Raiatea

[DrivesLikeMario]

Any post-Covid experience with Bruno's tour?  We really just want to go to Tahaa for swimming and want to skip the pearl & vanilla farm stops.  Is there a company that will do just that?

[ChrisC101]

Drives, did you get an answer to this?  We, too, want to skip sharks and pearl/vanilla.  

[JJSoCal]

Does anyone rent boats (no license) or Kayaks in Raiatea?

Going on a 7 hour tour sounds scary to me…

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

15 hours ago, JJSoCal said:

Does anyone rent boats (no license) or Kayaks in Raiatea?

Going on a 7 hour tour sounds scary to me…

 

Never seen one on Raiatea  ...

 

You can on Bora Bora

[JJSoCal]

1 hour ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

Never seen one on Raiatea  ...

 

You can on Bora Bora

I found this:

https://en.raiatealocation.com/Rent-a-Boat.php

It requires a license. I’ll get myself a California Boater Card. 
 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

2 minutes ago, JJSoCal said:

I found this:

https://en.raiatealocation.com/Rent-a-Boat.php

It requires a license. I’ll get myself a California Boater Card. 
 

I'm aware of this place, have rented cars from them, no problems. But ... you asked for a place that doesn't require a lic  ... the reason you need a lic is the motor is 30hp. Vendors are only allowed to rent a boat without a lic for up to 15hp ... most places are now using 30hp 😉

[JJSoCal]

2 hours ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

I'm aware of this place, have rented cars from them, no problems. But ... you asked for a place that doesn't require a lic  ... the reason you need a lic is the motor is 30hp. Vendors are only allowed to rent a boat without a lic for up to 15hp ... most places are now using 30hp 😉

You’re right @Tahitianbigkahuna, I did say no license. 
But you also said a Boater Card works 🙂. They seem easy enough to get. 
I’ve read many of your past posts in preparation for this trip. Really appreciate the insight. 

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

7 minutes ago, JJSoCal said:

You’re right @Tahitianbigkahuna, I did say no license. 
But you also said a Boater Card works 🙂. They seem easy enough to get. 
I’ve read many of your past posts in preparation for this trip. Really appreciate the insight. 

 

No shade cover  ... make sure you take good sunscreen and broad hat.

 

This is why I like the pontoon rental on Bora Bora ... good shade and they do have 15hp boats. Have rented on Bora Bora several times.... pictured at the coral gardens on Bora bora.

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Tahitianbigkahuna

[JJSoCal]

2 minutes ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

No shade cover  ... make sure you take good sunscreen and broad hat.

 

This is why I like the pontoon rental on Bora Bora ... good shade and they do have 15hp boats. Have rented on Bora Bora several times.... pictured at the coral gardens on Bora bora.

 

Yes, I reserved that one from La Plage in Bora Bora. 

[JJSoCal]

On 8/19/2023 at 9:56 AM, JJSoCal said:

I found this:

https://en.raiatealocation.com/Rent-a-Boat.php

It requires a license. I’ll get myself a California Boater Card. 
 

Just heard back from Raiatea Location. They do not accept the California Boater Card :(

[SuperSwimmer22]

On 3/16/2017 at 10:58 AM, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

 

Best excursion on Raiatea: https://www.tahaa.net/index.php/en/

 

I've been to Raiatea over a half dozen times and have done many things ....... this is the #1 must do excursion.

Hi,

 

I will be sailing on the Paul Gaugin for the 7-night More Society Islands & Tahiti on Aug. 17/24 and they have a full day (8 am - 11:59 pm) on Raiatea as well as the following day at Motu Mahana on Taha'a.

 

Any advice on the following?

 

Is it better to do the full day excursion suggested above from Raiatea that spends the entire day around Taha'a and includes two coral gardens for snorkelling as well picnic lunch on a motu, the vanilla farm, rum distillery, pearl farm and sharks, OR do the coral gardens drift snorkel through PG shore excursions which is 3.5 hours and is available from both Raiatea and Taha'a? I am aware that doing it from Taha'a will eat into the first 90 minutes on Motu Mahana, so I am leaning towards doing one of these tours from Raiatea. I am worried about doing the full day L'Excursion Bleue tour which focuses on Taha'a and missing out on seeing the island of Raiatea.

 

Thanks for your thoughts!

[Tahitianbigkahuna]

1 hour ago, SuperSwimmer22 said:

Hi,

 

I will be sailing on the Paul Gaugin for the 7-night More Society Islands & Tahiti on Aug. 17/24 and they have a full day (8 am - 11:59 pm) on Raiatea as well as the following day at Motu Mahana on Taha'a.

 

Any advice on the following?

 

Is it better to do the full day excursion suggested above from Raiatea that spends the entire day around Taha'a and includes two coral gardens for snorkelling as well picnic lunch on a motu, the vanilla farm, rum distillery, pearl farm and sharks, OR do the coral gardens drift snorkel through PG shore excursions which is 3.5 hours and is available from both Raiatea and Taha'a? I am aware that doing it from Taha'a will eat into the first 90 minutes on Motu Mahana, so I am leaning towards doing one of these tours from Raiatea. I am worried about doing the full day L'Excursion Bleue tour which focuses on Taha'a and missing out on seeing the island of Raiatea.

 

Thanks for your thoughts!

Comes down to the cultural stuff you can see on Raiatea  ... if your into that than do the drift from Tahaa (Motu Mahana Day). If the cultural stuff isn't a big deal than go with Bruno ... he delivers a wonderful day circling the island of Tahaa.

[JJSoCal]

35 minutes ago, Tahitianbigkahuna said:

Comes down to the cultural stuff you can see on Raiatea  ... if your into that than do the drift from Tahaa (Motu Mahana Day). If the cultural stuff isn't a big deal than go with Bruno ... he delivers a wonderful day circling the island of Tahaa.

I second that. 

We took ARE tours (and not Bruno) around Tahaa and had a wonderful time. One of the highlights of our cruise. 

I would not sacrifice the motu time. Not only is it a great day, but arriving late would mean you'll be left with the least desirable spots on the motu. 

We visited Marae on Tahiti before flying back home.