As any of the Isles-Sous-Le-Vent, Raiatea has tall, lush mountains, a reef surrounding the island and one can go 2/3 around Raiatea behind the reef and anchor in the deep valleys of the island or just behind the reef or behind a small motu (islet) along the reef.
Raiatea seems a bit more busy, a bit less touristy, it is also the supply hub for these islands. People work hard to use the steep slopes for agriculture, not huge fields, more family-sized fields. The houses seem to be built better too with beautiful gardens around.
The reef encircles a second island just North of Raiatea: Tahaa. We will go around Tahaa next, all inside the reef. They say "good snorkeling" but we are used to the unspoiled waters of the Tuamotus, hard to beat. Here they feed the rays, sharks for the tourists, just not the same.
Further intentions:
Raiatea will be the point to fill up again, re-provision, before heading to Bora-Bora.
Bora Bora is very touristy, very expensive, and people are said to be less friendly towards cruisers, they probably like the hotel guest better, for their money.
From there, if weather permits, we plan a stop in Maupiti, the last outpost of the Isles-Sous-Le-Vent towards the West. Maupiti has a more difficult entrance into the atoll, we need good sunlight to find our way in.
Around full moon (8/24) we would like to make the 650 miles trip to Suwarrow. Suwarrow is part of the Northern Cook Islands. It is a park and only one family lives their as Park Rangers. One avoids the formalities of the entry procedures in the Cook Islands, we only have to pay the park fee, plus supply the rangers with some fresh food. On the populated Cook Islands we have been getting negative reports about officials dealing with boats. And most of the Cook Islands do not offer good anchorages, only Suwarrow is an atoll where one can go inside and rest in the protected waters.
Once weather looks good, we then head for American Samoa /Pago Pago. This isn't the nicest place on earth, rather industrial, but we can easily ship some parts plus mail from the US to there.
