The Marquesas Islands are a remote, rugged archipelago in French Polynesia. Located 900 miles (1,500 km) northeast of Tahiti, these 12 volcanic islands lack protective lagoons but boast towering cliffs and deep valleys. Only six islands are inhabited, offering adventurous travelers a raw, ancient Polynesian experience.
The Marquesas Islands are a remote, rugged archipelago in French Polynesia. Located 900 miles (1,500 km) northeast of Tahiti, these 12 volcanic islands lack protective lagoons but boast towering cliffs and deep valleys. Only six islands are inhabited, offering adventurous travelers a raw, ancient Polynesian experience.
Marquesas Islands map
Marquesan model canoe at the Bishop Museum, Honolulu
TePapa Collections model vaka touua (sailing Marquesan canoe)
This is a historical illustration titled “ANTIGUAS PIRAGUAS” featuring traditional canoes from the Marquesas islands, New-Guinea, Sumatra and New Zealand.
The artwork was created by Rafael Monleon (1853-1900)
Old Marquesan canoe model.
Small model of a Marquesan voyaging canoe or “Vaka, Va’a, sometimes equipped with a sail.
French Polynesian voyaging canoe sailing near Nuku -Hiva
Old Marquesan canoe model.
The painting of a “Waka Tou’ua” by Herb Kawainui Kane .
Resolution Bay in the Marquesas. Drawn from nature by William Hodges during Capt. James Cook second voyage , and engraved by B.T. Pouncey. Shows two Marquesan men with elaborate head-dresses in a canoe in the foreground, another manned canoe with a triangular sail to the right, two further canoes in the background and Cook's ship the Resolution in a sheltered cove in the rocky headland in the background. Print published by John Hawksworth's in 1776.
Marquesas islands. Titled Vaitahue by Charles-Claude Antiq. 1845-47. Vaitahue is the main village and administrative center of Tahuata, the smallest inhabited island in the Marquesas. Known for its fine bone and wood carvings, as well as being one of the centers for traditional Polynesian tattooing.
Marquesas. Noulka-Hiva Island.
Fishing canoe near Nuku-Hiva island.
