EXCURSIONES EN TIERRA

Delve into traditional Tahitian culture by cruising to nearby Tahaa to discover how vanilla is grown and black pearls are produced before an island lunch and relaxing on the island’s gorgeous beach.

After departing from the pier in a motorized catamaran, you will enjoy a wonderfully scenic cruise across a turquoise-blue lagoon to the island of Tahaa, which lies due north. Your first destination ashore is a vanilla farm. You will probably be greeted by the scent of the spice before arriving as 70% of the vanilla grown in French Polynesia is from Tahaa.

Expect to see and smell fragrant vanilla pods curing in the sun. You may also stroll among the rows of climbing orchids that produce the pods and learn how they are pollinated. There will be some time for shopping before continuing on with a short drive to Motu Pearl Village. Established in 1991, the village cultivates black pearls in the warm, crystal-clear waters of the surrounding lagoon. After hearing the fascinating story of how the pearls are produced, you may shop for jewelry and other items adorned with these prized treasures. Like vanilla, black pearls are synonymous with Tahaa, and both are mainstays of the economy.

After the visit, enjoy a cocktail or a fresh local beer before a traditional Polynesian buffet lunch is served while a live Polynesian group entertains you. It makes for an excellent introduction to the pareo show that follows. A pareo is a wraparound skirt that is essential to Tahitian dance. Finally, you will head for the beach of Motu Mahea to relax, sunbathe or get in the water before returning to the pier.

Cruise to the island of Tahaa to visit a vanilla farm and then visit a small islet nearby to comb the beaches, snorkel and enjoy a typical Polynesian picnic lunch.

After departing from the pier in a boat, you will soon enter the protected turquoise lagoon that encircles Raiatea, an island whose name translates to faraway heaven. Upon arriving at the nearby island of Tahaa, it's a short walk to reach the vanilla plantation. Seventy percent of the vanilla grown in French Polynesia is from Tahaa and it makes for a wonderfully fragrant setting. While strolling about, you can expect to see and smell aromatic vanilla pods curing in the sun. You may also walk among the rows of climbing orchids that produce the pods and learn how they are hand-pollinated. You will also have time to shop for vanilla-infused products.

Re-boarding your boat, it's a short cruise to one of the lagoon's gorgeous reef islets, known as motus. Few places are so relaxing, serene and ideal for beachcombing. An island style lunch will be served during your time on the motu, and the remainder of your stay will be free to do as you please. You might sunbathe or relax in the shade, doing nothing more ambitious than watching the waves gently lap at the shore. Or you may enjoy a refreshing swim and a bit of snorkeling (mask and snorkel provided).

Explore Raiatea's abundant flora and fauna during this journey through the on a motorized outrigger canoe with a breach break at one of the many small islets.

Board your motorized outrigger canoe at the pier and glide over the waters of Raiatea's deep blue lagoon towards the mouth of the Faaroa River; Polynesia's only navigable river. Along the way, you will see wild hibiscus, or purau, bamboo groves, chestnut trees, ginger flowers, villages and more. Your guide will also share a bit of Polynesian history and folklore.

Leaving the river, you’ll stop at a motu (islet) where you can swim and relax while enjoying some refreshments.

Settle in for an enlightening drive along Raiatea's eastern shore, stopping along the way at attractions of immense cultural and historical significance. The islanders have long cultivated pearls, and you will observe how they produce these lustrous natural gemstones at an aquatic farm within the warm waters of the surrounding lagoon. Ancient seafaring Polynesians passed through a break in the lagoon reef to reach Marae Taputapuātea, a sacred setting for political and ceremonial events. UNESCO deemed the setting worthy of a World Heritage site designation for being an exceptional testimony to a millennium of Polynesian history. It is one of the most important marae in the islands and was dedicated to Oro, the god of war, who was a significant figure in the area's ancient religion. Raiatea's climate is ideal for growing fruit, and you will sample a variety of exotic varieties for a glimpse into the local diet. The starch-heavy staple breadfruit or uru will likely be offered.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Observe how pearls are cultivated in the turquoise lagoon that surrounds Raiatea. • Visit a sacred World Heritage site where ancient Polynesians held religious ceremonies. • Sample a variety of exotic fruits that flourish on the island.

