Raiatea 🏝️🏝️ – Travel Buddies: Pete & Joan

2024

Raiatea is the second-largest island in French Polynesia, and it is often referred to as the “Sacred Island” due to its historical and cultural significance in Polynesian mythology. We were greeted by lush landscapes, vibrant flora, mountains, waterfalls, lagoons and a sense of serenity that sets it apart from some of the other islands. We were also greeted by this happy quartet!

We had two days to soak up some off-the-beaten-path experiences. The island is surrounded by a stunning coral reef, creating strikingly clear, turquoise waters that shimmer under the tropical sun. The lagoons are protected by extensive coral reefs that form natural barriers, creating calm, shallow waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

The backdrop of lush, green mountains and clear, blue skies enhanced the boat excursion we hired for the day…..a really picturesque setting.

We were also enjoying the boat we were in….all handmade and in beautiful condition. The people were beautiful too!!!

Our snorkeling involved walking from our boat along a tranquil beach and then snorkeling back through absolutely crystal-clear waters.

We met this guy along the way….looks like a hard day of work!

Vanilla Plantation

We visited a beautiful vanilla plantation on the island of Taha’a. A guide provided information about vanilla, its growth, and its drying stage. The scent of Tahitian vanilla is supposedly unique, but unfortunately, my lack of a sense of smell did not pick it up. (Taha’a is also called Vanilla Island.)

This vanilla is prized around the world because its beans are larger and juicier than those of Madagascar vanilla. It was originally brought to Polynesia from Mexico, and as we have learned before, it needs to be pollinated by hand.

Now I know why natural vanilla is so expensive to purchase! I have summarized the many steps to the process in this document.

It was a nice surprise to come across this pod of dolphins! What a spectacular site as they play and leap out of the water. Dolphins are highly social animals, and these pods can be compared to extended families.

Dolphins communicate using a complex system of clicks, whistles, and body language. Each dolphin has a unique whistle, similar to a name, which allows them to identify and call out to each other.

Pearl Workstations

Well, we have seen islands, islets, and motus….but we have never seen buildings like these sitting in the middle of a lagoon! These houses serve as workstations for pearl farmers…a base for monitoring the oysters, performing daily maintenance, and harvesting pearls. The location in the middle of the lagoon allows easy access to the underwater pearl lines. Or, perhaps, just a real getaway!! Imagine renting one of these on Air BnB!

Love Here Pearl Farm

We visited this Pearl Farm for a presentation on the Tahitian Black Pearl, followed by a tour of the grafting, an essential step in the production of the pearl.

Pearl grafting involves implanting a nucleus and a piece of mantle tissue into a pearl oyster or mollusk, prompting the formation of a pearl. This delicate and specialized process is used in pearl farming to cultivate cultured pearls.

This is a somewhat complex process which is summarized here.

I seldom make purchases on our travels….and rarely buy jewelry…but I did buy a black pearl It’s not a very high grade…but it’s a good memory!

Another Snorkeling Adventure!

A nice thing about our second day of snorkeling was that it was not crowded and in absolutely pristine waters. The disappointing thing was that we got the boat with the “poor guide” who also struggled with English and gave little help or direction about what we were doing. After my ‘not so mild’ complaints to him, he guided the four of us to a snorkeling experience unlike any other to date.

We walked toward the pass, where the open ocean enters into the lagoon. When we entered the water to snorkel back to the boat, we caught the rush of the ocean water entering the lagoon. The gentle push of the current guided us effortlessly, making the snorkeling feel almost like a natural drift….just gliding along through stunning coral formations as the sunlight penetrated the shallow waters and illuminated the intricate coral. I so wish we would have had one of the underwater cameras! The pictures above were taken from the web just to help remind me of this experience. The only negative part was that it did not last long enough!

Opoa Beach Hotel for Lunch

A Tahitian lunch with many culinary delights.

Taputapuatea Marae

The Taputapuatea Marae, a significant archaeological site on Raiatea, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was a center for religious ceremonies and a place of worship dedicated to the god ‘Oro. This marae is a massive stone structure with various platforms and statues. It served as a place for important ceremonies, gatherings, and rituals.

This marae, set against the stunning backdrop of lush mountains and crystal-clear lagoon waters, is believed to be the spiritual center of Polynesia, where navigators from across the Pacific would gather for ceremonies and to pay homage to their gods. Today it is poignant reminder of the enduring cultural heritage and spiritual life of the Polynesian people.

A river Runs Through It……

We rode along the Faaroa River, a unique and significant natural feature of Raiatea…. it is the only navigable river in French Polynesia. It is surrounded by dense tropical vegetation, including towering bamboo, wild hibiscus, and various fruit trees. The river was historically an important route for the ancient Polynesians, who used it for transportation and trade. A really tranquill and serene area….I just wish the music had not been playing in the boat!