the West Coast of Tahiti at a distance of only 10 ½ miles, has a land area of 52 square miles and counts among her 8 mountains the Rotui at an altitude of 2953 feet and the fascinating Moua Puta (pierced mountain) that you can admire when you arrive via ferry in the Port of Vaiare.
Only 5 minutes from Tahiti by plane, Moorea is an ideal destination for those wishing to escape the faster pace of Tahiti. Moorea’s major industries are pineapple plantations and its hotels.

Moorea is known as the "Magical Island." Moorea is a stunning jewel of jagged peaks, rising majestically from a sapphire sea. Completely encircled by coral reef, the island was originally a volcano whose caldera has eroded over time, allowing the sea to flow deep into the interior to create Opunohu Bay and Cook's Bay. Life-style is slower than on Tahiti. Most hotels are located near the bays on the dramatic northern side of the island.

The scenic beauty and its history are not the only attractions of this island also known for its gentle, easy life style and its wonderful pineapples. Its many white sand beaches, the incredible variety of its coral sea bed and the richness of its underwater life make Moorea a very special destination. Moorea is very well endowed with hotels and lodgings of all categories, generally situated at the water's edge. The numerous restaurants and snack bars sometimes offer a traditional hima'a, Tahitian earth oven, which is an absolute must-try.

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 A volcano on one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, Bora Bora, "the Pearl of Polynesia" remains that place of your dreams. The proud silhouette of its mountainous heart is made up of three peaks, the highest of which, "Otemanu" (2385 feet) figure in the legend of Pahia. The island still takes pride in its warrior expeditions, their invasions by stealthy paddling of days of old, and its former control of Raiatea, its age-old rival. Bountiful nature has graced this island with a lagoon of translucent waters and immeasurable beauty, ringed by a rosary of heavenly islets. One of these, Motu is the site of the airport, while others have luxury hotels on them. One exception is the Toopua Motu with a hill more than 328 feet high where there are echoing rocks called "Hiro's bells".

The charm of Bora Bora has made its impression for many generations. Artists, painters, writers, philosophers and pleasure seekers follow in the footsteps of Alain Gerbault, Herman Melville and Paul-Emile Victor, who found their paradise here.

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The secret island or rebel island, there is no shortage of adjectives to indicate the wild but attractive nature of this island known for its fierce warriors and its resistance to change.

Huahine lies 175 km (110 miles) northwest of Tahiti in the Leeward Society Islands, visible from Raiatea, Tahaa and Bora Bora.Consisting of two islands, Huahine Nui in the north and Huahine Iti in the south, separated by a narrow hollow channel said to be the god Hiro's canoe. The two islands are joined by a narrow isthmus and are enclosed within a protective coral necklace.

This mountainous island has magnificent indented bays and some lovely white sand beaches. The islands dotted around the lagoons are given over to growing different types of melons and there is a varied and abundant supply of fruit and vegetables from these fertile soils.

 Off-shore "motu" islets lie inside the barrier reef, providing luscious gardens for Huahine's watermelon and cantaloupe industry. A road, mostly un-paved, winds 20 miles around the two islands, passing through small villages where the 4,480 inhabitants live in colourful , modest homes.

The lagoon, bordered by white sand beaches, is rich with sea life, and the Village of Maeva is a wealth of archaeological sites. The principal village of Fare slumbers under the shade of almond and acacia trees, and awakens with delight for the frequent arrivals of the inter-island ferries from Papeete. Then truckloads of copra, pigs, taro, bananas,and melons are brought to the quay for market days. People from all over the island mingle with arriving passengers and curious tourists, all enjoying the bustling activity and wandering in and out of the various Chinese shops along Fare's waterfront.

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This was a sacred island that was called "Tahaa of the distant marae". That was two centuries ago. When heroes died in battle they were carried to its shores by canoe whence their soul flew to the original Havai'i of the great "Maori" navigators.

The sister island of Raiatea, enclosed with her in the same wonderful lagoon was not yet the plantation island with the sweet aroma of vanilla pervading the mountains and villages as it is nowadays. But if the growing of the scented pods now plays an important part in the lives of her 4,470 inhabitants, Tahaa, with its 35 square miles of charm, has remained the same magic island of the living traditions. A fabulous mountain forms the island's shape with its peak Mt. Ohiri close to 1935 feet. Hidden away under the coconuts and other flower-laden trees a road that is nearly 44 miles in length circles the coastal plain. Along the way, eight attractive and tranquil villages are dotted, with Patio being the main one. Its lagoon in sapphire and emerald tones, a diver's and sailor's paradise, connects out to the ocean through two wide reef passages where blue dolphins play.

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Raiatea/Tahaa---the ancient cultural, religious and royal heart of Polynesia, Raiatea was, according to legend, the birthplace of the gods. From here the great canoes set out for Hawaii and New Zealand, entire tribes sailing off to colonize new shores. Long ago the people called the island Havai'i ("the homeland") and believed it was the place where spirits live on after death. And it is only here, on the slopes of sacred Mount Temehani, that one can glimpse the rare tiare apetahi, a flower found nowhere else on earth

Tahaa is so named for its numerous plantations of this fragrant plant, whose sweet aroma lingers in the air, seeping into every nook and cranny of the island. While fishing and farming are its main livelihoods, what seduces visitors are its pretty beaches, coral gardens, and the sandy motu which pepper the lagoon it shares with Raiatea.

Raiatea is the second largest island in French Polynesia, situated 193 km. (120 miles) northwest of Tahiti. The population numbers 10063 and Uturoa, the principal village, is the Administrative Center for the Leeward Society Islands.

The two sister islands of Raiatea and Taaha, separated by a narrow strait, but surrounded by a common barrier reef, lies over 18 miles to the west of Huahine. The town of Uturoa serves as the administrative center of the leeward Islands, the so called lles sous le Vent. The landscape is very similar to the other Society Islands, so the visitor can expect the usual elaborate and thick vegetation the valleys with numerous plantations and waterfalls. Raiatea's highest mountain, Mount Toomaru, rises to 3302 feet, the highest peaks of the much smaller Taaha never cross the 1900-foot mark

The 60-mile coastal road that circumnavigates the island leads to a slew of historical sites. The Marae Taputapuatea near Opoa is one of the main attractions for the visitors with an eye for archeology; a complex with a stately ground surface of 137 by 25 feet. Even if all that's left is a pair of stone platforms on the beach, the place exudes a feeling of mysterious magic.  A partially paved road circles the island, winding through fertile valleys and wide flatland, past farms and orchards. There are several passes through the lagoon, which also encompasses the neighboring island of Tahaa. Because of ideal sailing and fishing conditions, Raiatea offers year-round charters and nautical activities.