×

French Polynesia🇵🇫 | festivalsMarquesas Islands FestivalTohua platform, warrior dances, Marquesan tattoo, pit-cooked feast | things to do and best time to go

Explore Heiva i TahitiExplore Tahiti Pearl Regatta

Backpacking in Marquesas Islands
🌟 Highlightfestival ranked #2
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 15, 2026

The Marquesas Islands Festival, known locally as the Matavaa o te Henua Enana, rotates between islands, and each host village builds a ceremonial ground (tohua) from stone and timber for the occasion. It is held in the Marquesas archipelago in the northeast of French Polynesia, in a different host island each edition, so check the current venue before you book anything. Expect a gathering of all six inhabited islands: dance troupes, tattoo artists, woodcarvers, stone sculptors and cooks, plus a lot of drumming, chanting and the haka-like warrior dances the Marquesans claim as their own. The crowd is mostly Marquesan families, with a thin layer of yachties, researchers and adventurous backpackers. Plan on roughly a week of events, with the biggest shows in the evenings. Bring cash, a rain layer and a flexible schedule. Unlike the Heiva in Tahiti, which is a polished competition in a city, this one is rural, family-run and deeply tied to Marquesan identity.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 French Polynesia Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #2 festival in French PolynesiaWhat makes this festival worth celebrating

Backpackers build routes around this festival because the Marquesas are among the most remote inhabited islands on earth, and the festival is the one moment when all six islands send delegations to the same place. You are not watching a staged show for tour groups. Villagers host, cook and dance for each other, and a polite visitor gets pulled into conversations over a plate of poisson cru and breadfruit that no lodge could arrange.

The second pull is craft. Marquesan tiki carving and tattooing are taken seriously here, and you can watch artists work and talk to them directly. Prices for crafts are lower than in the souvenir shops of Tahiti, and the pieces carry real meaning.

It also gives a long Pacific trip a clear anchor. Flights and the supply ship Aranui connect the islands, so many … read more 👉
Backpackers build routes around this festival because the Marquesas are among the most remote inhabited islands on earth, and the festival is the one moment when all six islands send delegations to the same place. You are not watching a staged show for tour groups. Villagers host, cook and dance for each other, and a polite visitor gets pulled into conversations over a plate of poisson cru and breadfruit that no lodge could arrange.

The second pull is craft. Marquesan tiki carving and tattooing are taken seriously here, and you can watch artists work and talk to them directly. Prices for crafts are lower than in the souvenir shops of Tahiti, and the pieces carry real meaning.

It also gives a long Pacific trip a clear anchor. Flights and the supply ship Aranui connect the islands, so many travelers pair the festival with hiking on Nuku Hiva or Hiva Oa, which gives the journey a purpose beyond island hopping.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while celebrating the Marquesas Islands

  1. Opening ceremony on the tohua: The festival starts on a rebuilt stone ceremonial platform, with chiefs, chanting and a procession of delegations from each island. It is the best place to understand why the event exists at all.
  2. Warrior dances: Men in bark cloth and bone ornaments, with painted bodies, stamp and shout in dances that look closer to combat than choreography. The women’s bird dance is quieter and just as hard to forget.
  3. Tattoo demonstrations: Marquesan tattoo designs cover whole bodies with geometric patterns tied to ancestry. Artists work in open stalls, and you can see the process, with the traditional motifs explained.
  4. Woodcarving and stone sculpture stalls: Rosewood bowls, tiki figures and carved pestles are made on site. Buying straight from the carver is the cheapest way and
… read more 👉
  1. Opening ceremony on the tohua: The festival starts on a rebuilt stone ceremonial platform, with chiefs, chanting and a procession of delegations from each island. It is the best place to understand why the event exists at all.
  2. Warrior dances: Men in bark cloth and bone ornaments, with painted bodies, stamp and shout in dances that look closer to combat than choreography. The women’s bird dance is quieter and just as hard to forget.
  3. Tattoo demonstrations: Marquesan tattoo designs cover whole bodies with geometric patterns tied to ancestry. Artists work in open stalls, and you can see the process, with the traditional motifs explained.
  4. Woodcarving and stone sculpture stalls: Rosewood bowls, tiki figures and carved pestles are made on site. Buying straight from the carver is the cheapest way and the one that supports the island craft economy.
  5. Communal feast: Pit-cooked pork, breadfruit, taro and coconut sweets are served by host families. It is where visitors end up chatting with locals for hours.
If time is short, skip the craft stalls and keep your evenings for the dance programs.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Marquesas Islands Festival?

