Travel Around the Marquesas

Mysterious and beautiful, the Marquesas offers tourists an unforgettable vacation amid towering mountains, spectacular cliff sides, protected bays, lush green valleys and fertile plateaus. Remote and secluded from the other archipelagoes of French Polynesia, the Marquesas is spread out diagonally over a distance of 350 km from northwest to southeast. A group of 15 islands, all of which sit far apart from one another, traveling to and getting around the Marquesas is a distinct and unusual experience that should be tried out by all who visit the region.

To get to the Marquesas, Air Tahiti has regular flights operating 5 to 6 times a week from Papeete to the island of Nuku Hiva, which is a three and a half hour journey away. You can also get to the Marquesas by helicopter, but the costs can be quite steep, unless of course you have the money to spend. Many people also get to the Marquesas via boat or cruise, which is much more affordable, but it also takes longer.

Once in the Marquesas getting around requires proper planning as the road network here is not as good as say Tahiti. Most of the main towns here have sealed roads, and the valleys are quite isolated. However, do not let this discourage you as getting around the Marquesas is quite an adventure. If you have a big spending budget, try a helicopter ride from the northern island group to the southern island group, catching some stunning sights along the way. Helicopter charters from Nuku Hiva to Hiva Oa are around 35 minutes.

If you are averse to flying, then you can have a sea adventure with several inter-island ferries, boats and cargo ships on hand. A famous cargo boat, the Aranui is one of the most popular sail trips to and around the Marquesas. A great way to see the many of the Marquesas Islands, the Aranui is an ideal vessel with excellent and affordable accommodations and great day trip excursions.

On the islands themselves, traveling around is not very easy as the roads are quite rough and the terrain pretty steep. There is no public transportation on the Marquesas, and the only way to get around is by renting a car or four-wheel drive. A good option is to hire a tourist guide to help you navigate the unfamiliar roads and routes. A guide not only helps you get around more easily, but also can help you visit many off the beaten track locations. It is highly advisable to book you 4WD in advance.

Getting around by boat is probably the most fastest way to travel around the Marquesas. Speedboats and bonitiers can take you to places, where a lot of vehicles cannot go, plus it offers you some truly gorgeous sights and scenery along the way. The Kaoha Nui and the Taporo IV are two boats that offer inter-island transport.

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