Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

Rock formations at Hatiheu Bay, Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hatiheu_Bay,_Nuku_Hiva_%28French_Polynesia%29.jpg
Author: Steve Berardi


Nuku Hiva is the biggest of the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. It covers 339 sq km and has a population of 2,800 people (2011 estimate).

Robert Louis Stevenson arrived here on board the Casco in 1888. He made landfall at Hatiheu Bay, on the northern part of Nuku Hiva. The bay is characterised by dense forest punctuated by jagged rock formations.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Taiohae in Nuku Hiva
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuku_Hiva_-_Cath%C3%A9drale_Notre-Dame_de_Taiohae_-_20061109.jpg
Author: Sémhur


The tallest peak in Nuku Hiva is the 1,224 m (4,016 ft) Tekao, on the northwestern part of the island. The western coast of the island is bordered by steep cliffs, with only the occasional cove. Due to the jagged nature of the coastline, there are no villages on this side of the island. Similarly, the eastern coast has few places to make landfall. Most of the deep bays are on the northern cast. The main ones include Anaho Bay and Hatiheu Bay.

Visiting Nuku Hiva

There are flights by Air Tahiti connecting Tahiti with Nuku Hiva. The flight takes three and a half hours. In addition, you can also fly there from Bora Bora and Rangiroa.

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