Attractions in Leeward Islands (Bora Bora, Huahine, Raiatea)
Where legendary lagoons meet ancient legends 🌺🛶
Showing 34 attractions · Sorted by importance
Mount Otemanu
📍 Vaitape
🏔 Scenic ViewThe highest point on Bora Bora, this iconic jagged volcanic peak offers spectacular views and a stunning backdrop for photos across the lagoon.
Mount Pahia Hike
📍 Vaitape
🥾 Hiking & Cycling6km challenging round-trip trek, 5-6 hours duration, approximately 660m elevation gain. This steep ascent offers iconic views of the Bora Bora lagoon and Mount Otemanu. The trail is often slippery and requires good physical condition.
Taputapuatea Marae
📍 Opoa
🏘 Town / VillageA UNESCO World Heritage site and ancient religious center featuring large stone platforms once central to Polynesian seafaring culture.
Bora Bora Circle Island Cycling Route
📍 Vaitape
🥾 Hiking & Cycling32km easy loop route, 3-4 hours duration, minimal elevation gain. A scenic paved coastal road passing through Matira Point and various villages. Bike rental: Avis Bora Bora (avis-borabora.com)
Hawaiki Nui Va'a
📍 Vaitape
🎭 EventHeld annually in late October or early November, this three-day world championship of outrigger canoe racing covers 129km between the Leeward Islands. Attracting over 100 international teams and thousands of spectators, it features high-energy beach arrivals with traditional music, food, and family-friendly festivities at the Matira Beach finish line.
La Vallée de la Vanille
📍 Patio
🐄 FarmExplore the traditional cultivation and hand-pollination of the world's most aromatic vanilla on this family-run plantation.
Matira Beach
📍 Vaitape
⛱ BeachBora Bora's only public beach, offering a stunning mile-long stretch of white sand and shallow turquoise waters perfect for families.
Plateau de Temehani Hike
📍 Avera
🥾 Hiking & Cycling16km expert-level round-trip hike, 7-8 hours duration, 800m elevation gain. This sacred Raiatea trail leads to the high plateau where the rare, endemic Tiare Apetahi flower grows. It features stunning vistas of the lagoon and Taha'a.
Coral Garden (Taha'a)
📍 Patio, Taha'a
🏔 Scenic ViewA protected natural aquatic channel located between two motus, famous for its vibrant coral reefs and abundant tropical fish life.
Domaine Pari Pari
📍 Tapuamu
🐄 FarmAn estate on Taha'a where visitors can take free guided tours of a working rum distillery — with 15 hectares of sugarcane producing around 10,000 litres per year — alongside coconut oil extraction, tamanu oil, and Tahiti vanilla production.
Faaroa Botanical Garden
📍 Taputapuatea, Raiatea
🌲 NatureA diverse public botanical reserve located along the banks of Polynesia's only navigable river, perfect for exploring tropical flora and fauna.
Faaroa River
📍 Taputapuatea
🏔 Scenic ViewThe only navigable river in French Polynesia, offering a peaceful kayak or boat journey through lush rainforests and hibiscus-lined banks.
Heiva i Bora Bora
📍 Vaitape
🎭 EventThroughout July, this month-long cultural festival celebrates Polynesian identity through world-class traditional dance and singing competitions. Attracting thousands of international visitors to the Vaitape arena, it includes family-friendly events such as traditional stone-lifting sports, local food stalls, and vibrant artisanal markets.
Huahine Perimeter Cycling Loop
📍 Fare
🥾 Hiking & Cycling60km moderate loop route encompassing Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti, 5-6 hours duration, 200m elevation gain. Features coastal views, ancient marae temples, and lush tropical scenery. Bike rental: E-Bike Huahine (ebikehuahine.com)
Huahine Perimeter Road
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip60km paved loop (3-6 hours) connecting Huahine Nui and Huahine Iti via a central bridge. Major stops include the Maeva archaeological complex with its ancient marae and stone fish traps, the Belvedere lookout for panoramic bay views, the sacred blue-eyed eels of Faie, and the pristine Avea Bay.
