The sacred island

Raiatea

A cultural revival

45 min flight from Tahiti

Uturoa Administrative center

Surface area 167.7 km²

12 832 inhabitants

Raiatea has been very much in the spotlight recently, due to the classification of the marae of Taputapuatea as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. Only 45 minutes from Tahiti by plane, the island has a historical importance which it puts to its advantage as a tourist destination.

Marae of Taputapuatea with View over the Lagoon

The heart of Polynesian civilization

The marae of Taputapuatea

Formerly the religious, spiritual and cultural center of Polynesia, the marae of Taputapuatea is still imbued with the mana of the ancestors of the Polynesian people. Standing alongside the lagoon, the sacred and imposing paved courtyards and stone platforms tell the story of an age long before the first European visitors. Just beyond the car park is a pathway that leads up the side of the mountain to a scenic viewpoint with a truly breathtaking view. Looking down you can appreciate the scale and importance of the marae below.