Marquesas french polynesia (171 images)

Cruising the Remote Marquesas Islands in search for paradise

At 1000 miles northeast of Tahiti, the cradle of the Maori civilization, the Marquesas Archipelago is unaware of the smoothness of the lagoons of Tahiti. The Marquesas were among the first South Pacific islands to be settled, and from their shores departed some of the greatest navigators of all time, those who went on the entire Polynesian triangle from Hawaii to Easter Island and New Zealand almost 2000 years ago. more »

Cruising the Remote Marquesas Islands in search for paradise

At 1000 miles northeast of Tahiti, the cradle of the Maori civilization, the Marquesas Archipelago is unaware of the smoothness of the lagoons of Tahiti. The Marquesas were among the first South Pacific islands to be settled, and from their shores departed some of the greatest navigators of all time, those who went on the entire Polynesian triangle from Hawaii to Easter Island and New Zealand almost 2000 years ago.
Nowadays, the best way to discover the archipelago (only six of the 10 Marquesas are populated -- Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Ua Huku, Hiva Oa, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva) is to embark in board of the Aranui 3. It's a mixed passenger-cargo vessel that provides the only real contact Marquesans have with the outside world. It supplies everything from motorbikes to beer to baby stuff to the Marquesan people. But at the same time you can sip a fruitcoktail in the swimming pool and enjoy "raw fish with coconut milk at the restaurant.
The Marquesas have long been known as Te Henua Enata (Land of Men). Giant banyan trees cover steep slopes and hide the oldest tikis in French Polynesia, long-preceding their bigger siblings on Easter Island. Also hidden beneath the thick overgrowth are stone remnants of houses built on high platforms, stone temples and ceremonial grounds where games were played and sacrifices made.
The archipelago inspired some of history's great creative minds that they chose to live, and some to die, here. Characters such as Herman Melville (author of Moby-Dick ), who live with cannibals in the forests of Nuku Hiva, and Robert Louis Stevenson, who decided upon seeing the majestic Anaho Bay on the island of Nuku Hiva that he must live out his days in Polynesia. The grave of the French artist Paul Gauguin can be found on the tiny island of Hiva Oa, next to the Belgian singer Jacques Brel.
The Marquesas is the definite paradise for the ultimate adventurer.
« less