- Mountains and plateaux
On the Society and Marquesas Islands, with peaks and ridges at altitudes of between 1,000 and 2,000 metres close to the ocean, the contrast between land and sea creates striking landscapes. Le Diadême is a Tahitian peak, clearly visible from the plain in the commune of Pirae, with a shape reminiscent of a jewel in the shape of a half-crown. Its Tahitian name is “Te Hena O Mai’ao”…
- Waterfalls and rivers
Waterfalls nestle in the valley bottoms of the volcanic islands, the most breathtaking of which can be found in Tahiti and Nuku Hiva.
- Gardens and historic sites
A proactive policy on the part of the government of French Polynesia has seen the creation or embellishment of public gardens such as the Paofai garden on the seafront of the capital, Papeete, while historic buildings such as the Papeete Market are institutions full of life and colour.
- Sacred sites
The Islands of Tahiti is full of places imbued with Mana, the supernatural life force or sacred energy that surrounds us. The marae of ancient times, including Taputapuatea on Raiatea, have been joined by Protestant temples and Catholic churches that have become part of the local religious landscape, with details in stone, mother-of-pearl or coral, depending on the island.
