airport is located, is the headquarters of most of Nuku Hiva’s administrations.

A sublime mix of landscapes and legends
The great Nuku Hiva, dominated by a chain of volcanic mountains, offers a multitude of attractive and extraordinary sites…

To the north of the island is Hatiheu, the favorite bay of the writer Louis Stevenson. At a height of 300 meters, a statue of the Virgin has been installed and dominates this bay. A number of shows are organized there on different occasions.

An hour’s walk from Hatiheu Bay is Anaho. Its white sand, its coconut trees, with its view of the cliffs and the mountains, make it one of the most beautiful Polynesian bays.

Nuku Hiva also has magnificent valleys, the largest and most fertile of which is located in Taipivai.

Multiple legends have been written with this extraordinary valley as their setting.

It reveals sublime waterfalls and represents one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Nuku Hiva.

The Hakaui waterfall is extraordinary! It is the third waterfall in the world, due to its height of 350 meters.

Surrounded by cliffs where various species of birds nest, Hakaui Waterfall is well worth a detour.

An extraordinary discovery
The remains of this island are innumerable and excursions allow you to discover them: Tohua (place of songs and dances of the ancient Marquesan people), Paepae (incredible platforms), Tiki, Mea’e, etc.

Local guides reveal these sites while sharing their ancestral knowledge. Several circuits are possible by boat, 4×4, on foot, or on horseback.

Scuba diving is ideal for exploring breathtaking caves, cavities and drop-offs.

A marvelous marine fauna, composed among others of bottlenose dolphins, hammerhead sharks, white fin sharks, manta rays, leopard rays, stingrays and marbled rays, are simply surprising.

From Tahiti, it is possible to reach Nuku Hiva by plane or by boat thanks to various cruises such as those offered by Aranui.

The magnificent hotel Le Nuku Hiva by Pearl Resorts, perched on the heights of Nuku Hiva, and charming guesthouses offer a warm welcome.