The Garden of Eden
Formerly ruled by queens, Huahine is the “women's island” par excellence. It carefully preserves vestiges that are essential to its history.
The Maeva marae and more than 30 others, such as Manunu, Fare Miro and Anini, have been restored. Various sites and relics from ancient times invite you to take a sacred journey into the past.
Located 30 minutes by plane from Tahiti, Huahine is made up of two islands, Huahine Iti and Huahine Nui, separated by a narrow channel and linked by a bridge. The bridge also divides two large bays: Maroe to the east and Bourayne to the west.
Legend has it that Hiro, the god of thieves, cut the island in two with his pirogue, leaving traces such as his paddle at the bottom of Maroe Bay, and his sex, a rock rising skywards opposite the bridge linking Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti.
Huahine Nui, where the capital Fare is located, culminates at 669 meters with Mount Turi. Huahine Iti reaches 460 meters with the Pohue Rahi volcano, offering exceptional panoramic views of the island, its lagoon, motu and neighboring islands of Raiatea and Taha'a. To the south-east, Faaie Bay is famous for its blue-eyed sacred eels, a sight not to be missed.
Huahine charms with its lush vegetation, secluded coves and thousand-colored lagoon. To the south, near Parea, lies the island's most beautiful white-sand beach. Flowery paths lead to vanilla plantations, reinforcing the authentic character of this rebel island of legendary purity.
The motu, idyllic little islets, invite you to relax in perfect harmony with nature. The lagoon can be explored with a mask and snorkel or by scuba diving, revealing exceptional marine life: sea eagles, barracudas, sharks and more. Experienced divers can explore reef drop-offs and fish-filled caves. Surfers will also be delighted by the regular waves of the reef passes.
Fare, Huahine's main town, is home to a lively market where local craftsmen offer their creations in a friendly and safe setting.
Huahine is also the starting point for the famous annual pirogue race, the Hawaiki Nui Va'a. Held in October, this 128-kilometer competition links Huahine to Bora Bora in three stages. This festive sporting event brings together rowers from Polynesia, New Caledonia, Hawaii and mainland France, attracting large crowds of spectators.
