Top Things to do in Raiatea
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Raiatea, French Polynesia
Discover the best top things to do in Raiatea, French Polynesia including Arii Moana Tours, Hemisphere Sub, L' Excursion Bleue Day Tours, Te Mara Nui Plongee, Taputapuatea Marae, Raiatea Activities, Niyati Croisiere Plongee, Mount Tapioi, Raiatea Jet, The Anapa Pearl Farm.
Restaurants in Raiatea
1. Arii Moana Tours
Overall Ratings
5 based on 81 reviews
Reviewed By Brad X - Minnesota
We decided to book with Arii Moana Tours while visiting Raiatea. The cost was approximately $88USD and included snorkeling, a pearl farm tour, a tour of a vanilla plantation, and lunch. The owner, Julien, worked very hard to make sure we had an enjoyable day. The highlight for us was a snorkeling spot in a channel near Tahaa. You walk across a small island and hop into the water in the channel. The incoming tide carries you along through a coral garden that is swarming with sea life. It was like an amusement ride. We are divers and have been fortunate enough to see lots of sea life before, but this was more than memorable. The colors this close to the surface made for great pictures. The boat stopped at a pearl farm where you are given a demonstration of pearl farming techniques and can buy some pearls if you are so inclined. We also went to a vanilla plantation for another demonstration. Lunch was provided during a break on an island and we were also able to see the structure/use of some traditional fish traps. Overall this was well worth the cost.
2. Hemisphere Sub
Overall Ratings
5 based on 156 reviews
Reviewed By juliaradz - Bogota, Colombia
My husband and I didn't know about this dive shop and only dove with them because our cruise captain called them to arrange a dive in advance. We were really glad he did because Julien and his crew were a super friendly and fun bunch, and really knowledgeable about their business. I hadn't gone diving in a long time and was very nervous, and they were all attentive to my needs and Farid especially kept a close watch on me throughout the dive to make sure I was OK. We saw tons of marine life and the wreck dive was amazing! Definitely recommend this company!
3. L' Excursion Bleue Day Tours
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 308 reviews
Reviewed By Lau74SXB - France
This was a wonderful outing to Tahaa: interesting, beautiful and so much FUN! Thank you Bruno for your love to nature and your savoir faire, we felt always in the best hands possible. Great informative stops in vanilla and pearl farms, terrific swim with friendly sharks, lovely coral Gardens, scenic buffet with magnificent Bora Bora views and the BEST snorkelling for a perfect closure of the day. Highly recommended.
4. Te Mara Nui Plongee
Overall Ratings
5 based on 84 reviews
Reviewed By OleB61 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Floriane was a great guide and very pleasant company. I did the Danish 3-mast sailing ship from 1900 (which I had to do since I am originally from Denmark). The wreck is 60 meters long and lies on her side at -30 meters. Highly recommended operator for divers with any amount of experience. Thanks.
5. Taputapuatea Marae
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 211 reviews
The largest and most important religious site in Polynesia features the ancient temple area located on the edge of a huge lagoon.
Reviewed By J R W - Carson City, Nevada
Most of my visits to Taputapuatea were from the seaside when we would anchor there. This was my first stop while driving around the island, and since the last time I was there they have constructed a visitor center as well as many informational signs in French, Tahitian and English.
We first saw it in 1972, just four years after Dr. Yoshihiko Sinoto of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu organized a party to reconstruct it.
It was first examined and discussed by Dr. K.P. Emory, also of the Bishop Museum in 1925.
The meaning of Taputapuatea is sacrifices from afar. It is one of the oldest and most powerful maraes in all of Polynesia and it is said that for any other religious marea to have any power, it had to include a stone taken from here.
According to legend, the Polynesians from as far away as the Marquesas would come to here on regular pilgrimages. They would kill their human sacrifices in the lagoon and use the bodies as canoe rollers so as not to damage the canoes when they were dragged ashore.
This is certainly worth an hour or so of your time if you want to wander around and read all of the signage.
