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Raiatea & Tahaa islands have numerous places to shop, plenty of day to day services, and a great assortment of restaurants to dine in. The majority of these "urban needs" are found in the population centers of both islands: Uturoa, the second largest population center in all of French Polynesia on Raiatea, and Patio, the small but charming village on Tahaa. There are also numerous giftshops, restaurants, and small businesses along
both island's encircling roads and at the various hotels and pensions.
Let this page be your starting guide to figuring out what's what, where to shop, what to buy, and what and where to eat. The most notable examples of each category are listed below... LOTS OF SHOPPING TST makes choosing your favorite island activity easy! If you want MORE choices, simply check out our other "To Do" pages: WATERSPORTS, ISLAND FUN, ADVENTURES, RECREATION & GAMES, or RELAXATION. Wan't more? Be sure and explore our "WHAT TO SEE" section for even more sightseeing and exploring ideas, touring information, island attractions, and other interesting things to see and do! |
LOTS OF SHOPPING
Shop till you drop! The best shopping for these islands is in the bustling little "city" of
Uturoa, chocked full of stores, boutiques, and businesses. Buy a fine piece of art, unique handycraft, or T-shirt. Pick up some food, get some fishing supplies, whatever...
Basic categories for shopping are as follows:
There are a few art galleries in Uturoa,
Raiatea, but none to speak of on Tahaa. The galleries listed below offer a fine
collection of arts and crafts from French Polynesia and around the world...
|
ARTS EXPO
GALLERY |
ANUANUA GALLERY |
|
HAWAIKI NUI (HANDCRAFTS) FEDERATION |
More
shopping for thousands of Polynesian goodies! Lots of interesting gift
shops and boutiques featuring gift ideas like island handicrafts, clothing,
shells, books, art, and more.
ON
RAIATEA
|
TAHINA CURIOUS NATURAL |
WASA
NUI SHOP |
|
TE
FARE BOUTIQUE |
MY FLOWER Gare maritime d'Uturoa (wharf)- RAIATEA, Telephone- (689) 66.19.19, Fax- (689) 66.25.53 Polynesian gifts, art, paintings, and more. |
| ARII
BOUTIQUE Uturoa- RAIATEA, Telephone- (689) 66.35.54, Specialty fabrics and clothing. |
BOUTIQUE SEPHORA
Gare maritime d'Uturoa (wharf)- RAIATEA, Telephone- (689) 66.21.21, Fax- (689)66.25.53 Polynesian gifts, art, paintings, and more. |
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TAUATEA
|
ON TAHAA
|
MOTU PEARL
BOUTIQUE (Pearlfarm Giftshop) |
VAIPOE PEARL FARM & GIFTSHOP |
The Black Pearls of French
Polynesia are so famous and coveted that TST has dedicated a seperate
shopping category for these amazing South seas' treasures.
Well known for their quality and beauty, Tahiti and her surrounding islands
are the leading black pearl exporters in the entire world.
There are a few Black pearl and jewelry shops located
in downtown Uturoa, as well as some fine specialty pearl buying opportunities
direct from the pearl farms of Tahaa!
Here's some featured choices:
|
ARRI
BOUTIQUE |
|
LA
PALME D'OR/ TEHANI |
TICO PEARLS PK1, Uturoa, RAIATEA, Telephone/ Fax- (689) 66.14.00 Tahitian Black Pearls, watches, fine jewelry, gifts, art and more... |
|
VAIPOE PEARL FARM AND GIFT SHOP |
RAI TEVA JEWELRY & FASHION SHOP Raiatea location in the Gare maritime d'Uturoa (main wharf), Main office: BP. 4999 Papeete, TAHITI Telephone- (689)42.33.11 Fax-(689) 82.54.57 Tahitian Black Pearls and fine jewelry, gifts, clothing and fashion,and more... Pearl jewelrer on premises... Accept Mastercard, Visa, and Eurocard |
Raiatea also has some interesting
specialty shopping ideas. Here's a list of the best of them...
|
HAWAIKI
NUI (HANDCRAFTS) FEDERATION |
ARII-
CREATIONS (Tahitian fabrics/ fashions) Located in downtown Uturoa- RAIATEA- (BP 70, Uturoa) Telephone-(689) 66.35.54. Wholesale and retail sales and services. We also have 2 locations in Papeete. |
Of course all inhabited islands of French Polynesia need basic services for day to day living. Examples range from health and personal care to travel and real estate agents and cybercafes, post offices, visitors bureaus, etc.
