Hiva Oa is one of the 6 inhabited islands of the Marquesas, the most remote island group on Earth. It is located just south of the Equator in the open Pacific, about 750 miles northeast of Tahiti.

Atuona, a peaceful little port at the head of Taaoa Bay (also known as Traitors Bay), is the administrative center for the southern Marquesas. It is a magnet for hotels, restaurants, and shopping, and a favorite port of call for yachts and merchant ships.

Marked by such intense natural beauty as 1,000-foot waterfalls cascading down sheer volcanic cliffs and towering mountains that disappear into the clouds, the Marquesas are rugged volcanic islands unprotected by a barrier reef. The surf crashes against a rocky shoreline punctuated by stunning, fiord-like bays. Inland, the lush and sweet-smelling plant life is heavy with plumeria, bougainvillea, orchids, spider lilies, ginger, ylang-ylang, and jasmine.

Hiva Oa visitors can experience its natural splendor via Land Rover excursions, horseback riding, hikes along mountain trails to inland cascades, beach and mountain picnics, deep-sea fishing, sailing, and motorboat rides.

If shopping is your passion, hunt for woodcarvings, wall hangings, and perfumed oils at the many artisan workshops. Amateur archaeologists can explore an ancient religious site at Tehueko. Its petroglyphs bear a distinct resemblance to the mysterious statues on Easter Island.

This was the paradise that Paul Gauguin chose when he wanted to get away from it all -- and he never left. His final resting place is in Atuona. The village's Gauguin Museum displays items related to the painter's life here at the beginning of the 20th century and exhibits copies of his works.

Experience the untamed landscapes and endless vistas of an island whose sheer isolation has inspired artists and adventurers throughout the ages.