5 Days In Raiatea And Tahaa Itinerary

Day 3: Three Waterfalls Hike & Transfer To Tahaa

Day three of this Raiatea and Tahaa itinerary begins with a hike into Raiatea’s lush rainforest and continues with a move to neighboring Tahaa island for a few nights. If you’re planning to visit Tahaa on a day trip from Raiatea, you’ll have a free afternoon in Raiatea to relax or revisit sites.

Three Waterfalls Hike

As its name suggests, the Three Waterfalls Hike (les trois cascades) is a moderate hike that leads to three waterfalls in the heart of Raiatea’s rainforest. Since the trail is difficult to track, you must do this hike with a certified guide.

The highlight is undoubtedly the impressive third waterfall, but on the way, you’ll cross fresh rivers and learn about the unique rainforest from your guide. Especially impressive are the mape trees (Tahitian chestnut), with roots strangely swirling their way in the general direction of the water. Equally remarkable is the Tahitian ginger flower. When squeezed, it gives off a scented oily liquid used in ancient times as soap.

The third waterfall is reached by ascending a rope and ducking through a bamboo forest. The 40-meter-high waterfall is made of two cascading waterfalls, and you’ll love taking a refreshing swim in the fresh pool.

The hike takes about 3-4 hours, so you should be done before 1 pm. The Raiatea Island Guide has full logistics.

Transfer to Tahaa

You can stick around Raiatea and visit Tahaa on a day trip from Raiatea tomorrow, but if you have the time, it’s always better to sleep on an island and spend a couple of days properly exploring it. So, after a shower and lunch, head to the ferry quay in Uturoa and catch the boat to Tahaa! Sleep in one of the boutique or family pensions on the main island or at one of the luxury resorts on the motu, the best of which is Le Tahaa Island Resort & Spa – one of the best resorts in French Polynesia.

Pro Tip

The Tahaa Travel Guide has in-depth information about all the ways of getting to Tahaa from Raiatea.

Day 4: Tour Around Tahaa

Spend your first full day on Tahaa exploring the ‘vanilla island’! Sparsely populated Tahaa is as laid back as it gets in the Society Islands and it often appears that stress never made it here together with the European explorers. Join a guided 4X4 tour around the island or rent a car and explore at your own pace. Check out the Tahaa Travel Guide for the complete list of places worthy of a stop.

Tapuamu to Patio

The section of the coastal road from Tapuamu, the island’s main quay, to Patio, the island’s main village, offers incredible views of Bora Bora’s dominant skyline. Though many miles of water separate Tahaa from Bora Bora, the vanilla island cannot escape the grandeur of the romantic island. En route, stop at Domaine Pari Pari to taste and learn about the process of producing local rum and at Ia Orana pearl farm to learn about black pearl production.

Vanilla Farm

Just about where the north coast becomes the east coast, visit La Vallée de la Vanille and see what Tahaa is known as the vanilla island. The family that runs the farm speaks great English and offers visitors in-depth explanations free of charge. Of course, you have plenty of ways to show gratitude in the shop, where high-end vanilla pods and other vanilla products are sold at very reasonable prices and directly from the source.

Tahaa’s Bays

Part of the reason why Tahaa is ideal for pearl farming is its deep bays. As you’re circling the island, take it slow around Fa’a’aha Bay and neighboring Ha’amene Bay. The coastal road brings you to a scenic lookout from where you can spot both bays in opposite directions.

At Apu Bay, you can easily spot neighboring Raiatea while enjoying some of the most relaxing vibes on Tahaa. Since drivers can skip the peninsula between the villages at Tapuamu and Ha’amene, the area around Apu Bay really is a trip back in time.

Mountain Pass

To return to Tapuamu and complete the full circle, head inland to get from Ha’amene to Tiva. This is one of the prettiest sections of the island, wild, quiet, and abundant with coconut palms hidden by lush emerald peaks.

Day 5: Exploring tahaa’s Lagoon

The last day of the Raiatea and Tahaa itinerary is devoted to the lagoon, whose striking blue shades will live in your memory for years to come.

Like Raiatea, Tahaa does not have “proper” white sand beaches on the main island. But the island’s lagoon is home to some of the prettiest motu in the archipelago (islets at the edge of the barrier reef). The coral garden off Motu Tautau near Le Tahaa Island Resort & Spa is the best place to snorkel in the lagoon. All lagoon tours visit the garden.

If the conditions are right, walk to the reef side of the motu, carefully jump into the water, and ride the current into the lagoon. But even if conditions for this “Superman act” aren’t optimal, head to the reef to see the Bora Bora’s dramatic skyline in the distance.

Lagoon tours most likely then head to one of the islets on the north end of the barrier reef. Sheltered from the prevailing winds, your crew will prepare a BBQ lunch as you go for a swim and check out what’s happening beneath the waves.

What’s Next?

This sample Raiatea and Tahaa itinerary should give you a satisfying taste of the two islands (and a pretty active vacation). For more information about Tahaa and Raiatea, check out the resources below. For more information about traveling in French Polynesia, check out this guide.