Marquesas Islands

Islands Remote French Polynesian islands with rugged volcanic landscapes

Remote Marquesas in French Polynesia feature steep volcanic cliffs, carved stone platforms and a strong local music and craft scene; visitors arrive by cruise or plane for hiking, cultural festivals and deep-sea fishing.

The Marquesas Islands are a remote group of volcanic islands in French Polynesia in the central South Pacific. The archipelago contains about a dozen major islands, steep volcanic topography and deep bays.

The islands are best known for rugged hiking, traditional Marquesan culture and archaeological sites including carved stone and wooden figures. Hiva Oa draws cultural visitors because of the graves of artist Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel.

Polynesian settlers established communities on the Marquesas many centuries before European contact; the islands were first recorded by Europeans in the late 16th century. Over time the islands became part of French colonial holdings and today form one of the administrative subdivisions of French Polynesia.

The Marquesas lie in the central South Pacific, about 1,400 kilometres northeast of Tahiti, and are relatively isolated with limited air and sea connections.

Famous burials: Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel are buried on Hiva Oa, making it a point of cultural interest.
Remoteness: The group comprises 12 main volcanic islands and is one of the most remote parts of French Polynesia, located roughly 1,400 kilometres northeast of Tahiti.

What to See #

Hiva Oa: An island with the village of Atuona where the graves of Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel are located and serving as a cultural centre.
Nuku Hiva: The largest island in the group with a deep bay at Taiohae and the main administrative centre.
Ua Pou: A steep volcanic island noted for its dramatic basalt spires and rugged inland peaks.

How to Get to Marquesas Islands #

Fly to Tahiti (Faa’a Airport, Papeete) first-international flights arrive there. From Papeete take domestic Air Tahiti flights to the main Marquesas airfields (Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou, Fatu Hiva); flight schedules are limited and seasonal. There is also the Aranui passenger-cargo cruise from Papeete that calls at several Marquesas islands on a monthly schedule.

On arrival at a Marquesas island airport you’ll need a short taxi or shuttle into the main village/harbor (local services vary by island); inter-island travel is by charter plane or boat services arranged locally.

Tips for Visiting Marquesas Islands #

Plan visits during the dry season (roughly May-October) when inter-island flights and trails are most reliable; book Air Tahiti flights to main hubs Nuku Hiva (NHV) or Hiva Oa (AOB) well in advance because services are limited.
Use the main island airstrips (Nuku Hiva or Hiva Oa) as your gateway rather than attempting long boat hops-most island transfers and guided excursions are organized from those hubs.
Go early in the day for hikes and village visits-late afternoons see more return-boat traffic and activity around guesthouses, while remote valleys, petroglyph sites and ancient marae often feel uncrowded and are overlooked by day-trippers.
Ask local guides to include lesser-visited cultural sites (small marae, stone tikis and family workshops) and coastal cliff viewpoints-these are common highlights that many visitors miss when they stick to the main village circuits.