While Nuku Hiva has been inhabited by Polynesian explorers since 150 BC, western visitors who have been enthralled by this gem of French Polynesia include Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, Herman Melville and Paul Gauguin. The largest of the Marquesas Islands, Nuku Hiva is a beautiful volcanic island with mountains topping 3,700 feet high, with jagged walls that suddenly plunge into the immense ocean below. Melville called it “a country that no description could fit the beauty”. Discover waterfalls and rivers and stone “tiki” statues hidden in the forest. In Hakaui, view the third biggest waterfall in the world. A delicious local specialty is roast pork, cooked on hot rocks buried in the sand. Please be advised that due to the under-developed nature of this destination, organized tours are not available.