Ahoy! Today we are in Raiatea which is 130 miles northwest of Tahiti. It was an eight-hour cruise to get here and a good start in getting our sea legs under us.

Raiatea, like Tahiti, is one of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is often called the “Sacred Island” due to its rich Polynesian history. It was once the Beatles of ancient Polynesia – the center of everything cool – religion, culture, politics, you name it!

Raiatea is the second largest of the Society Islands, after Tahiti. The economy of Raiatea relies on tourism, agriculture (primarily vanilla), and pearl farming.

The island is surrounded by a vibrant coral reef, making for beautiful lagoons.

The interior of the island is mountainous with lush rainforests.

We rented a car and embarked on a 60-mile road trip around the island. One road circles Raiatea’s coast, making it virtually impossible to get lost…theoretically.

Coconuts abound on these islands. We were fortunate to be “delivered” a coconut straight from the tree by a nice local. After a little hack job, we had more than a liter of refreshing and delicious liquid. The amount of coconut water inside surprised Kris and me.

We each have our own preference for seating. If you’ve read It’s Just Walking, you know I prefer a chair with a back. Kris apparently prefers a coconut tree! To each their own, right?

We made it safely back to the Nautica after our four-hour island adventure. We’re now ready for whatever the next destination throws our way.

Stay tuned for more tales from the high seas!