Tahaa

Tahaa sits inside the same reef as Raiatea and is often called the vanilla island: a substantial share of Tahitian vanilla is grown here on small plantations, hand-pollinated because the pollinating insect does not exist in the Pacific, and the smell carries in the valleys at curing time. The lagoon holds motu with pearl farms and a coral garden between two islets where the current carries snorkellers through.

What you actually see

• The vanilla plantations - small farms growing and curing Tahitian vanilla.
• The hand pollination - the work every flower requires, done by hand.
• The coral garden - the drift snorkel between two motu on the reef.
• The pearl farms - the black pearl operations in the lagoon.

When to go

May to October is the dry season. Vanilla curing runs through the middle of the year. Cyclone season is November to April.

Honest expectations

There is no airport and access is by boat from Raiatea. The coral garden is crowded when several boats arrive together. Plantation visits should be arranged rather than dropped in on.

Nearby

Raiatea is south across the lagoon, and Bora Bora is west.