Culture of Vaiare. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Vaiare is a picturesque small settlement on the island of Mo’orea that was formed approximately 2 million years ago. The former volcano gave the island a truly fabulous view – it is a small piece of land with several gorgeous bays and the highest point, Mount Tohi’e’a, in the middle. There are several communities on the islands, the largest ones being Piha’ena, Papeto’ai, Maharepa, and Vaiare. The latter is located near a magnificent bay and the main settlement to the south of it.

Ancient Polynesians from western islands were first inhabitants of Mo’orea. According to scientists, they appeared on the island approximately a thousand years ago. Nowadays, tourists can see signs of their presence, the so-called marae landmarks that look like stone rocks in the shape of pyramids. Some rocks have carvings that signify of sacrifices that were sometimes made on the island. Travelers keen on historic landmarks are recommended to visit the Afareaitu Marae, the oldest pyramid on the island. It was built approximately in 900 AD.

First Europeans appeared on the island in 1606, but it was not until the 18th century that first settlers landed on Mo’orea. Famous explorers James Cook and Samuel Wallis were among first people who visited the island. The island attracted not only sailors and adventurers but also scientists. For example, Charles Darwin was exploring the region for his works and studied the formation of coral atolls near Mo’orea. The island became increasingly popular with ordinary tourists once the Mo’orea Airport was built there in 1967. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Just like the majority of resorts, the island is not very rich in historic landmarks, but curious tourists will not get bored there either. Apart from natural landmarks and gorgeous beaches, there are many interesting places and venues to visit. History fans simply cannot fail to visit Ahu-o-Mahine. It is a complex of old marae that is located in a very picturesque place and surrounded by a forest of chestnut trees. There are several marae in this complex. The central one is the biggest and it leads to the tohua, an ancient council platform. Two smaller marae are located on the sides of the complex. The main marae, Ahu-o-Mahine, has round stones and fabulous altars. During an excursion there, visitors will learn interesting information about that place as there are explanatory panels with descriptions in English and French.

Distillerie et Usine de Jus de Fruits de Moorea is a popular stop for many adult tourists. It is a wonderful place where visitors can not only see an authentic historical distillery but also purchase interesting drinks and liqueurs that make great souvenirs. Distillerie et Usine de Jus de Fruits de Moorea is located approximately 300 meters away from the coastal road. This distillery processes different kinds of juices and manufactures a number of liqueurs, including the famous Tahitian punch. During an excursion there, visitors can not only see how alcoholic beverages are made but also taste various liqueurs and juices for free. Excursions take place from Monday to Thursday.

Tourists who decide to visit Maharepa will find some interesting historical landmarks there. Maison Blanche is definitely one of them. This building, which dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, has an unusual location on the mountain side of the road. The mansion is a great example of the fare vanira homes, plantation houses that became very popular during the vanilla-boom era. There is a popular souvenir shop in the building where visitors can purchase traditional artworks, various handicrafts, jewelry, woodcarvings, and many other memorable items.