Tahaa island, neighboring Raiatea, is sometimes referred to as Vanilla Island because of its many plantations. This is a low-key island with few beaches on the main island but with beautiful white-sand jewels on the northern motus. These motus are now home to some of French Polynesia's newest luxury resorts, including the Tahaa Private Island and Spa, the most luxurious of the Pearl Resort Hotels. A handful of smaller family pensions are found on the main island.
There is no airport on Tahaa, and visitors arrive by shuttle or hotel boat from Raiatea. In addition to diving, swimming and snorkeling, visitors can tour one of Tahaa's many vanilla or pearl farms or take a lagoon or four-wheel-drive tour. The 43-mi/70-km island circuit, scattered with small villages, is a great place for those looking to find a tranquil village atmosphere, but it doesn't take more than a day to see it all. Visitors should plan to relax, then relax some more. 135 mi/220 km northwest of Papeete, Tahiti.
