About the Port
Atuona sits on the island of Hiva Oa in the Marquesas, one of the most remote archipelagos in French Polynesia, ringed by dramatic volcanic ridgelines and black-sand shores. Mount Temetiu, the range's tallest peak, rises above the town, while ancient stone tiki figures stand watch over the surrounding valleys, remnants of Marquesan culture that predate European contact. The island's isolation and stark beauty drew both painter Paul Gauguin and singer Jacques Brel, who spent their final years here and are buried in the hillside Calvary Cemetery above town.
Landings depend on ocean conditions, as swells can make small-boat access unpredictable. When weather allows, the cemetery and a modest Gauguin cultural center are within easy reach of the shoreline, offering a quiet, evocative counterpoint to the more traveled islands of French Polynesia.
Pavlus Recommendations
How our planners would spend a day in Atuona.
Visit Calvary Cemetery
Climb the hillside above town to the graves of Gauguin and Brel, set among simple headstones with sweeping views over Atuona and the bay.
See the Gauguin Cultural Center
A modest museum near the shore tracing the painter's final years on Hiva Oa, an easy walk from the landing when conditions allow.
Seek Out Ancient Tiki Sites
Explore nearby valleys to find weathered stone tiki figures, some of the largest in French Polynesia, standing as remnants of pre-contact Marquesan culture.
Cruise Lines That Call Here
Cruises That Visit Atuona
| Departs | Cruise Line | Ship | Itinerary | Nights | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2026 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 23 | $17,920 | |
| Nov 12, 2026 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $7,607 | |
| Dec 10, 2026 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 18 | $6,873 | |
| Dec 17, 2026 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $5,902 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 126 | $90,099 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 63 | $30,004 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 145 | $87,269 | |
| Jan 5, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 35 | $15,809 | |
| Jan 17, 2027 | Seabourn | Seabourn Quest | 23 | $9,604 | |
| Jan 21, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $10,115 | |
| Jan 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $10,395 | |
| Jan 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 14 | $7,929 | |
| Mar 10, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 22 | $17,680 | |
| Mar 10, 2027 | Silversea | Silver Cloud Expedition | 35 | $21,200 | |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 11 | $4,197 | |
| Mar 28, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 18 | $6,781 | |
| Apr 22, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $12,831 | |
| Apr 29, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 14 | $10,379 | |
| Apr 29, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 21 | $15,855 | |
| Oct 3, 2027 | Windstar | Star Breeze | 18 | $6,729 |
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