Nuka Hiva ~ Marquesas Islands

The Welcoming Committee at Nuka Hiva

Nuka Hiva's claim to fame is that this island was the location for the filming of Survivor Season 4. If they offered a tour to visit the old camps where the filming was done I'd be all over that, but there is only one tour offered in Nuka Hiva from the ship (and that tour uses nearly every available privately owned 4-wheel drive on the island). There are very minimal independent tours. The odds of getting an independent tour without priority debarkation or pre-arranged is slim to none.

It's a beautiful island, but not like French Polynesia. Think Tribal. The beaches are a blackish/brown and there were lots of sharks visible from the tender pier. I wouldn't call this a beach destination, but the topography is quite stunning. Full face tattoos are a thing here so don't be shocked. Like Fanning Island, I was told not to swim here due to lack of proper septic, but I have no idea if that's true or not so do your own research.

Nuka Hiva Welcoming Committee (which also slowed down the tendering process due to location and everyone wanting to get photos/video. I took this video while standing in line to reboard the tender ;-)

This is the area where the ships tenders will unload (notice mid far left in photo)

I didn't have a ship tour in 2024 and by the time I got off the tender most of the stores had closed (it was approaching 2:00 p.m.). In 2025 I did the one and only ship tour of Nuka Hiva and it was fine. They did pack 4 persons plus the driver into over 50 different four-wheel drive vehicles so it appears that the locals sign up to be drivers for the tour. The backseat was very very cozy. The driver may, or may not speak english, but there is an English speaker at each of the stops to gather the group around and talk a bit about the history. , The tour drove thru a good part of the countryside so you do get an excellent feel for what the island is like. They made several typical stops (church, trinkets, etc..). I thought all the horses tied to posts in random spots very interesting and apparently these are personal horses and people just move them along the roads to eat for the day.

Horses were randomly tied along the road ways

One of the Church visits

Lots of tiki statues right where the ship debarks

In 2024 I walked down to a tiny grocery store to purchase Monoloi Oil because the outside market was closed by the time I was able do debark. It's tiny and groceries are an operative word, but it was definitely interesting. Nuka Hiva is quite rustic and not at all build up, so my recommendation for those not on a tour is to just be very very patient with the debarkation process. There is enough to see where the ship debarks to make going ashore for a couple hours worthwhile, if only for the uniqueness. Enjoy breakfast. Hang out at the pool. Around noon take a shower and then head down to collect your tender ticket. In both 2024 and 2025 folks still needed a tender ticket up until just past 1:00 p.m but if you can't get a ship tour, it's worth a stroll along the main area of town. I plan to stay onboard in 2026 due to the tendering process, but who knows, maybe I just had two bad experiences in a row?

Now here is the part that future visitors should know:

Nuka Hiva tender stairs

In both 2024 and 2025 the tender process in Nuka Hiva it took over 5 hours before the all clear for tendering call was given. There is only one place to load/unload and by US standards it's unsafe. People with walking difficulties were warned not to go on shore but did anyway, and this backs things up even more. I do think the ship should do a better job of warning folks about the tendering conditions and/or stop people from boarding the tenders for their own safety.

I did the ships tour in 2025 (because it took me almost 6 hours to debark in 2024 and this time I wanted to see the island). There is only one tour offered. It will book up fast. Ship coconut express said last year there were over 300 people on the waitlist. If you want to see this island, I highly recommend you book the ship tour well in advance, if only to be on one of the first tenders (and I am not one to suggest ships tours). In 2025 the all clear for those going ashore wasn't given until after 1:00 p.m. I had already completed the ship tour, walked around town, and was back on the ship and they were STILL calling tender numbers.

This is why folks using canes or walkers should carefully consider whether or not to to get off the ship here (never mind wheelchairs, I don't even think crew was allowing wheelchairs on the tenders here). In 2024 a lady actually fell on these stairs requiring an ambulance. I have no clue what the medical facilities would be like in Nuka Hiva, but given this is the last stop before the 9 days sail back to San Diego, I wouldn't want to be left behind here.

Photo of stairs from inside the tender

These are what the stairs look like from the tender. They are smalll, crumbling, and lack a railing.