Delve deeply into the ancient origins of the Polynesian culture at a sacred national monument in the village of Opoa.

On the way, you will first pause at an aquatic farm to see how exquisite pearls at cultivated in the turquoise seas surrounding Raiatea. It makes a wonderful prelude to visiting Marae Taputapuatea, a holy communal site on the coast where Polynesians held religious and social ceremonies long before missionaries arrived. As you peruse the stone-paved platforms and shrines, the guide will elaborate on the significance of this particular marae, which UNESCO declared an esteemed World Heritage site.

In general, marae are places where ancient Polynesians believed that the living world intersected with the world of their ancestors and gods. Marae Taputapuatea overlooks a sacred opening in the reef through which visitors by sea arrived. Following your enlightening visit to the marae, you will stop a private home to observe how the owner grows vanilla plants.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Observe how pearls are cultivated in the surrounding turquoise seas. • Visit a sacred World Heritage site where ancient Polynesians held religious ceremonies. • Stop by a local residence to see how the homeowner grows vanilla plants.

OVERVIEW

Cruise through the turquoise-blue lagoon that surrounds Raiatea and become immersed in traditional Tahitian culture by visiting an ancient holy site along the coast. From the covered deck of the motorized catamaran, you will enjoy uninterrupted views of the island's beautiful eastern shore and natural highlights such as Mount Tapioi and the Temehani plateau. After passing through a break in the lagoon reef, you will disembark at Marae Taputapuātea, a sacred setting for political, religious and funerary events that dates back more than a millennium. This marae is a place of such cultural and spiritual significance that UNESCO deemed it a World Heritage site. The guide will elaborate on its history and the ceremonies that once took place on the stone platforms and within the shrines. Later, you will pause along the bay-like Faaroa River, the only navigable river in French Polynesia. The tropical forests that blanket its banks are absolutely breathtaking.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise a catamaran through the naturally beautiful lagoon that surrounds Raiatea.
• Visit a UNESCO World Heritage site where ancient Polynesians held sacred ceremonies.
• Admire the gorgeous tropical scenery lining the wide, deep-water Faaroa River.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Take the controls of a Waverunner and zip through the gorgeous, crystal-clear lagoon off Raiatea for an exhilarating ride like no other.

You won't have to waste much time getting to the beach because it's just a short walk of a few hundred yards from the port. Although you will more or less follow the guide, you will be free to cut through the sea at will. You can expect an adventurous, adrenaline-pumping ride from start to finish.

In time, the guide will lead you into a shallow area in the protected lagoon that will be teeming with marine life. While there is no telling what you will observe while snorkeling, the most commonly spotted species include damselfish, mullet, Picasso triggerfish and graceful sea turtles. The visibility in the water is extraordinary, making it even easier to see the variety of sea life. You will then hop back on the Waverunner for one, last thrilling ride back to the beach. HIGHLIGHTS • Race through the lagoon surrounding Raiatea in a WaveRunner.
• Follow the guide into a shallow part of the lagoon where the water is crystal-clear.
• Observe the abundant, brightly colored marine life while snorkeling.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy a leisurely cruise through the sheltered lagoon that separates the islands of Raiatea and Tahaa, an experience that will be all the more memorable at sunset. As the sun begins to dip in the sky and cast long shadows across the islands and the brilliant blue lagoon, the scenery will become even more photogenic. Every picture that you take will look like it is straight out of a travel magazine. Throughout the cruise, you will hear enlightening commentary about natural landmarks such the reef islets, called motus, and the towering Temehani plateau. The legend of the tiare apetahi - a rare endemic flower that only grows on the plateau's highest slopes - is especially captivating. The silhouetted island that you will see to the northwest, just beyond Tahaa, is Bora Bora. Still, sunset is the show-stopping star of this cruise as it typically paints the sky shades of fiery orange, red, yellow and even purple.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise the lagoon between Raiatea and Tahaa at dusk, when it is spectacularly photogenic.
• Watch an absolutely pyrotechnic sunset that paints the sky every fiery color imaginable.
• See natural attractions such as the Temehani plateau and Bora Bora in the distance.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover the pristine natural beauty of Raiatea along the same route used by New Zealand's Maohi settlers during this scenic kayak adventure on the Fa'aroa River.

