MARQUESAS
Even now, some of the islands are
virtually untouched since the era of
European exploration. The isolation
of the Marquesas from other lands
has created an immense pride
among the people and a fascinating
culture. The language is unique to
Tahiti, as the lilting Marquesan
dialect is traced directly to the
ancient Polynesian tongue of Maohi.
Natural wonders abound as 1000-foot
waterfalls cascade down sheer
volcanic cliffs, and towering
mountains disappear mysteriously in
the clouds.
MOOREA
Moorea, soaring magically out of the
ocean in an explosion of green
velvet, is what you would imagine a
South Seas island to be.
A wide, shallow lagoon surrounds the
island's vertical mountains where
poetic threads of waterfalls tumble
down fern-softened cliffs. Peaceful
meadows flanked by pinnacles of
green will fill your senses and renew
your belief in the majesty of nature.
Pastel-painted houses surrounded by
gardens of hibiscus and birds of
paradise, circle the island in a fantasy
of happy, yet simple villages.
BORA BORA
Bora Bora, with a lagoon resembling
an artist's palette of blues and
greens, is love at first sight.
Honeymooners and romantics from
around the world have laid claim to
Bora Bora where the castle-like
Mount Otemanu pierces the sky.
Lush tropical slopes and valleys
blossom with hibiscus, while
palm-covered motu circle the
lagoon like a delicate necklace.
Perfect white-sand beaches give way
to emerald waters where impossibly
colored fish animate the coral
gardens.
TUAMOTUS
Considered to be one of the most
beautiful atolls in Polynesia, the
fragrance of the air is matched only
by the abundance of life in the
bright-blue water.
HUAHINE
Huahine, with its lush forests,
untamed landscape, and quaint
villages, is one of Polynesia's
best-kept secrets.
A deep, crystal-clear lagoon
surrounds the two islands while
magnificent bays and white-sand
beaches add drama and solitude to
their virtues. Relatively unchanged
by the modern world, Huahine's few
residents welcome visitors with great
kindness. The island's soil is rich and
fertile, providing the farmers a
bountiful harvest of vanilla, melons,
and bananas.
TAHITI
The island of Tahiti, towering over
the ocean like a proud and royal
Queen, is crowned by a circle of
majestic peaks.
The mountainous interior shelters
deep valleys, clear streams, and
high waterfalls, all bathed in the
green iridescence of Mother Nature's
light. The flat coastal lands, edged
with a rugged coastline, are home to
fields of tropical flowers and most of
the island's population.
RAIATEA
Raiatea, meaning "faraway heaven"
and "sky with soft light", was first
named Havai'i after the homeland of
the ancient Polynesians and is the
most sacred island in the South
Pacific.
This, the second largest Tahitian
isle, was the center of religion and
culture over 1000 years ago and still
lends enchantment to ancient
legends told to this day. The
green-carpeted mountains covering
the interior include the celebrated
Mt. Temehani, a sort of Polynesian
Mt. Olympus.
FAKARAVA
Fakarava, is an untouched world
where nesting birds and marine life
live in harmony with the land and
water.
The rich ecosystem is home to rare
birds, plants, and crustaceans while
the dive sites are virtually
undiscovered. Life along the quiet
shores is equally unique with quaint
villages, old coral churches, and
welcoming people.
TAHA'A
Taha'a, with the rich aroma of
vanilla lingering heavily in the air,
offers a glimpse of the traditional,
tranquil life of the Tahitians.
The flower-shaped island's simple
beauty is charmed by soft mountain
shapes and surrounded by tiny motu
with bright sand beaches. In the
fertile valleys cutting within the
island, local farmers grow
watermelon, vanilla, and copra.
