Nuku Hiva at a Glance
About Nuku Hiva
Nuku Hiva is the largest island of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia, featuring steep interior ridges, deep bays and high coastal cliffs. The island’s main settlement is Taiohae on a sheltered bay, which functions as the administrative and transport centre.
Visitors are drawn to the dramatic coastline, archaeological tiki and marae sites, hiking routes into forested interior valleys and the viewpoints above Taiohae Bay. The island’s terrain includes peaks rising over 1,200 m and deep river-cut valleys that descend to the sea.
Nuku Hiva was settled by Polynesian peoples centuries before European contact and later became noted in 18th- and 19th-century European navigation accounts. Traditional culture and archaeological sites remain important features of the island’s identity.
Geographically the island sits in the northern Marquesas group in the eastern Pacific Ocean; its main harbour at Taiohae provides the usual point of arrival by sea or the island’s small airport.
- Access point: Taiohae is the principal village and harbour, with regular inter-island boat and limited air connections to other parts of French Polynesia.
- Geography and heritage: The island is the largest of the Marquesas group, with deep bays, high sea cliffs and numerous archaeological sites from pre-European Polynesian settlement.
What to See#
- Taiohae: Taiohae Bay and village - the main settlement and harbour on the island, serving as the administrative and transport hub.
- Mount Tekao: Mount Tekao - the island’s highest point rising over 1,200 m and visible from most parts of the island.
Best Time to Visit Nuku Hiva
Visit during the drier months (April-October) for more reliable weather and easier travel around the island.
Weather & Climate near Nuku Hiva
Nuku Hiva's climate is classified as Tropical Rainforest - Tropical Rainforest climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 19°C to 27°C. Abundant rainfall (1965 mm/year), wettest in January.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 19° - 26° | 23° | 209 mm | - | - | 5.5 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 20° - 26° | 23° | 125 mm | - | - | 5.3 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 20° - 27° | 23° | 123 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 20° - 26° | 23° | 126 mm | - | - | 5.1 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 20° - 26° | 23° | 123 mm | - | - | 5.6 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 20° - 25° | 22° | 180 mm | - | - | 6.1 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 19° - 24° | 22° | 182 mm | - | - | 6.3 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 19° - 24° | 22° | 200 mm | - | - | 6.3 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 19° - 25° | 22° | 158 mm | - | - | 6.0 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 19° - 26° | 22° | 180 mm | - | - | 5.7 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 19° - 26° | 23° | 161 mm | - | - | 5.4 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 19° - 26° | 23° | 198 mm | - | - | 5.2 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Nuku Hiva
Nuku Hiva (Taiohae) is served by scheduled flights from Papeete (Faa’a) operated by Air Tahiti to Nuku Hiva Airport (Taiohae). There are also infrequent passenger ships between the Marquesas and Tahiti. From the island airport you can take a taxi or rental car into Taiohae town - a short local drive.
Tips for Visiting Nuku Hiva
- Time visits to avoid cruise-ship days-Taiohae (the main town) fills quickly when ships call-by checking cruise schedules and choosing days without calls to enjoy quieter trails and viewpoints.
- Use Taiohae as your gateway: flights from Tahiti land near the town and most guided hikes, 4x4 routes and archaeological sites depart from Taiohae's harbor or village, so book local guides there to reach inland valleys and remote meʻae (stone ceremonial sites) that many independent visitors miss.