Taha'a: The Orchid Island

Formerly known to the Maohi pioneers as Uporu, the birthplace of Hiro, the famous god of thieves in Polynesian mythology, Taha’a is shaped like a hibiscus flower with a scalloped shoreline and deep indented bays. In 1769, Captain Cook wrote: “Taha’a offers two very welcoming natural harbours, the one which is on the front is Haamene (the deepest bay of Polynesia), and the other’s name is Hurepiti; it is quite large and we can easily anchor…”

Taha'a and its small motus can be reached by boat and outrigger from Raiatea and offers a view of Bora Bora framed by the coconut palms and the lagoon. Originally introduced a hundred years ago, vanilla plantations have flourished on the island which produces 70-80% of all French Polynesia's vanilla. Because of the pervasive aroma of vanilla, Tahaa is also known as the "Vanilla Island".