Raʻiātea or Raiatea (Tahitian: Raʻiātea) is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti, in French Polynesia, in the South Pacific Ocean.

Raiatea means ‘distant sky’ or ‘sky with soft light’ in Tahitian. This green, mountainous island is the most sacred island in French Polynesia. The dive sites in the passes have very clear water, so you can observe the marine life from a distance and see down to the seabed.

Things to Do in Raiatea, French Polynesia: See Tripadvisor's 8,730 traveler reviews and photos of Raiatea tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in April. We have reviews of the best places to see in Raiatea. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.

The island of Raiatea, to the south of Bora Bora, is the most sacred island in the Polynesian Triangle. Visit a site that has been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, navigate on Faaroa River, and pass an emotional moment admiring an endemic flower which is the island’s emblem, the tiare apetahi.

Mar 28, 2023 · World-class surf over razor sharp reef, sandless shorelines, and rugged hills are the norm. It’s also one of the most sacred islands in French Polynesia, and the name ‘Raiatea’ translates into Bright Sky. Raiatea and its lagoon partner island of Taha’a were unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been.

Raiatea has been very much in the spotlight recently, due to the classification of the marae of Taputapuatea as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Only 45 minutes from Tahiti by plane, the island has a historical importance which it puts to its advantage as a tourist destination.

A flower that grows only on Mount Temehani and nowhere else in the world. The only navigable river in Polynesia. A site that is sacred to Polynesians throughout the Polynesian triangle. A shipwreck you can dive to. Raiatea is a place for unique experiences. Huahine Taha’a.

Feb 27, 2025 · Raiatea, largest island of the Îles Sous le Vent (Leeward Islands), in the Society Islands, French Polynesia, in the central South Pacific Ocean. With an area of 92 square miles (238 square km), it is the second largest island of French Polynesia.

You got it, yes you do, it is the island of Raiatea.” A must-see of the Society Archipelago, it is the biggest of the Leeward Islands and one of the most populated. It shares with Taha’a, its roommate, a lagoon, a history, and a big part of Polynesian culture.

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