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Raiatea – Along the Fa’aroa River

Ebimisami: 07.11.2024

a journey through the lagoon along the coast, where the much higher mountains (over 1000 meters) with cloud-covered peaks, but lush to the summit, are displayed. The trees here have a rather light canopy, shaped like umbrellas that are nestled together. Mixed with palm trees, it creates a very unusual sight – at least for us...</p><p>After this, we navigate into the only navigable river in all of French Polynesia, the Fa’aroa. The passage reminds us a little of the mangroves in Florida, which we have already navigated with canoes. Well, the waterway here is a bit wider, and there are no alligators...;)</p><p>Our guide tells us a lot about the population of Polynesia, their history, and their way of life today. Most live, who would have thought, from tourism. The vanilla from this island group is also famous. Furthermore, many retirees live here who do not have to engage in regular work. However, there is only one large resort on Raiatea. Otherwise, people stay here as Bed & Breakfast guests or find accommodation through Airbnb. Our guide also rents out overwater bungalows on the neighboring island of Tahaa for $250 a night, including breakfast.</p><p>On the river, there is a small hut on the shore where you can buy fresh coconuts for $2, and they are opened for you as a refreshment.</p><p>Various plants line the riverbanks. Primarily, of course, coconut palms, wild hibiscus, bamboo, walnut trees, and ginger flowers.</p><p>After this excursion through the Fa’aroa, we plow through the turquoise waters of the lagoon to the small Motu Iriru. Here we have some time for swimming and snorkeling. We take the opportunity and look for colorful fish...</p><p>After three hours on the canoe, we return to the departure port at the pier and start looking for a nice magnet. Many shops here do not offer the usual tourist package. Just one shop where I found a T-shirt or rather two magnets.</p><p>However, the T-shirt shop had something much more valuable... Free internet!!! We use it to check emails and send greetings to our friends and family back home.</p><p>Very satisfied, we then leave the mainland of Raiatea and get back on board our floating hotel.</p><p>With a little sadness, we are made aware on board that the cruise will soon end and that we will be familiarized with the disembarking process.</p><p>But first, tomorrow Mo’orea is still on the agenda. What we will do there is still a bit up in the air. Nothing is booked; we will see what the locals offer us at the pier. Right at the beginning of the voyage into the South Seas, we signed up for an island tour, the Alto Off-Road Safari. Unfortunately, too many passengers were interested in this adventure, which is why we ended up on the waiting list – and we are still on it today.</p><p>

</p><p>But we are confident that we will still have a lovely day in Mo’orea with other providers.</p> — a journey through the lagoon along the coast, where the much higher mountains (over 1000 meters) with cloud-covered peaks, but lush to the summit, are displayed. The trees here have a rather light canopy, shaped like umbrellas that are nestled together. Mixed with palm trees, it creates a very unusual sight – at least for us...</p><p>After this, we navigate into the only navigable river in all of French Polynesia, the Fa’aroa. The passage reminds us a little of the mangroves in Florida, which we have already navigated with canoes. Well, the waterway here is a bit wider, and there are no alligators...;)</p><p>Our guide tells us a lot about the population of Polynesia, their history, and their way of life today. Most live, who would have thought, from tourism. The vanilla from this island group is also famous. Furthermore, many retirees live here who do not have to engage in regular work. However, there is only one large resort on Raiatea. Otherwise, people stay here as Bed & Breakfast guests or find accommodation through Airbnb. Our guide also rents out overwater bungalows on the neighboring island of Tahaa for $250 a night, including breakfast.</p><p>On the river, there is a small hut on the shore where you can buy fresh coconuts for $2, and they are opened for you as a refreshment.</p><p>Various plants line the riverbanks. Primarily, of course, coconut palms, wild hibiscus, bamboo, walnut trees, and ginger flowers.</p><p>After this excursion through the Fa’aroa, we plow through the turquoise waters of the lagoon to the small Motu Iriru. Here we have some time for swimming and snorkeling. We take the opportunity and look for colorful fish...</p><p>After three hours on the canoe, we return to the departure port at the pier and start looking for a nice magnet. Many shops here do not offer the usual tourist package. Just one shop where I found a T-shirt or rather two magnets.</p><p>However, the T-shirt shop had something much more valuable... Free internet!!! We use it to check emails and send greetings to our friends and family back home.</p><p>Very satisfied, we then leave the mainland of Raiatea and get back on board our floating hotel.</p><p>With a little sadness, we are made aware on board that the cruise will soon end and that we will be familiarized with the disembarking process.</p><p>But first, tomorrow Mo’orea is still on the agenda. What we will do there is still a bit up in the air. Nothing is booked; we will see what the locals offer us at the pier. Right at the beginning of the voyage into the South Seas, we signed up for an island tour, the Alto Off-Road Safari. Unfortunately, too many passengers were interested in this adventure, which is why we ended up on the waiting list – and we are still on it today.</p><p> </p><p>But we are confident that we will still have a lovely day in Mo’orea with other providers.</p>

In the morning, we arrive at another pearl of the South Seas: Raiatea. The island is significantly larger than Bora Bora and is surrounded by a coral reef. There are a total of seven openings that lead into the interior. The access point near us is also used by the humpback whales, who stop by briefly on their journey from Antarctica to the north.

This time we don't have to tender; instead, we can disembark directly from the ship, making everything a bit more relaxed.

As we leave the ship, women are standing at the gangway distributing flowers to the passengers. You place a flower behind your ear. Depending on your marital status, either on the left or right side. The right side means – at least that's what I remember – you're single; the left side means you're married... It's practically like the position of the apron bow on a woman's dirndl at Oktoberfest...;)

Additionally, a combo is playing Polynesian melodies for the guests. It sounds beautiful and fits the place quite well. The town we have arrived at is called Uturoa. It's a bit larger than Vaitape on Bora Bora.

Today, we are taking an outrigger canoe, with a program promising

Eyano

Kobosana te kozala malamu :)

France

Lapolo ya mobembo France

Raiatea – Along the Fa’aroa River

Ba rapports ya voyage mingi

Finger of God and Matira Beach /Bora-Bora

Snorkeling with Stingrays and Sharks in turquoise waters off Bora Bora.

Mo’orea – towering mountain peaks greet us