Visit the Huahine Island A Polynesian Secret

Just halfway from Tahiti to Bora Bora is a Bali Ha'i island most visitors to French Polynesia have never heard of—Huahine. The island could be Bora Bora's younger sister, with lush volcanic peaks ringed by a peacock blue lagoon. And while more than 700 overwater bungalows speckle the lagoon surrounding Bora Bora, on Huahine—an island twice the size—there are only 17.

Known as the' Eden Garden,' Huahine is effectively made up of two bridge-connected islands. Surrounded by a transparent lagoon and sculpted by smart bays that hide sleepy villages, this little slice of paradise provides tourists the laid back lifestyle you've always dreamed of.

From the time you arrive, Huahine casts a spell on you. Only a 40-minute flight from Tahiti Island, the enchanted Huahine, with its lush trees, untamed landscape and picturesque villages, is one of the best kept secrets of Tahiti, a place where you can live like a local. A profound, crystal-clear lagoon surrounds Huahine's two islands, while the experience is accompanied by beautiful bays and white-sand beaches. Relatively untouched by the contemporary globe, Huahine provides ancient Polynesia's slower, quieter pace. The few inhabitants welcome tourists with excellent kindness with only eight tiny villages scattered across the island.