About the Port
Taiohae, the main settlement on Nuku Hiva, sits within a broad volcanic bay ringed by dramatic cliffs and green ridgelines. As the administrative center of the Marquesas Islands, it offers a gateway to a landscape of deep valleys, rocky peaks, and cliffside roads where wild ponies sometimes roam. The island's remoteness, second largest in French Polynesia, has preserved a rugged beauty largely untouched by mass tourism.
Inland and along the coast, ancient marae temples and stone ceremonial platforms recall centuries of Marquesan history, shaded by giant banyan trees and marked by carved tiki figures. Taiohae's small waterfront serves as the practical starting point for exploring these sites, with the village itself easily seen on foot near the pier before venturing further into the island's dramatic interior.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Taiohae.
Visit the Kamuihei Marae Complex
A cluster of restored ceremonial platforms and petroglyphs shaded by an enormous banyan tree, reached by a short inland drive from the pier. It's one of the best places to grasp Marquesan sacred history firsthand.
Drive the Cliffside Ridge Road
Wind up switchback roads above Taiohae Bay for sweeping views of volcanic peaks and coastline, with a chance of spotting wild horses grazing along the way. Hiring a local 4x4 driver is the easiest way to cover the rugged terrain.
Wander Taiohae's Waterfront Village
Stroll past the cathedral, market, and tiki-lined square right near the pier, an easy on-foot introduction to Marquesan craft and daily life before heading further afield.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Taiohae
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2026 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $8,470 | |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 18 | $7,280 | |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $6,160 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 35 | $15,809 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 126 | $75,399 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 63 | $31,024 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 145 | $102,099 | |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 23 | $9,604 | |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $9,884 | |
| Jan 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $5,639 | |
| Jan 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 14 | $6,580 | |
| Feb 13, 2027 | Holland America | Koningsdam | 35 | $8,344 | |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 18 | $7,352 | |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $4,785 | |
| Apr 22, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $12,992 | |
| Apr 29, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $23,016 | |
| Apr 29, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 14 | $10,589 | |
| Oct 3, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 18 | $6,704 | |
| Oct 3, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $4,565 | |
| Oct 14, 2027 | Holland America | Zaandam | 35 | $4,324 |
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