The Marquesas Islands Festival (Matavaa o te Henua Enana) is now held about every two years, usually in December, and lasts about a week, with the host island rotating among Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva.
  • Best day: The opening ceremony and the first big dance and tattoo displays carry the most energy, with delegations arriving in outrigger canoes. Later days are calmer and easier for talking with carvers.
  • Weather: Expect 26 to 31°C (79 to 88°F), humid, with short heavy showers and about 12 hours of daylight. Bring a rain shell, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and quick-dry clothes.
  • Booking: Flights from Tahiti and the few guesthouses fill months ahead, so reserve 6 to 9 months out. Rooms can rise 20 to 40 percent or sell out.
  • Crowds: Flights into Nuku Hiva and inter-island
… read more 👉
The Marquesas Islands Festival (Matavaa o te Henua Enana) is now held about every two years, usually in December, and lasts about a week, with the host island rotating among Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva.
  • Best day: The opening ceremony and the first big dance and tattoo displays carry the most energy, with delegations arriving in outrigger canoes. Later days are calmer and easier for talking with carvers.
  • Weather: Expect 26 to 31°C (79 to 88°F), humid, with short heavy showers and about 12 hours of daylight. Bring a rain shell, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and quick-dry clothes.
  • Booking: Flights from Tahiti and the few guesthouses fill months ahead, so reserve 6 to 9 months out. Rooms can rise 20 to 40 percent or sell out.
  • Crowds: Flights into Nuku Hiva and inter-island boats are limited, so arrive two days early and leave a day after the closing.
Check the host island and dates with the Marquesas tourism office before booking flights.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: not recommended for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutFrench Polynesia Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for French Polynesia
The digital guide (149 pages) contains:
✅ 41 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 2, 3 & 5-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

The best base is the main village of the host island, within walking distance of the festival grounds, since taxis are scarce and 4WD transfers are costly. On Nuku Hiva that means Taiohae, the largest settlement, with the widest choice of family-run pensions, a waterfront promenade and a few small shops. Ua Pou's Hakahau and Hiva Oa's Atuona work the same way: one compact harbor town where everyone eats, shops and catches rides.

Pensions are the social option here. Dinners are often shared at one long table, so you meet other travelers, artists and visiting delegations without trying. Solo backpackers … read more 👉
The best base is the main village of the host island, within walking distance of the festival grounds, since taxis are scarce and 4WD transfers are costly. On Nuku Hiva that means Taiohae, the largest settlement, with the widest choice of family-run pensions, a waterfront promenade and a few small shops. Ua Pou's Hakahau and Hiva Oa's Atuona work the same way: one compact harbor town where everyone eats, shops and catches rides.

Pensions are the social option here. Dinners are often shared at one long table, so you meet other travelers, artists and visiting delegations without trying. Solo backpackers can feel very safe, since crime is low and people greet strangers on the street. Book early, because capacity is tiny across the whole archipelago.

If pensions are full, look for rooms with local families in quieter bays within a short drive, and agree on a pickup time for evening events. Camping is limited and usually needs the landowner’s permission, so ask locally. Staying in the village also lets you watch rehearsals at dusk, which are often as good as the official shows. Carry a flashlight for unlit roads, and bring insect repellent for the nono (biting sandflies).
Best hostels in French Polynesia