Marae Maeva and Fare Pote'e
📍 Maeva
🏰 CastleAn archaeological site containing the highest concentration of ancient temples in Polynesia and a museum housed in a traditional reconstructed dwelling.
Mount Pohue Rahi Hike
📍 Tewae
🥾 Hiking & Cycling5km moderate-to-challenging round-trip hike, 3 hours duration, 450m elevation gain. Located on Huahine Iti, this trail climbs through lush forests and provides one of the best viewpoints over Maroe Bay and the surrounding islands.
Raiatea Circle Island Road
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip98km paved route (4-5 hours) circumnavigating the 'Sacred Island.' The drive features the UNESCO World Heritage site of Marae Taputapuatea, the botanical gardens, and the lush valley of the Faaroa River. The road stays close to the shoreline, offering views of the vast lagoon shared with Taha'a.
Sacred Blue-Eyed Eels
📍 Faie
🐄 FarmA unique rural encounter where families can observe the legendary freshwater eels with striking blue eyes living in a village stream.
Tereia Beach
📍 Maupiti
⛱ BeachA pristine and quiet public beach known for its waist-deep crystal clear water that allows visitors to walk across the lagoon to a nearby islet.
Avea Beach
📍 Parea
⛱ BeachA tranquil coastal area at the southern tip of Huahine Iti, prized for its calm lagoon waters and scenic sunset views.
Bora Bora WWII Cannons
📍 Anau
🏰 CastleHistorical American coastal defense guns left behind from Operation Bobcat, offering a glimpse into the island's strategic role during World War II.
Fare Beach
📍 Fare
⛱ BeachA popular white sand beach located just steps from the main village, featuring excellent swimming conditions and views of the local boating activity.
Fauna Nui Lagoon
📍 Maeva
🏔 Scenic ViewA large, shallow inland lagoon on Huahine known for its ancient stone fish traps and traditional archaeological sites along the shore.
Galerie d'Art - Bora Bora
📍 Vaitape
🖼 Art GalleryA refined collective gallery in the heart of Vaitape showcasing diverse works from over twenty local artists, including paintings and sculptures.
Galerie d'Art Anuanua
📍 Uturoa
🖼 Art GalleryA premier cultural destination in Raiatea featuring a sophisticated collection of contemporary Polynesian paintings, wood carvings, and jewelry.
Gallery Umatatea
📍 Maeva
🖼 Art GalleryAn authentic roadside gallery set in a lush garden, showcasing the expressive and colorful island-inspired paintings of local artist Melanie Shook Dupre.
Huahine Pearl Farm & Pottery
📍 Faie
🐄 FarmA boat-access lagoon farm showcasing pearl cultivation and hand-crafted ceramics in a stunning rural setting.
Jardin Botanique de Faaroa
📍 Taputapuatea
🌿 GardenA scenic public park along the Faaroa River where families can discover a lush variety of tropical plants, medicinal herbs, and exotic flowers native to Polynesia.
Mount Hotu Paraoa Hike
📍 Maupiti
🥾 Hiking & Cycling3km challenging round-trip hike, 2.5 hours duration, 250m elevation gain. A very steep ascent using ropes in several sections to reach the island's highest point for a 360-degree view of the lagoon and barrier reef.
Mount Teurafaatiu
📍 Vaiea, Maupiti
🌲 NatureThe highest peak on Maupiti, offering a scenic hiking trail through natural forest to a summit with panoramic views of the entire atoll.
Saint-Pierre-Célestin Church
📍 Vaitape
🏛 LandmarkA charming Catholic church in the heart of Vaitape village, famous for its bright red roof and colorful stained-glass windows.
Taha'a Circle Island Road
📍 Circular
🚗 Road Trip70km paved road (3-4 hours) following the rugged coastline of the 'Vanilla Island.' Highlights include visiting traditional vanilla plantations, local rum distilleries in Tapuamu, and pearl farms. The northern sections offer spectacular sunset views across the water toward the peaks of Bora Bora.