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Raiatea is the second largest island in French Polynesia, located 120 miles north-west of Tahiti. The principal village of Uturoa is the Administrative Centre for the Leeward Society Islands.
For the Polynesian Maohi, ancestors of today's Tahitians, Raiatea was know as Sacred Havai'i and was the centre for royalty, religion, culture and history.
A partially paved road circles the island winding through fertile valleys and wide flatland, past farms and orchards. Inland tours reveal lush green valleys, pineapple and vanilla plantations. Guided walking tours are an ideal way to encounter some of the island's beautiful plants - the rare Tiare Apetahi is a 5-petalled flower which pops open at dawn. While a jungle cruise on the Faaroa river, bordered by wild hibiscus purau trees, by outrigger canoe explores Polynesia's only navigable river.
But for real escapism take a boat excursion across the lagoon to one of the island's many surrounding motus, a small palm shaded, white sand beach islet located inside the barrier reef - seclusion is yours for the day. |
