Delve into some of Raiatea's rich cultural and historic highlights as you journey to the island's east coast, visiting a pearl farm and the Marae Taputapuātea, an exceptional testimony to 1,000 years of mā'ohi civilization. Depart onboard your 40seater bus from the main township of Ra'iātea, 'Uturoa, the city is the administrative center for the Leeward Islands (French Îles Sous-le-vent). Your tour will take you on a journey to the south eastern coast. The proper spelling of the name in the Tahitian language is Ra'iātea, meaning bright sky. Raiatea is rich with cultural and historical significance. Believed to be the original birthplace of Polynesia! Drive along the coastline & lagoon, pass Avera and the Faaroa Valley, a large and important agricultural region with rural economy. Pearl farming is also an important industry, you will have a chance to visit one of them, this may be the opportunity for a purchase! Your next stop will be at the Faaroa Belvedere. Located on the heights of the Faaroa caldera, it offers a panoramic view of the interior of Raiatea's crater and the surrounding ridges. Reach Marae Taputapuātea. In 2017 the area was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list The sacred place is at the centre of the ‘Polynesian Triangle'. At the heart of the large property is the Taputapuātea marae complex, a political, ceremonial and funerary center. It is characterized by several marae, with different functions. Widespread in Polynesia, the marae were places where the world of the living intersected the world of the ancestors and the gods. Taputapuātea is an exceptional testimony to 1,000 years of mā'ohi civilization. Enjoy a leisure walk through the site and some insight from your guide.