Raiatea is revered by Tahitians as the origin of their religion and ancient culture, the royal heart of Polynesia. According to legend this was the birthplace of the Gods and it was from here that entire tribes sailed off to colonize the new shores of Hawaii and New Zealand. Visitors can climb the sacred slopes of Mount Temehani to glimpse the rare Tiare Apetahi, a flower found nowhere else on earth. Or venture up the Faaroa, the only navigable river in French Polynesia. With the large protective lagoon...read more ....