The more common "services" of Raiatea and Tahaa are found here:
Drug Store/ Pharmacy
Details coming soon...
Beauty Salon
Details coming soon...
Real Estate: See Tahiti Sun Travel's Real Estate
section for Polynesian property and estate listings!
There is a visitors bureau on the island of Raiatea. Their mission is to service island visitors with information and general assistance regarding tourism of the islands of Raiatea and Tahaa, much the same way Tahiti Sun Travel does. (In fact, one of the previous presidents of the tourism bureau is a longtime linking customer! Moana Boubee of the Sunset Beach Motel)
If you need further clarifications of tourism material found in this site that we can't answer, TST recommends printing pages out of this site and showing it to this tourism bureau on the island!
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RAIATEA & TAHAA VISITORS BUREAU |
Post Offices
Details coming soon...
"Cyber Points" & Cafes
The cyber cafe "scene" on Raiatea and Tahaa is still pretty prehistoric, however, it's been getting better over the years. What most urbanites and travelers take for granted as "cyber cafes" really haven't existed on any Society Island other than Tahiti (in Papeete) until just recently. Instead, as the internet began to make its mark on these islands, "cyber points" began springing up in random places. Basically, a society island "cyber point" is a no frills access point to the internet and little else. No ambiance or amenities offered. Many are located in the backs of shops or in some dark room, and have the slowest of slow computers... until recently... It now seems the cyber cafe bug has hit these islands like it has in every other developing country on earth and the whole scene is quickly improving.
(Finally), Raiatea actually has a GOOD place to get online and surf, check emails, etc. No coffees or cool music offered as yet in any of these places, but improvements look to be on the horizon.
TECHNI- ILES
PK1, Uturoa, RAIATEA, Telephone/ Fax- (689) 66.37.81
Located at the Europcar office and general store in front of the main ferry dock in downtown Uturoa. (Right next to the Moe Moea restaurant)
2 computers in a backroom with fan. No drinks. You can bring your own laptop. Dialup modem.
More listings coming soon...
Raiatea
has more choices of restaurants than Tahaa because of its larger population
and the town of Uturoa... Dining locations can basically be divided between
the restaurants at the various hotels and pensions, and private, non-hotel
related dining.
Cuisine ranges from basic island staples like
fruits and fish dishes to world class French and international cuisine, prepared
by a variety of chefs, some imported directly from Paris! As with all islands
in Tahiti Polynesia, the food is usually delicious, but you may have to sample
different restaurants before you find one that suits your taste and budget.
LOCAL
& FRENCH CUISINE
Understandably,
many of the restaurants on Raiatea & Tahaa feature fine French and Tahitian
style cooking techniques and dishes.
TAHITI SUN TRAVEL RECOMMENDS:
TSTN
EZ Print Internet Coupon Participant. Get the Coupon now to get a free drink! |
And the rest of the listings...
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MOEMOEA |
TAMA'A MAITAI |
|
MICHELLE Uturoa Center- PO. Box 315- 98 735 Uturoa, RAIATEA Telephone - (689) 66.14.66, Restaurant |
CLUB
HOUSE Apooti Marina- PO. Box 492- 98 735 Uturoa, RAIATEA Telephone - (689) 66.11.66, Fax- (689) 66.11.67 |
| TE ORA PO. Box 1248- 98 735 Uturoa, RAIATEA Telephone/ Fax - (689) 66.26.22, Restaurant |
HIBISCUS (Tahaa) PO. Box 184- 98 734 Haamene, TAHAA Telephone - (689) 65.61.06, Fax- (689) 65.65.65 |
| QUAI DES PECHEURS (Fisherman's Wharf) Uturoa harbour- PO. Box 1049- 98 735 Uturoa, RAIATEA Telephone/ Fax- (689) 66.43.19, Restaurant and bar. |
CHEZ
LOUISE (Tahaa) 98734 Tiva- TAHAA, Telephone/ Fax- (689) 65.68.88 |
|
EL CARTHAGE |
Here's a list of restaurants featuring international and ethnic cuisine:
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JADE GARDEN |
MARA'AMU |
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SEA HORSE |
LE NAPOLI |
The family run, local food trucks on Raiatea are known as "les Roulettes" as they are on the other islands... This is a generic term meaning "rolling food trucks", and that's exactly what they are... Many of the local people dine at these trucks or in their homes. The food is island food. Pure and simple. Economic and tasty, these are TST's favorite places to eat!

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