Marquesas - Nuku Hiva

I visited Nuku Hiva in 2009 and found it a friendly and relaxing place. Its the second largest island in French Polynesia after Tahiti and the largest island of the Marquesas. About a third of the island is a desert with just grass and low bushes. The rest of the island offers an amazing range of terrain, ranging from windswept cliffs to deep canyons to lush river valleys and deep bays. Taiohae is the main town of the island. The archaeological sites were the most impressive and extensive in French Polynesia and were the reason I visited this island. Every 10 years (or so) Nuku Hiva is the home of a festival which brings together different groups of Polynesians from Hawaii to New Zealand to celebrate their heritage. The last festival was in 2011.