Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia

Prior to approaching Tahiti, you will be welcomed to Nuku Hiva, the largest of the volcanic Marquesas Islands.  This principle island was first claimed in 1813 by U.S. Naval Officer David Porter. France annexed the islands in 1842 and built a fort on this one.

Herman Melville, the American author, first visited the area in the 1840s and the setting for his first novel, Typee, is Nuku Hiva.

Vaipo Warefall, one of the highest waterfalls in the world at 350 meters is located here.



From Frommer's: "More than any other South Pacific islanders, the ancient Marquesans were masters at carving tikis from stone and wooden war clubs and spears from local hardwoods, adorning the latter with the same intricate geometric designs used in their tattoos (which covered most of their bodies) and on the tapa cloth they made from the bark of the paper mulberry tree. Their carving skill was evident even in everyday items such as bowls, axes, pestles, and fishhooks."

Temperature

Throughout the month of January daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 31°C that's about 87°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 23°C, that's 74°F.

Activities include Landrover excursions, horseback riding, hiking over mountain trails and to inland cascades, picnics on the beach or mountains, deep-sea fishing, sailing, motorboat rides, visits to archaeological sites, visits to artisansí workshops to buy wood carvings, tapa hangings and monoi perfumed oils.