Tahaa

Taha'a is an island in French Polynesia's Leeward Islands group, built on volcanic soil with fertile ground and green hillsides. The coastline is indented with small bays and harbors, and the interior supports scattered villages and agricultural areas.

The island was originally settled by Polynesians and later came under French control as the colonial period spread across the Pacific. Patio became its administrative center and continues as the main hub for local governance.

People here keep traditional crafts alive through weaving and carving, which you can see in local shops and workshops. These handmade objects blend everyday use with artistic skill, showing how deeply these practices are woven into daily life.

You can reach the island by boat from nearby Raiatea airport, where regular ferry services depart. Local transportation includes taxis and small buses that operate on the main roads around the villages.

The island grows premium vanilla in its volcanic soil, a crop that has made it one of the main sources for this spice used worldwide. You can see vanilla plantations across the landscape and learn how this specialty is cultivated and harvested.