Best quality hotels in French Polynesia

👛 Costs (as of 15 October 2026)How expensive it really is

Plan on roughly US$190 to 315 a day for the festival, with flights from Tahiti as the main extra on top.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 25Many events are free to watch, while some shows or special evenings charge a small entry fee.
AccommodationUS$90 to 150Family pensions in high season cost roughly this per room, with breakfast or dinner sometimes included. Rooms are limited.
Local transportUS$15 to 40Village events are walkable. Taxis or 4WD shuttles to other valleys cost more, and boat trips between islands are extra.
Food & drinksUS$45 to 70Pension dinners cost about US$25 to 40, and festival stalls sell plates for US$8 to 15. Groceries are pricey because everything is shipped in.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$15 to 30Souvenirs such as carvings and tapa cloth, sunscreen,
… read more 👉
Plan on roughly US$190 to 315 a day for the festival, with flights from Tahiti as the main extra on top.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 25Many events are free to watch, while some shows or special evenings charge a small entry fee.
AccommodationUS$90 to 150Family pensions in high season cost roughly this per room, with breakfast or dinner sometimes included. Rooms are limited.
Local transportUS$15 to 40Village events are walkable. Taxis or 4WD shuttles to other valleys cost more, and boat trips between islands are extra.
Food & drinksUS$45 to 70Pension dinners cost about US$25 to 40, and festival stalls sell plates for US$8 to 15. Groceries are pricey because everything is shipped in.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$15 to 30Souvenirs such as carvings and tapa cloth, sunscreen, repellent and cash withdrawals.
Total Daily BudgetUS$190 to 315Per person, per day, in high season.
Prices are generally quoted in Pacific francs (XPF), so carry cash.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Flavors for Backpackers

Festival food in the Marquesas is cooked by island families, and the stalls reflect each island’s own habits. Look for poisson cru in coconut milk, grilled goat and wild pork, and roasted breadfruit or taro as the starch. The star is popoi, a fermented breadfruit paste with a tangy, slightly sour taste, often served with coconut milk. Try it once, in a small spoonful.

The most authentic experience is a kaikai meal cooked in an earth oven, where pork, fish and root vegetables steam under leaves for hours. Island shrimp, lobster and fresh tuna show up too, along with sweet pamplemousse grapefruit, which is famous in the islands and sold by the bag. Drinks are fresh coconut, fruit juice, Hinano beer and plenty of water, since alcohol is sold in limited amounts in some villages.

Bring cash in … read more 👉
Festival food in the Marquesas is cooked by island families, and the stalls reflect each island’s own habits. Look for poisson cru in coconut milk, grilled goat and wild pork, and roasted breadfruit or taro as the starch. The star is popoi, a fermented breadfruit paste with a tangy, slightly sour taste, often served with coconut milk. Try it once, in a small spoonful.

The most authentic experience is a kaikai meal cooked in an earth oven, where pork, fish and root vegetables steam under leaves for hours. Island shrimp, lobster and fresh tuna show up too, along with sweet pamplemousse grapefruit, which is famous in the islands and sold by the bag. Drinks are fresh coconut, fruit juice, Hinano beer and plenty of water, since alcohol is sold in limited amounts in some villages.

Bring cash in Pacific francs (XPF), as stalls rarely take cards and ATMs are few. Portions are generous, and sharing a plate between two is normal. Lines move slowly and nobody minds, so treat the wait as part of the event. Ask before photographing cooks at the earth oven, and accept a taste if it is offered, as refusing can seem rude.

FAQCommon questions from travelers

The festival now takes place about every two years, usually in December, and runs for roughly a week. The host rotates among all six inhabited islands: Nuku Hiva, Ua Pou, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, Tahuata and Fatu Hiva. Confirm the current host island and exact dates with Tahiti Tourisme before booking flights from Papeete, which take about 3.5 to 4 hours to Nuku Hiva.
Attending costs roughly US$190 to 315 a day, mostly for accommodation and food. Many performances are free, while some shows charge about US$0 to 25. Pension rooms run US$90 to 150 a night in high season, and festival meals cost US$8 to 15 per plate.
Most festival performances and village events are free, so you rarely need tickets in advance for them. Some special shows may charge a small fee at the door. What you do need to book early is the flight to the Marquesas and your pension, ideally 6 to 9 months ahead, since the islands have very few beds.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other French Polynesian festivals near Marquesas Islands

Explore more nearby:

  • Heiva i Tahiti—Judged troupes, ‘ōte’a and ‘aparima, outrigger races, tifaifai quilts
  • Tahiti Pearl Regatta—Raiatea start, Taha’a lagoon legs, pearl farms, dockside prizegiving
  • Festival of the Arts—To’ata Square stages, free stone lifting, roulotte dinners, Paofai gardens

💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for French Polynesia including Marquesas Islands and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all festivals

Or checkout all French Polynesia has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore French Polynesia
Country photo of French Polynesia
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Many travelers arrive expecting a ticketed spectacle and book a single night, then miss how the festival really works. Stay at least three days, sit in the audience early, and go talk to the carvers between the shows. I would also bring cash in Pacific francs, since card machines are rare.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in French Polynesia. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story