Marquesas Islands

Located 850 miles north of Tahiti and 3,000 miles west of Mexico, the Marquesas Islands is the most remote island chain in the world are.  Though named for the Spanish 5^th Marquis of Canete, they are the one of the largest island groups in French Polynesia though still only have a combined land mass of about 400 square miles – about the same size as Buckeye, AZ – but with only 9,000 residents. 

The Marquesas are tropical islands, with lush landscape and abundant sea life.  Hiva Oa, in the southern group of islands was the final home and resting place of Paul Gauguin who moved there from Tahiti.  Many of his latest works were painted there and the island has a cultural center that features reproductions of many of his works.