Tahiti - Huahine

The ideal place to experience the traditional Polynesian way of life.

Last of the Society Islands reached by tourism, Huahine has remained virtually unknown to tourists until recently.

With its deep water bays, and lagoons bordered by motus, mountainous Huahine is ripe for your exploration. Visit the tiny, picturesque port of Fare when it really comes to life: on shipping day. That's when many of Huahine's 4,000 inhabitants travel to town by le truck to see old friends, swap news, sell their pigs, copra and melons, and buy goods from the incoming supply ships.

And visit the sleepy village of Parea, where Polynesians live a happy, peaceful life, little changed over the generations. Hire horses for a long ride through tropical mountain trails. Be sure to stop by a vanilla plantation for a handful of the aromatic beans. If surfing's your thing, don't miss the renowned waves of Avamoa Pass. Scenic views abound whether one wades along the coast or climbs in the mountains. With more than thirty miles of roads to explore, Huahine, unlike other islands, can take several days to discover completely. 

Huahine is also home to many of French Polynesia's most important archaeological sites. Fascinating artifacts of ancient Polynesian life can be found around Maeva, the former royal village, where a guide can lead you to restored maraes, or sacrificial temples, and to lakes where 300-year-old stone fishing traps are still in use. 

Make Huahine an alternative or a perfect complement to legendary Bora Bora or lush, tropical Moorea.