PAUL GAUGUIN
Sacred Sites and Legendary PlacesExplore the life, culture, and traditions of Tahiti past and present during this tour of Huahine’s most sacred villages and sites.
Depart the pier via off-road vehicle for an intimate guided discovery tour of Huahine. The island is renowned for its Royal Village of Maeva, considered to be one of French Polynesia’s most important archaeological areas. During your walk through the village, you will explore the archaeological sites along the lake-shore and the Fare Pote’e Cultural Center.
Continue on to Mata’ire’a Hill. Located just above the village of Maeva, Mata’ire’a Hill is home to more than 200 stone structures, including marae (ancient Polynesian temples), agricultural terraces, house foundations, fortification walls, and burial platforms.
You’ll next stop at Faie Village, where you will have an opportunity to feed the famous giant blue-eyed eels that populate a stream running through the village.
From here, you will ascend the mountain to Belvedere Point for panoramic views and photo opportunities over Maroe Bay and Huahine Iti.
Your tour concludes with a stop in Fare, Huahine’s main village. Accompanied by your guide, you will take a firsthand look at modern-day life on the island, as well as a historical glimpse at its storied past.
Following your tour, you will reboard your off-road vehicle for the return ride to the pier.
Please note: This tour involves some slight uphill walking. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. The order of sites visited may vary. Please bring some cash along with you, as you may have the opportunity to purchase some authentic Tahitian vanilla during this tour.
WINDSTAR CRUISES
Sacred Sites and Cultural WalkYou will leave the pier aboard an open-air vehicle and make your way to Maeva Village, home to the densest concentration of archaeological sites in Polynesia. Marae, or prehistoric temples, abound here and stand as a testimony to the uniqueness and importance of the area. Just above Maeva is Mata’irea Hill, home to over 200 stone structures, including marae, agricultural terraces, house foundations, fortification walls, and burial platforms.
Your guided walk of the area gives you a first-hand look at these sites. See the stone fish traps of Maeva’s Lake Fauna Nui, which are still in use by the villagers after many hundreds of years. Your return route to the pier will take you through the village of Faie for a visit with the giant blue-eyed eels and then up the mountain to the Belvedere Lookout where you will have a wonderful photo opportunity of the beautiful Bay of Maroe.
OCEANIA CRUISES
Excursion 5: Sacred Sites & Cultural WalkExperience Huahine's history, traditions and archaeological sites on this in-depth "walk-about" tour.
You will leave the pier aboard the open-air "Le Truck" and make your way to Maeva Village, home to the densest concentration of archaeological sites in Polynesia.
At one time, this was the traditional home to all of the island's chiefs and their families. Marae, or prehistoric temples abound here and stand as a testimony to the uniqueness and importance of the area.Just above the coastal flat of Maeva is Mata’irea Hill, home to over 200 stone structures, including marae, agricultural terraces, house foundations, fortification walls and burial platforms.
Your guided walk of the area gives you a first-hand look at these sites and will allow you to see into the past. During your visit, your guide will cover various diverse subjects; including Polynesian origins and migrations, traditional Polynesian society, plants and animals, religion and warfare, the arrival of European explorers, missionaries, soldiers and whalers.
Re-boarding "Le Truck", you will next see the stone fish traps of Maeva’s Lake Fauna Nui, which are still in use by the villagers after many hundreds of years.
Your return route to the pier will take you through the village of Faie for a visit with the giant blue-eyed eels, and then up the mountain to the Belvedere Lookout where you will have a wonderful photo opportunity of the beautiful Bay of Maroe.
Please note: There is walking on this tour that includes some walking both uphill and downhill and uneven and natural surfaces. Le Truck is a casual, open-air vehicle resembling a windowless bus. Due to road conditions in some areas of the island, you should be prepared for a bumpy ride during parts of the tour. The tour is not available to wheelchair guests or those with mobility concerns. Lightweight clothing; sun caps; sunglasses; sunscreen; insectant repellent; a bottle of water from the ship; and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The itinerary and order of the stops may change and the duration of the stops can vary based upon group size and interest.
PRINCESS CRUISES
Sacred Sites and Legendary PlacesYour spectacular excursion starts with a friendly introduction from your expert anthropologist/archaeologist guide, who has first hand experience working on the sites you will visit. Boarding "Le Truck", French Polynesia's famous local style bus, you will depart from Maroe Village on the small island of Huahine Iti, crossing the bridge to Huahine Nui, or "big island". Here you will drive past lush green valleys and turquoise lagoon through the capital town of Fare, where Captain James Cook sojourned on his visits to the island.
Your first stop is Maeva village, considered to be one of French Polynesia's most important archaeological areas and home to the largest pre-historic habitation site in Polynesia. During your walk through the village, you will explore the archaeological sites along the lake shore and the Fare Pote'e
Museum. You will learn about Polynesian origins and migrations, traditional society, religion, botany, European explorers and get a first hand look at various traditional tools, handicrafts and artifacts.
You will continue on to Mata'ire'a hill, just above the Village of Maeva and home to more than 200 stone structures, including marae, agricultural terraces, house foundations, fortification walls and burial latforms.
Your next stop, via "Le Truck", is a local family run vanilla plantation where you will have the opportunity to purchase various vanilla products. Continuing on, you will stop to see and learn about the 500 year old fish traps that thanks to restoration work are used again today by the people of Maeva Village.
Your return journey to port, will take you through the village of Faie where your guide will feed the island's giant blue-eyed eels that swim in the stream, before enjoying a photo-stop at the Belvedere Lookout, for panoramic views of Huahine Iti and beautiful Maroe Bay.