6. Raiatea Activities
Overall Ratings
5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By Geoff F - Liverpool, United Kingdom
Very good island after the disappointment of Bora Bora. Good cruise ship destination with good tours available on the quayside. We took a trip in what was laughingly called a coach, it was actually a truck with seats inside a multi coloured add-on. You will know them when you see them. The trip had a great guide who was very knowledgable about the Polynesian people's and their heritage, and a justifiably proud man who wanted freedom from the French. We saw all the holy sites of interest rather than the usual stops at the local junk shops. The guide also brought a type of ukulele and entertained us all with some local songs.
7. Niyati Croisiere Plongee
Overall Ratings
5 based on 58 reviews
Diving and cruise in french polynesia, 4 guests maximum on board.
Reviewed By Amanda R - Basel, Switzerland
We will never forget the wonderful days we spent on Niyati Plongee. We can never even try to sum it up in the 100 words available! Jean Pierre and Valerie were the most accomodating, fun, professional and expert crew ever. Nothing was too much trouble and they always went above and beyond anything imaginable and tried to cover any special wishes we had!
We truely recommend a trip to anyone who loves to dive, eat well, share fun and stories and take a trip to paradise.
Amanda & Guillermo
8. Mount Tapioi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 86 reviews
Reviewed By Odd_Meter - New York
We got up 45 minutes before dawn when it was light enough to do normal outdoor activities and hiked up to the top of Mt Tapioi. I had printed a map from the app GaiaGPS, so had no problem finding the trail. Coming from the cruise dock, you go to the right. At the roundabout go right (north) a short distance. Just past the bibliotheque and just before the gendarme station a small road goes off on the left. Follow it straight past a cattle grate where it bends right and then left, and then reaches a gate to block car traffic. Past that point just follow the main path. It took us a bit longer than we thought from the ship, maybe 50 minutes, so we missed the sun rising, but the views around to Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora and Huahine were excellent. There was a strong wind at the top and the day was beautiful. If you want you can walk all the way around the top and connect back to the main trail to go down. Next time we would get up 15 minutes sooner to get up there for dawn. It was coolish when we started but got warm quickly. We saw a number of other people, almost all alone, getting their morning exercise climbing the hill.
9. Raiatea Jet
Overall Ratings
5 based on 34 reviews
Exclusive jetski Safaris through the unspoiled beauty of raiatea's huge lagoon.
Reviewed By L1864YJcynthiac - Dallas, Texas
My husband and I booked Raiatea Jet for a 5 hour tour and we had the greatest time! In order to book the trip, we just emailed them since the website is in French and Jeremy got back to us right away with options, availability and cost. Jeremy met us right at the pier where our cruise ship docked and we had a short 10 min or so ride to pick up the jet skis, sign a release and get some instruction. We went everywhere, saw dolphins, went snorkeling in the coral garden, stopped at a number of motus, saw dolphins, had a picnic lunch, went to a vanilla farm, the works! It was the highlight of our trip and Jeremy was very personable and gave us great insights about the island and culture. They have three jet skis so it will be a very private, personalized experience and completely worth the time and money. Other tips: They take cash only (there is an ATM right in the visitors center) and wear a shirt with sleeves as no matter how often you apply sunscreen, you will likely burn a little.
10. The Anapa Pearl Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 51 reviews
Visit Anapa Perles, an authentic pearl farm on Raiatea’s pristine west coast. Join our pearl divers and explore the rare aquatic reserve and coral garden where the pearl oyster lives in perfect harmony. Discover the myths and legends of Tahiti’s most mysterious jewel and participate in an exciting pearl harvest. Visit the pearl farm boutique. Great underwater photo opportunities. Look for tropical reef fish, manta rays and endangered green sea turtles at this magical spot. As seen in National Geographic and Geo Magazine. Yacht moorings available: 2 reef side in the sandy green water (3-4 m), 1 deep water.Secure Anchorage Shuttle boat service to and from your yacht. Snorkeling gear provided. Guests should bring: Sunscreen, sunglasses. Wear swimsuit under clothes.
Reviewed By Dan W - Portland, Oregon
Like most of the pearl farms in Tahiti Anapa Pearl Farm is mostly for selling visitors pearl jewelry. There is not much on oyster farming but what there is, is interesting to learn about. The designs on display are really the main attraction and worth a quick visit.
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