Pitcairn Island is one of the most isolated inhabited places on Earth. Home to fewer than 40 permanent residents, it sits in the middle of the South Pacific, more than 3,000 miles from New Zealand and South America. There is no airport. The only way to reach the island is by flying to Mangareva in French Polynesia, followed by a roughly 32-hour cargo/passenger ship ride, then a longboat transfer through the surf.
There are no hotels, shopping centers, traffic lights, or fast-food restaurants. The island has one tiny general store with limited hours, and nearly everything must arrive by ship. If a shipment is delayed by weather or mechanical problems, residents simply wait. Fresh produce depends largely on local gardens, and supplies can take months to replace.
The island has electricity, internet, and satellite communications, but service can be slow and outages happen. Medical care is extremely limited. There is a small clinic staffed by a nurse, but serious illnesses or injuries require evacuation by ship and then aircraft—a process that can take days.
Life is peaceful and quiet. Homes are surrounded by lush tropical scenery, dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, and excellent fishing. Crime is virtually nonexistent, and everyone knows everyone else. But privacy is almost impossible, entertainment options are few, and leaving the island requires significant planning, expense, and patience. For people seeking simplicity and isolation, Pitcairn can feel like paradise. For others, the lack of convenience, career opportunities, and easy access to the outside world would quickly become overwhelming.
Previous HROT installments:
1. Could you live here: Supai, Arizona
2. Could you live here: Kerguelen Islands
3. Could you live here: La Rinconada, Peru (Andes Mountains)
4. Could you live here: Tristan da Cunha
HROTe installments:
5. Could you live here: Oymyakon, Siberia
There are no hotels, shopping centers, traffic lights, or fast-food restaurants. The island has one tiny general store with limited hours, and nearly everything must arrive by ship. If a shipment is delayed by weather or mechanical problems, residents simply wait. Fresh produce depends largely on local gardens, and supplies can take months to replace.
The island has electricity, internet, and satellite communications, but service can be slow and outages happen. Medical care is extremely limited. There is a small clinic staffed by a nurse, but serious illnesses or injuries require evacuation by ship and then aircraft—a process that can take days.
Life is peaceful and quiet. Homes are surrounded by lush tropical scenery, dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear water, and excellent fishing. Crime is virtually nonexistent, and everyone knows everyone else. But privacy is almost impossible, entertainment options are few, and leaving the island requires significant planning, expense, and patience. For people seeking simplicity and isolation, Pitcairn can feel like paradise. For others, the lack of convenience, career opportunities, and easy access to the outside world would quickly become overwhelming.
Previous HROT installments:
1. Could you live here: Supai, Arizona
2. Could you live here: Kerguelen Islands
3. Could you live here: La Rinconada, Peru (Andes Mountains)
4. Could you live here: Tristan da Cunha
HROTe installments:
5. Could you live here: Oymyakon, Siberia
