Places to visit

Though their names are often invoked in the same breath, Raiatea and Tahaa are two distinctly different islands. We invite visitors to discover the intriguing contrasts between these adjoined isles.

Indeed, sightseeing in this region of French Polynesia is almost like visiting two separate worlds. Soak up the small town ambiance and rugged terrain of Tahaa, then take in the sites around relatively cosmopolitan Raiatea. It’s this curious contrast that helps make sightseeing in Raiatea and Tahaa so much fun.

Apooiti Marina Complex

Home to the Clubhouse - touted as the largest restaurant on Raiatea/Tahaa - this marina is one of the more contemporary attractions in the area. The restaurant’s large veranda is the ideal place to enjoy a drink on a warm evening.

Faaroa River

Winding its way though valleys, gorges and rainforests, the Faaroa river holds a mythic place in the history of Raiatea/Tahaa. This balmy green haven, bordered by wild hibiscus trees, is the historic site where hundreds of brave Maohi families departed on their migratory voyages to settle in New Zealand. It is the only navigable river in Polynesia.

Haamene & Hurepiti Bays

These two narrow and fjordlike passages cut deep into the Tahaa landscape. Easily accessible by foot, both bays offer stunning panoramic vistas.

Marae Taputapuatea

This Polynesian temple is a national monument, featuring six stone shrines located on a flat, sandy point. A great number of human sacrifices were performed at this historic site.

Na Te Ara Museum

Also located at the Apooiti Marina Complex, this small, fascinating museum boasts a superb assortment of preserved flora and fauna indigenous to French Polynesia. The exhibit is a bonanza for wildlife lovers, as it features over 25,000 items, including exotic butterflies, shells, coral, turtles, beetles and crustaceans. Relics and specimens from Asia and other South Pacific locales are also displayed.

Taputapuatea Archeological Area

Like its neighboring island Hauhine, Raiatea has yielded its share of archeological treasures over the years. All of which makes a visit to this archeological site an essential stop. Here, scientists have uncovered relics linking the island to Hawaii, corroborating the locally-held belief that Raiatea was a staging ground for ancient Polynesian mariners.