From the pier, it's a scenic 30-minute drive to the Fa'aroa River, French Polynesia's only navigable river. Upon arrival, you will receive your safety instructions and equipment and then embark your two-person kayak. Led by your guide, you will begin your journey by paddling from Raiatea's fjord-like inlet, or Fa'aroa Gorge, to the scenic Fa'aroa River. Along the way, you will find the steep river walls to be lush with jungle foliage, and home to diverse species of birds and wild hibiscus trees, or purau, growing along the sheer cliffs of the rainforest.

After approximately 2 hours of paddling, you'll return to shore and transfer back to the pier in Raiatea.

Explore Tahiti's most unique and sought-after natural treasures during this visit to a Black Pearl Farm that includes a snorkeling adventure.

A scenic drive from the pier brings you to a pontoon where you will board a boat and travel out to the fringe reef. Here, you will find a small pearl station that has been built over the lagoon. During your visit, your guide will unveil all of the secrets of Tahiti's most mysterious gem, the famous Black Pearl. Watch the grafter as they perform the operation on the pearl and learn about how the pearls are harvested and their value in the world today. This is truly an unforgettable look at one of nature's finest gifts. There is a small boutique at the pearl farm (cash and credit cards are accepted).

Next, you'll have the opportunity to snorkel the crystal-clear waters of one of Raiatea's most beautiful reefs, with a view of Bora Bora rising above the water. Upon entering the water, you will see wonderful underwater fauna, colorful coral formations and a myriad of tropical fish swimming around you.

Visit Raiatea's sister island Taha'a on this tour that highlights the beauty and culture of French Polynesia and includes stops at a pearl farm, vanilla plantation and a snorkel site.

From the pier in Raiatea, you will board a boat and begin your excursion with a scenic cruise across the tranquil lagoon towards Taha'a. An ancient legend says that Raiatea and Taha'a were originally one island until a giant eel swallowed a young girl. Possessed by her spirit, the enraged creature broke through the surface of the earth, causing the sea to surge. The impact of the water causing the island to be cut in two, creating the separate islands of Raiatea and Taha'a.

Upon arrival in Taha'a, you'll transfer to 4WD vehicles and navigate your way into the island's valleys and mountains. Along the way, your guide will point out the various sights you are passing. At a beautiful viewpoint, you'll stop for photos and discover the traditional use of local plants and trees. You will also have the opportunity to sample local fruits and learn the Tamure, a typical Tahitian dance.

The island of Taha'a is often called the Vanilla Island and a visit to a small, local vanilla plantation allows you to learn all about this fragrant spice that has a multitude of uses. You'll also stop at a small black pearl farm and discover how these treasures of the sea are raised and harvested. These small cottage industries are part of the island's economic structure and will give you a broader perspective of life here in French Polynesia.

Rejoining your boat, you will cruise across the turquoise waters to a motu (islet) where you can enjoy some time for snorkeling or swimming before returning to the pier in Raiatea.

Explore the scenic beauty of Raiatea's sister island during this drift snorkeling and lagoon tour along the Taha'a coast.

Depart the pier aboard a covered motorized boat and navigate the lagoon and along the west coast of Taha'a, Raiatea's beautiful sister island. Put on your water shoes and follow your guide across an uninhabited islet, or motu, located just off the coast. After reaching the other side of the motu, you'll start your drift snorkeling experience. Your guide will lead you while the current carries you through the shallow lagoon on the way back to the boat. There is no stopping along the way, but drift will be done 2 or 3 times if time allows. This particular area abounds with a spectacular variety of tropical fish and amazing coral. The unique richness of this coral garden will leave you with lasting memories of your visit. Enjoy refreshments before cruising back to the pier in Raiatea.