Raiatea Island

French Polynesia

Raiatea is the second-largest island of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, sharing a lagoon with Taha'a. The cultural heart of Polynesia — from which the great migrations to Hawaii and New Zealand departed — it holds Taputapuatea, the most important marae temple in Polynesia and a UNESCO site. Attractions include the restored marae, the navigable Faaroa River, pearl and vanilla farms, the lagoon's coral gardens, and the motu islets of the shared lagoon.