I am lucky enough to be on the Paul Gauguin cruise in September 2012 and will have a day at Raiatea and Tahaa and am in 2 minds on doing a day trip on Raiatea. It is a island expoloration and Faaroa River trip. I also have 5 days at Rangiroa (before the cruise) and 5 days at Moorea (after cruise).

Has anyone been on Raiatea?

I haven't been to Raiatea, but it's full of rich history so I'd definitely do a tour if I were there. Sorry I can't be of more help having not done the tour.

Hi Teresa,

I would seriously recommend getting Jan Prince's Guide on Tahiti - it will answer a lot of your questions too:

http://www.chaos.com/books/jan-prince-open-road-travel-guides-tahiti-french-polynesia-guide/dp/11478332

Raiatea is a very beautiful green island, not much beach if that is what you're after... but it is nice enough to drive around or do the river trip. It makes a nice change from the other Society Islands and with regards to your itinerary it is a good variation sort of. There's a big "marae" Taputapuatea in Oopa on the South East coast which is one of the most "famous" ones in FP and some vanilla market in Uturoa, the main town, but you can see a lot of vanilla too in Taha'a where there are many plantations.

2004 Raiatea Nul if you have time all day tour Taaha vanilla/pearl farm with a lunch on a motu in da middle of paradise(SADE song)......FP4LIFE