Region
Marquesas Islands
Go only as a dedicated 5+ night trip: fly Tahiti–Nuku Hiva, add Hiva Oa, and book transfers before you land.
Key facts · French Polynesia
- Best months
- Sep–Nov
- Currency
- CFP franc
- Language
- French and Tahitian
- Plugs
- C · E · 220 V
- Time zone
- UTC−10 (Society, Tuamotu)
Rules in force · 6
- Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
- Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
- Polynesia ↗In much of Polynesia Sunday is kept for church and family: expect shops, tours and some flights to stop, and dress and behave quietly in villages.
- French Polynesia ↗Entry rules are set by France but separately from Schengen: EU citizens enter freely, other passports should check the French government's rules for French Polynesia, and an onward ticket is required.
- French Polynesia ↗Declare food, plants and animal products on arrival; moving plants and soil between islands is also restricted.
- French Polynesia ↗Drive on the right, as in France; scooters and cars can be hired on the main islands.
The Marquesas are not a beach add-on. They sit 3.5 flight hours from Tahiti, hotels are few, and airport transfers can be by 4x4 or boat. Come for cliffs, tiki sites and Marquesan culture, give it at least five nights across Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa, and treat the Aranui cargo-passenger ship as the alternative if you want the islands without arranging each leg.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- Nuku HivaPlanned
Main air gateway; Taiohae, Taipivai and Hatiheu valleys, most beds.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Hiva OaPlanned
Atuona, Gauguin and Brel graves, Taaoa and Puamau sites.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- Ua PouPlanned
Basalt peaks; short flights from Nuku Hiva, few beds.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Ua HukaPlanned
Museum and horses; limited services.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 5 nights
- Nuku Hiva 3 + Hiva Oa 2
- 7 nights
- Nuku Hiva 4 + Hiva Oa 3, with one guided valley day on each
- Two islands in three nights means two airport transfers and two flights for very little time on the ground.
- Inter-island flights are few per week; a missed connection can cost a day.
- Some roads are steep and used by wild horses; do not self-drive the remote valleys without a guide.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiva Oa | Nuku Hiva | 35 min | unknown | Flight time about 35 minutes; several flights a week, so a day trip only works if the schedule lines up — check before booking. |
| Ua Pou | Nuku Hiva | 30 min | unknown | Short flight; few beds and limited services, so most visitors go as a day trip. |
Bags between cities
No luggage forwarding between islands; travel light and expect weight limits on inter-island flights.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Polynesia (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marquesas IslandsNuku Hiva, Hiva Oa and the smaller islands | wet | wet | wet | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | best | best | best | wet |
- Marquesas Islands
- Hot and humid year-round; the drier, cooler stretch runs roughly September to November. Rain is possible in any month, and the islands sit outside the main cyclone belt but can still be hit.
The Marquesas run on UTC−9:30, half an hour ahead of Tahiti — check flight and transfer times against local clocks.The Marquesas run on UTC−9:30 AM, half an hour ahead of Tahiti — check flight and transfer times against local clocks.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahiti (PPT) | Nuku Hiva (NHV) | Air Tahiti flight | ~3 h 30 | Daily service; some days a direct Tahiti–Hiva Oa flight instead. Book early — seats are limited. |
| Bora Bora / Rangiroa | Nuku Hiva | Air Tahiti weekly service | check | Weekly connections exist from Bora Bora and Rangiroa; schedules change, so verify before planning a route through them. |
| Papeete | Marquesas | Aranui cargo-passenger ship | 14-day voyage | Mixed freight and passenger ship, once or twice a month, calling at Tuamotu atolls and six inhabited Marquesas islands. Book months ahead. |
Regional passes
Air Tahiti inter-island pass
checkPasses can cover several islands; run the fare for your exact Marquesas legs, as the pass may not beat a simple return.
Aranui 5 voyage
checkOne price covers cabin, meals and guided excursions across the islands; compare it against flights plus lodges before deciding.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| French-Marquesan lodge dining | Nuku Hiva and Hiva Oa lodges | The most reliable dinners are at the island lodges; menus mix French cooking with local produce. |
| Traditional Marquesan fare | Taiohae, Taipivai and Hatiheu (Nuku Hiva); Atuona and Puamau (Hiva Oa) | Village restaurants are small and hours vary; ask your hotel to confirm what is open. |
| Fresh fish and fruit | Across the islands | Menus follow the catch and the season; expect simple plates rather than a wide choice. |
Go next
French Polynesia
Air Tahiti back to Tahiti, ~3 h 30
Most trips end with a night near PPT before the long-haul flight home.
Tuamotu Islands
plannedAir Tahiti via Tahiti, or the Aranui calls at Tuamotu atolls
Add an atoll for diving only if you have two weeks.
Society Islands
plannedAir Tahiti via Tahiti
Moorea and Bora Bora are the easier lagoon half of the country.
Hiva Oa
plannedAir Tahiti from Nuku Hiva, ~35 min
Gauguin and Brel graves, Taaoa and Puamau sites.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source