After a quiet crossing from Bora Bora, National Geographic Orion arrived to the beautiful lagoon of Tahaa Island, the Vanilla Island of the Society Islands in French Polynesia.
Today, guests had the opportunity to visit a vanilla farm. They also enjoyed an excursion to a little islet, or a motu, as it is called in the Tahitian Islands. Guests roamed around the island. Some sat under the shade of thatched huts, and some swam in the warm lagoon. It was a pleasant morning for all.
In the afternoon, our ship repositioned to Raiatea, known as the sacred island. Guests visited a sacred ground called Taputapuatea Marae, a place of great significance to the Polynesian people. This holy ground was the center of a religious, political, and cultural alliance for Pacific people that dates back 1,000 years. Many island people sailed their great canoes hundreds of miles to attend gatherings on the sacred marae.
Following this visit, guests wandered into the hills to capture views of the island.
Cheers.
