Nuku Hiva

Our expert French Polynesia

Nuku Hiva

Nuku Hiva The valleys and reliefs of Nuku Hiva are verdant. Ralph Braumer / age fotostock;

On Nuku Hiva, you can explore the splendid Taipivai Valley in a chauffeur-driven 4x4, leaving from Taiohae. Climbing to the top of Mount Muake allows you to admire Taiohae Bay to the south (a stopover for many sail ships) and Hatiheu Bay to the north. In clear weather, Ua Pou Island emerges on the horizon. Taipivai Valley, one of the deepest navigable river valleys in Polynesia, can also be explored by river-cruiser, between the villages of Taihoe and Taipivai, between wooded hills and coconut groves. From Taipivai, a mud track, accessible by car, leads to Hatiheu, on the north coast, via Toovii plateau which offers superb viewpoints of the highest peak of the island - Mount Tokao (3,960 ft). The arrival at Hatiheu Bay, one of the Marquesas' most beautiful, is unforgettable. Other unmissable sites include the Vaipo waterfall (1,148 ft high!) in the Hakaui Valley.