Overview

To travel in the Marquesas is to discover again what time is, time for oneself and time for and with others. It is also about time for silence and time for interaction, time to find oneself, time to enjoy. The value of time is the first and foremost gift that the Marquesas offers to travellers.

It is discovering again the most simple joys and gestures. It is strolling along the road, crossing the village, going to the Chinese grocery shop to buy some bread, stopping in the main square to watch local sculptors. It is sitting on the terrace of your bungalow, watching the night approach. It is getting up at dawn, listening to the birds, the sea, and the life of the islands waking up slowly. Life in the Marquesas, is walking hand in hand in the woods. It is a day cycling, horseback riding or walking, with long silent moments, broken by the guide suddenly telling you about his genealogy, sharing the legends learned from his ancestors, from his tribe, from his land or from a stone.

With us, enjoy this unique atmosphere, where comfort blends with the charm and hospitality of Marquesans. Explore the Marquesas with extraordinary excursions offered to develop sharing and understanding of Nuku Hiva : take a jeep safari to discover archeological sites steeped in ancient culture, horse back ride, bicycle, hike or simply walk through awe-inspiring landscapes or scuba dive next to a hammerhead shark and manta rays.

All these unforgettable experiences make up the beautiful and mysterious life of Marquesas, an ideal ecotourism destination.
Nuku Hiva is the largest island in the Marquesas archipelago with 330 sq. km. (127 sq. miles) of surface area. Its beauty from the sea or in the air high above the island is truly breathtaking. The 2,500 inhabitants live in Taiohae, Taipivai, Hatiheu, Aakapa, Pua, Hooumi, Anaho and Hakaui, where they work for the government, the community, the Catholic church or school system or for themselves chopping copra high in the mountains, fishing, raising cattle and other livestock or sculpting bowls, platters, Marquesan ceremonial clubs, “tikis” and ukuleles.

Taiohae is a pleasant village bordering the sea. It is the administrative, economic, educational and health center of the Marquesas Islands. The French and territorial administrators, the government buildings, police, post office, hospital, town hall, Air Tahiti office, banks, schools, stores and shops are located in Taiohae.

Sundays and holidays are just as busy as any other day. Villagers drive back and forth along the seafront road in their 4-wheel drive vehicles, calling out to their friends possibly stopping to join the on going game of petanque, a French ball game like bacci, played under a flowering flamboyant tree in front of the town hall. Nearby the women sit under a shelter and win money playing bingo.

Accommodation

The Keikahanui Nuku Hiva Pearl Lodge overlooks the bay and the village of Taiohae. Transfer from the airport to the hotel takes 2 hours by 4 wheel drive or 7 minutes by helicopter, followed by a five minute 4 wheel drive to the hotel. The hotel offers 12 deluxe and 8 premium deluxe bungalows, all with views over the bay. The bungalows are built with local materials and each of them have carvings by a different artist from the area. The bungalows mix comfort and aesthetic beauty, providing mini-bar, air conditioning, telephone, television, video and bathrooms with views over the bay and a panoramic terrace.• Ceiling Fan
• Air Conditioning
• Mini Bar
• Coffee/Tea making facilities
• IDD Telephone
• Television
• Video Channel
• Shower
• Hair dryer
• Rasor Plug (110V)
• In-room Safe
• Private terrace / Sundeck
• Power voltage

Garden Bungalow – from $289 per couple / night

Bay View Bungalow – from $309 per couple / night

Premium Bay View Bungalow – from $349 per couple / night

Dining

You can enjoy breakfast surrounded by luscious tropical foliage and candlelit dinners under the stars. The restaurant and bar open onto the terrace and the pool. It is just fifty steps down from the restaurant to the black sand beach.

Activities

Each day there are a range of excursions offered by Marquesan guides. You can take walks, go horseback riding, cycling, take 4 wheel drive excursions, boat and helicopter trips to discover the fauna, the flora, the landscapes of the islands, the archaeology, the history, the culture, the beautiful, mysterious life of the Marquesas. The world renowned Pipapo scuba diving center take you on diving excursions to see hammerhead sharks, manta rays, pygmy orcas, endemic fish and shellfish. The cost of scuba diving is not included in the packages.
Direct payment with cash money is necessary.