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This guided drive and walkabout provides an in-depth look at Huahine’s history, traditions and archaeological sites. Boarding an open-air “Le Truck” windowless bus at the pier, you’ll head for Maeva, one of the richest archaeological sites in all of Polynesia. At one time, this village was home to the island’s chiefs and their families, and the many ancient stone marae – open-air religious and social buildings – found here testify to the importance of this area to tribal life over the centuries. Up from coastal Maeva is Mata’irea Hill, where an even denser concentration of stone structures once stood, including marae, agricultural terraces, houses, fortified walls and burial platforms. Your guide will lead you on a first-hand walk through these sites, providing background on traditional Polynesian societal structure, important plants and animals, how religion and warfare worked, and the impact of European arrival. Back on board Le Truck, you’ll explore the island of Huahine Nui further, visiting 400-year-old stone fish traps still in active use at Lake Fauna Nui and the famous giant blue-eyed eels of Faie village. A steep drive up to Belvedere Lookout caps things off with sensational views of the island and Maroe Bay.

Cruise through the gorgeous lagoon surrounding Huahine and stop along the way for a refreshing dip in translucent, turquoise waters. This picture-perfect setting captures the classic South Pacific of our dreams, a fabulously lush, unspoiled paradise where coconut palms are among the most substantial structures – all ringed by pale, clear waters. And one of the best ways to appreciate this idyllic landscape is from the shaded salon or open-air trampoline decks of a catamaran. This shallow-draft vessel is ideal for snuggling in for spectacular, up-close views of tiny coves that deeper-hulled boats can’t reach. As you circle the lagoon, you’ll see that Huahine is actually made up of two main islands, both of volcanic origin – with just the trace of a sandy land bridge connecting them at lowest tide. After a time spent admiring it all from the boat, your captain will find a perfect spot to stop so you can slip into the water and enjoy the delicious feel of the South Pacific itself on your skin.

Wave goodbye to the palms for a while as you explore the fascinating landscape Huahine has waiting for you under the water’s surface. Departing the pier by covered boat, you’ll head for Motu Vaiorea, a tiny reef-ringed islet tucked between Huahine’s two principal islands at the mouth of Bourayne Bay. En route, you can expect super views of both Huahine Nui and its smaller sister island, Huahine Iti. Once anchored just offshore of Motu Vaiorea, you’ll receive your safety briefing, get your supplied snorkeling gear on and adjusted, then hop into the lagoon for about an hour of delightful undersea sightseeing as you swim and explore. The crystalline water sparkles, and the marine inhabitants below, going about their day-to-day life in paradise, can reflect just about every color known in the tropical universe.

Experience the top sights of Huahine up-close as you tour the island by 4WD and take an outrigger to a pearl farm. This wide-ranging excursion brings you across the bridge that links Huahine’s two principal islands and up to a lookout for spectacular panoramic views over Maroe Bay and the islands’ gem-blue surrounding lagoon. You’ll stop in at a drying house filled with the heavenly scent of vanilla, the seed pods of a tropical orchid vine. In Faie, you’ll feed bizarre blue-eyed eels that live in the village stream, while a visit to Maeva plunges you into an Indiana Jones-grade archeological site. The ruins of dozens of ancient open-air stone “marae” temples here are sacred artifacts marking where island royalty once lived. Not far away, you’ll encounter ingenious 400-year-old stone fish traps still in active use. Circling Huahine Nui to view its colorful bays and lagoons, you’ll pass Lake Fauna Nui and visit Fare, the largest town. And, hopping into an outrigger, you’ll cross to Huahine Pearl Farm and Pottery to learn the secrets of the black pearl and browse their farm shop for peals and famous blue pottery made from a glaze found at the bottom of the lagoon.

Tour lush Huahine Iti in a 4x4 vehicle and experience unspoiled backcountry that reflects the essence of Polynesia. Southernmost of the two bridge-connected Huahine islands, Huahine Iti is a place of unvarnished natural beauty. There are no mega-resorts or even very many mini-resorts here; instead, dense tropical foliage defines the skyline. Departing from the pier, you’ll soon cross over the short two-lane span that links the two Huahines. There’s actually a tiny spit of connecting land visible here during low tide, though local lore insists that a god long ago rammed his canoe into the land, splitting the islands apart. Driving through the tiny village of Haapu and on into the exceptionally green landscape ahead, you’ll come upon plantations where coconut palm, breadfruit and banana flourish. A visit to the Vahinemoea plantation will reveal insights on how its exotic fruit crops are grown, with perhaps some juicy sampling included. Later, at a stop along the wide white beach at Avea Bay, you might not be able to resist taking a quick refreshing swim in the sea or a relaxed stroll along the shore, before the drive on through verdant Parea valley and humble jungle villages beyond.

Boat out to a small islet, spend awhile doing whatever pleases you – or nothing – and enjoy a Polynesian beach picnic. There are few locales on earth more scenic than being on a tiny motu in the Society Islands, surrounded by glistening sand, translucent turquoise waters and swaying palm trees. You’ll sail from the pier and anchor just offshore. Wade in through the shallow water and spend a couple of hours luxuriating in the manner of your choice: sunning, swimming, or maybe just drifting in and out of daydreams. Feeling more adventurous? Take a walk over to the reef side of the motu, past fields where the local fruits and vegetables are grown, and have a snorkel using the gear provided. Looking to add to your tropical wardrobe repertoire? Enjoy a traditional pareo demonstration and learn how to tie the perfect Polynesian sarong. Of course, no trip to micro-paradise is complete without a beach picnic – and this too will be on your agenda this day. After a time, climb back aboard for the return to Huahine pier. That’s paradise, too – just on a slightly larger scale.